Abe's Misadventures 12
First Cruise - Deployment
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Fulfilling the objectives of the deployment was much less vigorous than the journey to the duty station. The ship's movements were limited in part to avoid mines reputed to have been laid to defend against the U.S. battle group's encroachment. Mine dangers were for the battleship to face with its thick steel hull and escorting minesweepers.
The Machias would drift, engines idling, watching the wind and currents, until it was time to fire up the engines, head to another point and drift again. The Seahawk helicopter launches were the main breaks in the action. This went on for weeks.
The greatest danger Machias faced was crew boredom. Even an errant fighter pilot, mistakenly not responding to verbal warnings and attempting a fly-by was deterred by a radar lock at an unexpected distance. Word got around. The event was never repeated.
The operations continued until the forty-fifth consecutive day at sea. The captain invoked the U.S. Navy Beer Day tradition, allowing the consumption of up to two beers per sailor. Bartering started immediately between those who found the limitation to a couple of beers unsatisfying, and those already suffering a ravenous thirst and were willing to trade or pay to get properly intoxicated. Abe traded away his beers for a little pocket money.
Abe expected an incident to bring the buried racial friction to the light of day, leading to lectures on discrimination at the very least. And there were a few flare ups, but no one talked. The first stress fracture to show started with a rumor that one of the crew was to be flown off. No one knew the reason, information that didn't broadly involve the flight and deck crews was locked down tight.
Some guessed psychological trouble, others imagined a crime. Ultimately, it slipped out that the crewmember was gay. Whether caught or merely confessed to escape the doldrums of duty, no one but those involved would ever know. No lectures were given. Abe was bewildered.
It wasn’t the last incident. Whether the causes were copycat moves or indicted through confessions, several more individuals were flown off, one-by-one.
The tension level of the remaining crew plateaued. Even those with grudges didn’t want to hurt their careers and get flown off the ship.
Forty-five days after the first invocation, the captain held the Beer Day tradition again. Unfettered bartering ensued.
The week following second Beer Day, and qualification of the Sea Service Deployment Ribbon for the entire crew, the Machias turned over duties to another ship and a leisurely return to San Diego ensued. The first stop was an overnight stay in a United Arab Emirates port. Abe had duty and the only view was the port facilities, which looked much the same as any other port, but he enjoyed the tales of his shipmates futilely searching for bars. A few lucky ones found a hotel lounge, exclusively for foreigners, that served alcohol and promptly wore out their welcome.
On the way to Australia the crew of the Machias carried out the Shellback ceremony, marking the crossing of the Equator, a rite of passage of feigned seriousness to blow off steam, but highly valued by sailors like Abe. It was a mark of experience. Once again sheltered in the shadow of Derrick, who most of the already initiated wanted a chance to heckle, it was a mild experience for Abe.
The remainder of the cruise was a series of stops in Australia and Southeast Asia. Abe treasured the travel, marveling that a hick from the sticks could be so fortunate. The first lure of reenlistment dangled before his eyes, beckoning reconsideration. But Abe had a growing dream, something changed at a hormonal level. He wanted to go to school, to the university in the next town over, he was ready now.
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