The Boatswain

The trip on the transport, from San Diego to Subic, was a pleasant one. We stopped in Hawaii, where we were met by Navy friends who gave us a quick, short tour of the island. (I’d been there many times, but it was brand new to my wife and kids!) We were there only a day, then we sailed to the next port, the island of GUAM!

We arrived at Guam on our anniversary date, with typical weather for the area, pouring rain! We managed to get a baby sitter for the kids, and Ellen and I had an evening dinner at the local officer’s club…… (I looked for pictures of the trip, but am afraid that the only one’s I have are on an 8 mm. film and of poor quality.)

When we crossed the International Dateline, as usual, there was a typical ceremony, with Ellen and the kids getting initiated into the LINE CROSSERS ORDER! Bob missed out as he wasn’t feeling well, but Dorrie and Carl got to kiss the Royal Baby’s belly, (getting smeared with all kinds of goo in the process.  In Ellen’s case they only made her kiss a hand! Not as messy.

We finally sailed into Subic Bay and the gang got their first view of my new “command”.

USS Mark (AKL-12)

Jack Page, the CWO I was relieving, had already setup our new housing arrangements, with food in the refrigerator and a maid already hired, which was a blessing, as we moved in quickly. Our maid, Nina, was a jewel, married and with children of her own and lived in the town of Olongapo, just outside the gates of the base. Her husband was also our gardener and took care of the place once a week!

Our half of a dupex house.

Ellen, aided by Nina, and, sometimes. the kids, was busy getting settled in, while I was busy getting familiar with the ship and then having the “Change-of-Command” ceremony attended by the base commander and various other officials, confirming me as the new skipper.

Reading my official orders as the new skipper.

This started our official duties at the base. As skipper of one of the ships based there, I was required to attend many functions and parties at the officers club. Ellen had to attend them as my wife and also attend many wives functions! Our maid would baby-sit. There were so many functions that Ellen wondered if we would EVER have any time to ourselves!!!

Van and Ellen in front of their home in Subic.

We were operating out of Subic Bay in the Philippines and would tie up to the air station pier quite often. One night I got talking to another Chief Warrant Boatswain at the Officer’s Club who told me he was stationed there and had his family with him. He also mentioned that he was soon to be relieved as Officer-in-Charge of the USS Brule (AKL-28), a small inter-island freighter and maybe I’d like that duty. Sounded great to me, so I had our Ship’s Clerk send off a message to the Navy Department for me, asking if I could be considered as CWO Magley’s relief! For a change, things didn’t drag on and we soon got a message back saying, “Sorry, but a relief for the Brule is already ordered so we can’t give her to you – HOWEVER, the USS MARK, another AKL home ported in Subic, is also due for a replacement skipper and we’ve decided you can have HER.”

This was sure a big break for me. I enjoyed the Bennington’s steaming for San Diego and had told Ellen to get ready to sail for the islands! Our neighbors were thrilled for us, too, and we decided we’d keep our house and just rent it out while we were gone. We soon had everything packed and had orders to board a Navy transport and sail to Subic. Our good friends, our next door neighbors, drove us down to the Navy Pier and we boarded the USNS Barrett, for our trip across the Pacific.

Boarding the USS Barrett

The USS Barrett

Ready For My New Job!

The O'Club at Subic where the plot was hatched!

Note the rain cover from the front door! VERY important in the rainy season, when we might get 17 inches of rain in a DAY!

My new ship, the USS Mark (AKL-12).

USS Bennington (CVS-20) refueling from the USS Chemung (AO-30)

The "Pacific" - the waves can reach the flight deck.

Meanwhile, during our in-port stays in San Diego, we continued making our house “ship-shape”. I installed a new patio and, while I was on the roof, nailing slats in place, Ellen asked if I knew what the temperature was. When I said, “No.”, she answered me “104°”! I immediately got too hot to continue working and quit for the day! In warm weather El Cajon often goes over the 100° mark! One of our neighbors had to move, so they bequeathed us a window air conditioner and their dog, Pinto, which the kids loved!

our first patio

Ellen teasing Pinto

Life on the Bennington continued and we went on another cruise to the Far East.

USS Bennington (CVS-20)

Notice that the ship has been up-dated and given an enclosed bow and an extended canted deck for air ops, which made things much better for the forecastle detail in heavy weather, and for the fliers and the flight deck crew in ALL operations. The portholes are from a secondary conning station.

On the Bennington from 1958 to 1961, we got to do a good bit of time in San Diego, between deployments, and my time was occupied by fixing up our barren house area and, since our oldest joined the Boy Scouts, I got conned into being assistant Scout Master when I was available.

Our Improved Back Yard

A Knot Board I had the Scouts learn to make.

One of our favorite ports was the Japanese city of Yokosuka (usually pronounced “Yo-coo-ska” by us.) In those days it was the most important U.S. Navy port in Japan as it had a well-equipped ship yard.

Leaving port from Yokosuka, Japan

My station during any “entering or leaving” port routine was up in the forecastle, where we had to be ready to drop the anchor at a moments notice, in case of loss of power or other emergencies.

Van on the FO'C'SLE

VIEW OF THE STERN: Notice the “garbage chutes” on each side, where garbage (NOT trash) was thrown overboard for disposal, which usually attracted fish and seagulls!

View of the Bennington's Stern