The Loss of a Shipmate IN MEMORY OF BT3 CHRISTDON E. GRIFFIN, USN 16 OCT 1955 - 28 SEP 1977 The unity and closeness of a ship's crew is something unseen and unfelt by the outsider. But to those of us who live and work in the confines of 414 feet of grey bulkheads, experience the long weeks at sea, the lonely months away from home, the many hours beyond a civilian 40 hour work week, to those of us who wear the Naval uniform, stand the endless watches, prepare for the various inspections, train for the war we hope never to see, Unity is the foundation upon which all the success, honors, BZ's, and well dones are achieved. The unity of a ship's crew is something only the crew- member can feel, experience, and see. He becomes a part of the ship, and the ship, a part of him. He becomes a part of the lives of everyother shipmate aboard, and everyother shipmate's life becomes a part of his. lt is that binding force that only a sailor can know that makes the loss of a fellow shipmate one of the most difficult trials the ship will undergo. But it's at a time of loss that the significance of the ship's unity is made ever more real. It is then that the importance of each and every man onboard becomes the focal point of our thoughts and attention, and the men reach out to help those friends and family members of the lost shipmate. And so itwas when BT3 Griffin died in an unforseen accident last September in Charleston. BT3 Griffin, or Grit as his friends called him, was loved by all onboard. His smiling face and cheerful approach to life filled the fireroom in which he worked. It was his humor and laughter that helped make the work seem less difficult and demanding. Throughout his three and a half years onboard, he did much to improve the readiness of the fireroom, and assisted in the successful completion of three of the ship's most difficult engineering inspections. His efforts, his knowledge, and his attitudes combined to produce an outstanding boiler technician that the ship and his shipmates can always be proud of. After the sad news of his death reached his shipmates, the crew immediately proceeded to raise almost S350 to be jointly used to purchase a memorial monument to be placed at his grave site and to assist the surviving family with the funeral expenses. All in remembrance of a true friend and shipmate missed by all. -2-
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FM COMNAVSURFLANT NORFOLK VA TO USS JULIUS A FURER INFO COMCRUDESGRU TWO COMDESRON FOUR UNCLAS ffNO1650ff WELCOME HOME 1 AS FURER COMPLETES HER UNUSUALLY DEMANDING MIDEAST FOR DEPLOYMENT I WISH TO EXTEND MY PERSONAL CONGRATULATIONS AND SINCERE APPRECIATION ON YOUR OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE YOUR OVERALL PROFESSIONAL EX CELLENCE EXTENDED NOT ONLY TO ACCURATE AND TIMELY REPORTING OF CRITICAL SURVEILLANCE OPERATIONS BUT ALSO TO HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL PORT CALLS TO WEST AFRICAN PORTS AND VICTORIA SEYCHELLES EACH MAN ONBOARD CAN TAKE JUSTIFIABLE PRIDE IN THE MISSION YOU HAVE ACCOMPLISHED SO WELL MAY YOU ENJOY A WARM REUNION WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS WELL DONE AND WELCOME HOME -4-
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