TO THE CREW OF 1964, 1969, AN BEYOND"

Dear Enterprise Shipmate:
        How many of you have read your service records since
the cruise?  Probably not very many.  I am sure you all
remember the section called "Administrative Remarks."
That's the section that contains those tidbits of your
personal history like "Transferred to/from mess-cooking;
compartment cleaning; transferred to/from the ship; got a
medal; achieved world piece; ended famine" etc.  Beyond the
full-color wallhanging certificates that some of you display
in your homes, today, there is a certificate in your
administrative remarks that 99& 44/100s of you have never
seen, but you all have one.
        This is the one that counts (if anything counts for
anything), the only one the United States Government would
recognize, and is (as are your records) scheduled to be
preserved (in one form or another) "for eternity."  It says
in part:
        "Be it known that no other sailormen, in the history
of the world participated in all the following events in a
single cruise:"
          The certificate goes on to detail the cruise, and
is signed by F.S Peterson CDR USN Ex O.  But let us take a
moment to ponder the weight of Commander Peterson's remarks,
and how they apply to you.  First of all that excludes for
consideration such notables as Pizzaro, Magellan, De Soto,
Cortez, Marko Polo, Columbus, Eric the Red, Amerigo
Vasbussi, Captain Beligh and Mr. Christian, Hornblower,
Decatur, (Since Friday, October 13, 1775) Admirals Halsey,
Nimitz, Burke, Zumwalt Richover, Forrestal, Perry, all "Old
Salts" however they didn't make the list, but you did.
While the U.S. Navy is only 227 odd years old, "History of
the world" includes the Spartans who rescued Helen from
Troy, or Roman Emperor, Ceaser who sailed against Cleopatra
(and poor Mark) 300+- BC, Alexander T.G., Khans, (Cubla and
Genghis').  They all had navies but they didn't do what you
did.
         The National Records center in St Louis informs me
that there have been about 20,000 000 men and women in the
United States Navy (total), but only about 8000 have ever
done what you did in the history of this Navy, or any other
Navy in 6000 years of Judao recorded history, or will ever
do it again.
         In something less than 500 days, 6 hours, 52 mins
(as of this writing) A group of old men are going to get
together to reflect on an event in history, and like the
event itself there will only be one reunion, dedicated to
this one event.  This will be the only 40th anniversary of
Sea-Orbit in the history of the world.  If somebody wants to
do a 50th, Pat, Mark, and I would love to attend.  The
absolute youngest "Kiddy-Cruiser on Sea Orbit will be 57
years old as of the date of the reunion.  Those older guys,
who you thought were near death, until you got to be 38
(the 1st's, Chiefs, Lt Commanders and above) will be
flirting with their 80s as of the reunion.  Pat and I will
be over 60 even Mark (the kid) will be cracking 50 wide
open.  The actuaries at the Veterans Administration inform
me that the Vietnam era (that's us 50 something's) are
passing on at about 100 a month.  The oldest of us (the 80
something's) are passing on at about 100 a week.
     That is why this reunion is important.  I personally
would find it very difficult to imagine a higher priority,
(short of a court date).  .  Part of this reunion is about
sharing your memories with those who were there.  While
family and friends are genuinely interested, there's nothing
like saying, "Do you remember..." to somebody who just
might.  Example: Pat will agree with you about the
frustration of EXTENDING the cruise, for what-ever-reason.
He is glad to have been a participant, but at the time, he
had a new baby, born after we left, and making world history
was not on his personal agenda.
        Do you remember the "Phantom pooper (Sh_ _ _ r)" in
the hanger deck firefighting sponsins, and his 1MC
announcements, "The Phantom strikes again."  Do you remember
the EXEC threatening to call GQ if the pollywogs didn't quit
assaulting the shellbacks, the day before the crossing of
the equator?  How about V-6 Division trading two airman for
a Wallaby?  I have, for 35 years, carried the memory of also
visiting Karachi, Capetown, Sydney, and Rio (what's wrong
with that picture).  We never visited Capetown but smiled as
we sailed by Port Elizabeth.  Though Capetown was on the
itinerary it never happened, as Pat rather assertively
reminded me (complete with documentation).  Do you remember
why?  The reunion will help to cure many of those kinds of
memory tricks we seniors (I'm 57) have been playing on
ourselves also.
        For many, the cruise was a dividing point in their
lives, that is in the retelling, life's events were either
BC or AC (before or after the cruise) If you want a rush and
maybe find your self in a picture, root around the old book
stores and flea markets for the February 1965 National
Geographic, Operation sea orbit and the cruise were featured
including the cover and centerfold out.
        Thus far I have only found one person whom I knew in
those days, that being Pat, but many of you have chosen to
share with me (a comparative stranger) some of your deepest
most intimate and in some cases most horrific memories, for
which I am deeply honored.  To a civilian that might seem a
little strange, but we have a bond; the Enterprise.  What I
have learned is; there is a need to share these matters,
especially the fire with those who were there.  Those of us
who came before and after would like to know about the fire,
unfiltered by some print-media retelling.
        There is no doubt that this reunion will fill a most
therapeutic need and release some real pain.  My kid said
(regarding the cruise) " So, are you a hero?"  I said , No I
was a participant, who was lucky.  I was chosen by the gods
of odds and fate.  However, those who were chosen to
participate in the fire are the real Heros.  It has been
said many Heros are born when there's no place to run.  I
don't believe that.  I will tell you this, every man who
ever put to sea wonders what he will do if he ever hears the
words "This is not a drill, this is not a drill."  Those who
participated in the fire, know.
I can't speak for you but I need this reunion.

Gary Arlaud ADR3
     arleaux@msn.com
Use your back button to return to the Home Page
To See Old Farts
Then and Now
Click
Traditions of the US Navy