Jeff, Neal,and the other members of the Merchant Marines.

Thanks for standing in line to be called to active duty if the need arises.

Best Regards,
Joe

You're welcome. But did I ever admit to holding a current license? And the think the "activation"
is now voluntary. And besides, I've already done my time, I doubt they'll ask me again.

This reminds me, I should call my FIL, a real Merchant Marine from WWII - survivor of PQ17 and PQ18,
and one of the few ships to be sunk twice by torpedo (SS Oklahoma), and 17 days in a liferaft.

-jeff




"Joe" wrote in message
om...
Jeff, Neal,and the other members of the Merchant Marines.

Thanks for standing in line to be called to active duty if the need arises.

Best Regards,
Joe

"Jeff Morris" wrote in message ...
You're welcome. But did I ever admit to holding a current license?

OK thats an out.

And the think the "activation"
is now voluntary.

Not so my friend. Remember the oath you took?


And besides, I've already done my time,

When? Where?

I doubt they'll ask me again.

Yeah not likely, but still a slim chance in times of declared war.


This reminds me, I should call my FIL, a real Merchant Marine from WWII - survivor of PQ17 and PQ18,
and one of the few ships to be sunk twice by torpedo (SS Oklahoma), and 17 days in a liferaft.

-jeff


I wish I could call my WWII Era Merchant Marines hero. He was on the
bridge of a T2 tanker that took a torpedo in 43. The pressure wave of
the explosion broke both his ankles. Captain Art Costa. RIP. You can
search his name on the internet and find quite a few things about him.
He was a good friend of Bob Dole. He was my Uncle.

Better make that call!

Joe
MSV RedCloud







"Joe" wrote in message
om...
Jeff, Neal,and the other members of the Merchant Marines.

Thanks for standing in line to be called to active duty if the need arises.

Best Regards,
Joe

"Joe" wrote in message
om...
I wish I could call my WWII Era Merchant Marines hero. He was on the
bridge of a T2 tanker that took a torpedo in 43.

That wasn't the ship that captured the German Enigma machine, was it?




Regards


Donal
--

That was a British feat. The Yankees only made the movie... and of course
made like it was them that accomplished the mission.

CM

"Donal" wrote in message
...
|
| "Joe" wrote in message
| om...
| I wish I could call my WWII Era Merchant Marines hero. He was on the
| bridge of a T2 tanker that took a torpedo in 43.
|
| That wasn't the ship that captured the German Enigma machine, was it?
|
|
|
|
| Regards
|
|
| Donal
| --
|
|
|

Brit's got Enigma. Yanks broke the Japanese codes. I rechecked my
paperwork on the license. Yep! I can be recalled to duty. Not military
per se but Merchant Marine. If you are called or not depends on the 'need'.
WWII they took AB's, yachties and whatever else and made mates and
eventually Captain's of them. Maybe only for running military tugs but it
freed up others for, in turn, bigger things. During the Viet Nam years the
need for cannon fodder dropped the entrance requirements to the lowest
levels since . ..when? Could Neal end up commanding a Navy Tug or LCI?
No. 25 ton's is not enough. But a shore boat is a distinct possibility.
Humour aside they go for the unlimited tonnage guys first, 1600 next, 500
ton thereafter and if needed the 200 ton guys with the emphasis on Any
Ocean.. But the rest of us are on the hook . .. As an aside a year
or so ago I ran into a retired 500 ton Captain who was sitting for his 1600
ton license. Age 70. I asked him why? He just gave me a funny look and
said, "In case my country needs me." Now it's true I'm cynical about a lot
of things . . . .but I thoroughly understood and appreciated his answer.

MST

Jeff Morris wrote:

.... I've already done my time, I doubt they'll ask me again.

A co-worker said the same thing too many years ago now. He'd done his 20
as a Gunner's Mate, mostly on Battleships. Then they brought the NJ out
but nobody knew how to work the 16" rifles so ... (c:

Unlike Bobsprit and some of the other whining, asshole
liberals who have never given anything to the country and
who think the country owes them a free ride, I am willing
to fight and die for this great country should the necessity
arise. All the free-riders whose only claim to fame is how
long and how loud they complain can kiss my ass.

I served in the U.S. Army back during the Viet Nam war.
I was a military policeman and everyone said "You poor
S.O.B., that's one of the highest mortality jobs in the
service. You drive at the front of the convoys and hit
all the mines or you get shot up in ambushes and if
that isn't bad enough if you **** off your own men
too much you become a victim of friendly fire."

As you can see they were wrong! I'm still here,
ornery as ever.

S.Simon


"Joe" wrote in message om...
Jeff, Neal,and the other members of the Merchant Marines.

Thanks for standing in line to be called to active duty if the need arises.

Best Regards,
Joe

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----
Hash: SHA1

On Tue, 11 Nov 2003 12:31:47 -0500, "Simple Simon"
wrote:

Unlike Bobsprit and some of the other whining, asshole
liberals who have never given anything to the country and
who think the country owes them a free ride, I am willing
to fight and die for this great country should the necessity
arise. All the free-riders whose only claim to fame is how
long and how loud they complain can kiss my ass.

I served in the U.S. Army back during the Viet Nam war.
I was a military policeman and everyone said "You poor
S.O.B., that's one of the highest mortality jobs in the
service. You drive at the front of the convoys and hit
all the mines or you get shot up in ambushes and if
that isn't bad enough if you **** off your own men
too much you become a victim of friendly fire."

As you can see they were wrong! I'm still here,
ornery as ever.

S.Simon


Thanks for your service, and the service of all American veterans
everywhere. My older brother was in Vietnam in the early '70s-- Army
draftee. He moved around a lot, but I remember one of the places was
Pleiku--not the best place to be.

two wheels


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-----END PGP SIGNATURE-----

"Simple Simon" wrote in message ...
Unlike Bobsprit and some of the other whining, asshole
liberals who have never given anything to the country and
who think the country owes them a free ride, I am willing
to fight and die for this great country should the necessity
arise. All the free-riders whose only claim to fame is how
long and how loud they complain can kiss my ass.

I served in the U.S. Army back during the Viet Nam war.
I was a military policeman and everyone said "You poor
S.O.B., that's one of the highest mortality jobs in the
service.

What a crappy job. IIRR we had a Master at Arms disappear from the
ship one night at sea. A darkend deck in an open ocean can be very
dangerious for a hated sailor.

Joe

You drive at the front of the convoys and hit
all the mines or you get shot up in ambushes and if
that isn't bad enough if you **** off your own men
too much you become a victim of friendly fire."

As you can see they were wrong! I'm still here,
ornery as ever.

S.Simon


"Joe" wrote in message om...
Jeff, Neal,and the other members of the Merchant Marines.

Thanks for standing in line to be called to active duty if the need arises.

Best Regards,
Joe