Hooper (DE 1026) - Naval Cruise Book

Page 41 text:

...AND DETAILS During special details the Captain and the Commodore can usually be found on the bridge. ASW exercises are run from the bridge. During underway replenishments extra phone talkers appear, to give the bridge firm control of all phases of the opera- tions. For sea and anchor details a navi- gational team appears to hoard the compass repeaters on the bridge Wings. With eyes squinted they Whisper magic numbers into the sound powered phones. A second later from the pilot house comes a cryptic, I hold you fifteen yards right. of midchannelf' And sometimes the bridge is just a breath of fresh air and warm sunshine.

Page 40 text:

K in I Q.. R xv e 4 ii W N BRIDGE WATCHES Underway the bridge is the command center of the ship. All decisions and all responsibilities ultimately rest with the bridge. The Officer of the Deck runs the bridge and the ship. He answers only to the Captain and the Exec, From the bridge he conns the ship, oversees the navigation, controls communications, and sees that the plan of the day is carried out. To assist him he has a J OOD, a boatswainmate of the watch, a quartermaster, and other persons Who. come under the cognizance of the boat- swainmate.

Page 42 text:

On the Hooper, the happy Hooper, A sailor sleeps tonight. On the Hooper, the happy Hooper, We all know this ain't right. ln the wardroom the Captain's screaming, Bring this man to me! ln the wardroom the Captain's screaming, He knows we're at Condition Three! So all the gallant MAAs Went out in search by numbers, With Pappy Wells in the rear, of course, To catch the man who slumbers. They checked rep five and combat, And after steering too. They knew someone was sleeping, But they could not find out who! They even checked the foc'sle And gun mount thirty-one. They weren't about to give up yetg Their search had just begun. They checked the bosun's locker, They stormed the foreward head. A raid on fox division Showed not a man in bed. The reefer flats and l.C. room Were next on Pappy's list. He yelled another order, Let not a space be -missed! Supply division proved a farce- C.P.O. another blunderg Post office, radio, E,T, shack? Pappy was beginning to wonder. 7 The engine room and fire room Proved not a man at large, So back into the mess decks Ole Pappy's men did charge. We'll split up here, yelled Pappy You go foreward - you lay aft! While Virtue on the lJV, Sat calmly back and laughed. Pappy was so excited His mustache stood out straight. He couldn't understand it, but His men were running late. He had to find the sailor Who slept the night away Before the clock struck midnight, Or he'd be on his off-duty day. Well you know Pappy as well as l, He searched both high and low. He was sure someone was sleeping But just who he did not know. Ole Pappy he got tired Of looking up and downg And he returned to combat And wearily sat down. lt wasn't but a minute, Before he fell asleep. Kennedy came on the run , And grabbed him from his seat. So Clyde - he got the gloryg Ole Pappy was chastizedg And on the happy Hooper l awoke with the sun in my eyes!