• Home
    • Photo Archives 2021-2022
    • Photo Archives 2020
    • Photo Archive 2019
    • Photo Archive 2018 - >
      • Photo Archives 04/01/17 >
        • Photo Archives 06/01/16 - 10/31/16
        • Photo Archive 09/01/2015 - 01/31/2016
        • Photo Archive 01/01/15
        • Photo Archive 8/01/14 - 12/31/14
        • Photo Archive 4/02/14 - 7/31/14
        • Photo Archive 11/24/13-04/01/14
        • Photo Archive 10/01/2013
        • Photo Archive 02/01/2016 - 05/31/2016
      • Photo Archive 11/03/16 -
    • EVENTS & BOOK SIGNINGS
  • About the Author
    • Contact us
    • FAQ
  • Buy the books
    • Book 2 Preview
  • Blog
  • About the book
    • Locales in the book
    • Allied Naval Forces >
      • Pacific Fleet
      • Atlantic Fleet
    • Allied Ground Forces
    • Allied Air Forces
    • Strategic Reserves
Michael S. Pauley, Author

GI BEANS, GI GRAVY...

10/15/2013

0 Comments

 
Culture Shock!  Speaking of the Navy, which I guess I have several times this week, I have to tell an old soldier’s story.  I wasn’t new to the military, having been in the Army for several years and raised by an “old Navy man” my whole life, but my first visit to a United States Navy Ship was an eye opener.  I was a somewhat freshly commissioned Army Lieutenant, and had the opportunity to “come aboard” a “Fast Frigate,” the USS Capadanno, FFG - 1093.  On this particular day, I was the acting commander of the Army unit that was invited aboard, and as I approached the Officer of the Deck (OOD), I was announced as “[the unit number] Arriving.”  I saluted the OOD and requested permission to come aboard, and then once the permission was granted, I saluted aft towards the colors, and stepped onto the ship.  

The OOD seemed impressed that I had at least a clue about how to get on board, and within minutes, myself and the other officers in my contingent were taken to the Wardroom.  Let me say that all of us were exhausted, dirty, and probably as smelly as any humans could be, after spending almost three weeks in a swampy nasty place.  We’d been living off “C” rations and just about anything else we could get our hands on.  Now we were standing in what could pass for a formal dining room.  There were table cloths, china with the ships logo, and cloth napkins in silver plated rings.  We were seated, and then served!  There was no “chow line”, we actually had someone come out and serve us a REAL meal!  The culture shock almost killed us all, especially since it culminated in the first real hot meal and decent coffee in weeks.  It was then that I realized that we might have the same goals, and complimentary roles in the service, but the Navy is just different.  Sitting there, enjoying the coffee, and fine surroundings I was also struck by the obvious notion that originated from the old “Jody Call”.  “GI Beans, GI Gravy, GI wish I’d joined the Navy!” ~ Michael S. Pauley
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Author

    Michael S. Pauley is a Navy brat and an old soldier who served in all three components of the United States Army. Living in Lexington, South Carolina, Michael is now a practicing attorney and member of the United States Naval Institute and the American Legion, Post 154, Tybee Island, Georgia.

    Archives

    June 2021
    May 2021
    December 2020
    August 2017
    January 2017
    October 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    December 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013

    Categories

    All
    Aliens
    Current News
    Day Job
    Day Job
    Events
    History
    Military
    Random Thoughts
    Sequels
    Writing

    RSS Feed

Contact us
EVENTS/BOOK SIGNINGS
FAQ
Buy the books
Site maintained by Downhill Media Group, LLC