Submarine Command

Of the hundreds of ships

in the United States Navy's Mothball Fleet,

none have a more gallant record

than these battle scarred-veterans of the Submarine Forces,

for these are the ships that in the first days

after Pearl Harbour not only joined in the responsibility

of holding our lifelines secure

but carried the war to the enemy himself.

This story is about one of these ships

and one of her men, Kenneth White.

All right, have your look around if you have to,

but it won't make any difference.

It's over. You know that.

And it's good that you finally know it.

It was over that day five years ago.

Look her over and remember.

She was never your ship anyway.

She was Josh's ship. She always will be.

Commander Joshua Rice, September 11th, 1943,

August 14th, 1945.

August 14th, 1945, easy date to remember,

the day of the big news, the end of the Japanese war,

the last day of Josh Rice's command.

And the day before, the 13th, that was my big day,

the beginning of my own personal war.

Funny how things can start with nothing

and then pile up so fast

it's hard to remember them in any kind of order.

A thousand times I've turned and twisted them,

looking for an answer that never comes.

That afternoon, that 13th of August afternoon,

the enemy had just about given up at sea,

and all we'd seen for days was empty ocean

stretching out slate grey, calm and deserted,

and giving no hint that the first piece

of my private jigsaw puzzle was about to drop into place.

Lookouts to the bridge!

Lookouts to the bridge.

Secure the low-pressure blowers.

Secure the low-pressure blowers.

Permission to come to the bridge.

Granted.

Well, looks like a nice day for a swim.

You wouldn't like it, Ken. Water's about 50.

Low-pressure blowers secured, sir.

Very well.

Back in Michigan, we call that warm.

Yeah, down in Kentucky,

we can chop it up, pour bourbon over it.

Permission to come on the bridge, sir?

Granted.

Looks like we got some business.

Carrier plane down in the drink.

Downed pilot in rubber raft,

zero seven five to point yoke.

I've plotted him in. Puts him about 15 miles from us.

Come right to three one zero, all ahead flank.

Come right to three one zero, all ahead flank.

Life raft bearing, zero one zero.

Very well, take stations to rescue splashed flyer.

Bring her right slowly. Steady on course, three four five.

Bring her right slowly.

Steady on course, three four five.

Steady as you go.

Steady as you go.

Starboard stop.

Starboard stop!

Okay, hold it. Easy does it, that's it.

Glad to see ya.

Had your lunch yet, sir?

No! I certainly good use some.

All right boys, get that gear out stowed.

Anything wrong, sir?

Nah, there's just a crick in my back.

I should've brought along a magazine.

Dull waiting around out here.

If he doesn't like our service, throw him back.

I'm Ken White.

Hi, Pete Morris. You're the captain?

The XO, captain's on the bridge.

Oh.

You all right?

Cut a hole in that raft and sink her.

Aye aye, sir.

Captain, this is Lieutenant Commander Pete Morris,

Commander Rice.

Nice to see you.

Thanks for the lift.

What happened?

Went inland after a Zero.

I didn't have enough gas to get back to the carrier.

Did you get him?

You bet.

Good. Think you can find him something dry to put on?

Oh, a pair of shorts, anyway. This way.

Down there?

Right full rudder.

Right full rudder.

All ahead, standard.

All ahead, standard.

Here are a couple other war trophies we picked up.

Sergeants McKiver and Gentry, Lieutenant Commander Morris.

- Hi. - Hi.

What were you fellas in?

B-29, sir.

Oh, well, how's submarine life seem for change?

Great.

Wait till you taste the chow.

You mean to say you've never been to Australia?

Nope.

Brother, you've been cheated.

My advice to you is to sue.

Serial number.

37611. Sydney, that's the place.

There was a little WAC there on special duty.

Talk about the war effort.

What ship?

Ticonderoga, and another thing,

who wants to go to war in one of these telephone booths?

These submarines.

Why didn't you let 'em stick some Academy guy?

I'm an Academy guy.

Ouch, I may kill myself.

Oh, oh!

Mm, "To Ken, all my love forever, Carol."

That's a pretty wife you've got.

Not my wife.

You mean to say you're not married to that?

When did you have your last physical?

I think you might be shy a few corpuscles.

Nope, just couldn't pin her down.

Simple, break her leg.

No, not this one. Got a mind of her own and a career.

Big advertising job in San Francisco.

All the better.

Friend, if I had a girl like that,

I'd get a license to marry her during lunch hour.

You know, I think you would.

Arnie, this is Pete Morris. Arnie Carlson.

- Hi. - Hi. How are you?

Fine.

- Thomas? - Yes, sir.

- Two coffees, please. - Aye aye, sir.

Some Gin Rummy later?

Yeah, if I'm still awake.

Man, what a life.

You mean all you guys do is loaf round out here

with nothing to do but pick up flyers

and play a little Gin Rummy?

Oh, occasionally we do other things.

Oh.

18, five of 'em warships.

Oh, well, I take it back.

You're a real bunch of gunslingers.

All except me. I just reported aboard.

No action at all?

I was in New London most of the time,

then three cruises on the Starfish.

Didn't even see a Jap.

Oh, oh, well, what's the difference?

The war's practically over.

In a couple of months, we'll be sitting

in some upholstered sewer drinking that dirty old whiskey,

watching those dames wiggle by.

Tell me something, Morris.

Sure.

You ever think about anything but dames?

No.

Morris's question kept bouncing around in my head.

"No action at all?"

He'd laughed it off. He could.

It was a fine joke, and I had appreciated it,

but I wondered if it had spread to the crew

and how funny they thought it was.

Here in the darkness, I wondered.

Wow, guess I'll have to let my belt out again.

You're sure we're not running you short.

Oh, no, we have plenty for everybody.

I don't see where you guys stow it all.

You would if you've been eating on Okinawa for the last two months.

Nice looking schooner.

Well, thank you, sir, but that's a ketch, not a schooner.

Oh.

Of course, it's a little hard to tell now

until I get it rigged.

How long do you think she ought to be when I build my big one?

Oh, 30 feet.

60.

Good luck.

Thank you, sir.

Might as well make it 100 as long as you're dreaming.

Dreaming, listen, I joined the Navy to see the world,

cruise the Seven Seas.

What happens, I spent 12 years underwater.

No Sir, that the day I get out,

I'm gonna start building this baby.

While you guys are worried about paying the rent,

I'll be laying on some beach in the South Seas,

half a dozen babes fanning me with palm leaves.

Not me. I'm gonna settle down in Joplin, Missouri.