Vietnam Era Signalmen listen up:

These are the recollections of Jack Young, SM-3 of the "picking up the pilot" event on the night of November 4th as seen from the Bridge of the USS Ingersoll.

 04/07/03 DAN I WAS ABOARD THE INGERSOLL FROM 1964 TO 1968. COULD YOU PUT ME IN TOUCH WITH A SIGNALMAN FROM YOUR SHIP IN THAT ERA? I HAD MOVIE CAMERA AND TOOK PICTURES OF AN UNREP FROM THE KITTY HAWK. THIS WAS NOV 4TH OR 5TH 1966. AS WE BROKE AWAY YOUR SHIP WAS NEXT IN LINE FOR THE UNREP. I TOOK ABOUT THIRTY SECONDS OF THE STODDARD GOING ALONG SIDE THE KITTY HAWK. YOUR HULL NUMBER IS EASY TO SEE SO IT IS POSITIVELY YOURS. ANYONE INTERESTED I WILL GLADLY SEND A COPY ON VHS. IT ISN'T MUCH EXCEPT FOR THOSE WHO NEVER SEEN THE SIZE DIFFERENCE. ALSO ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT THE PILOT IN A COVE NEAR CHU LAI? I VIVIDLY REMEMBER GOING INTO GET THE PILOT AND I SEEN THIRTEEN MUZZLE BLASTS ON SHORE. THEY NEVER HIT US BUT YOUR SHIP WAS TORN UP. THE SIGNALMEN HAD TO USE A HAND HELD LIGHT TO TALK TO ME. I GAVE DIRECTION TO STEER THE SHIP. LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU THINK. IT IS VERY LATE AT NIGHT OR I WOULD GIVE A MUCH MORE DETAILED REPORT ON THAT DAY. THANKS JACK Q. YOUNG SM-3

04/07/03 AS I TOLD YOU THAT VERY DAY IS A MOVIE IN MY HEAD AND I HAVE TOLD THAT STORY MANY TIMES. I DID NOT THINK YOU GOT THAT MSG BECAUSE I AM HAVING A PROBLEM WITH EMAIL. I JUST GOT A COMPUTER AND NEVER USED ONE EXCEPT AT WORK AND IT WAS A YES OR NO PROGRAM. I AM LOOKING FOR SOME PICTURES OF A DESTROYER IN HEAVY SEAS. PREFERABLY GREENIES OVER THE BOW. I AM FROM THE STICKS AND I TELL PEOPLE ABOUT FIFTY FOOT SWELLS AND A DESTROYER DISAPPEARING IN THOSE SWELLS. WHEN I TELL THAT PEOPLE LOOK AT ME LIKE YEAH RIGHT!�SEND ME YOUR ADDRESS AND I WILL MAIL YOU THE VHS OF YOUR SHIP REFUELING FROM KITTY HAWK. WHEN I WAS IN THE NAVY I COULD NOT WAIT TO GET OUT. NOW I AM TRYING TO HOLD ON TO EVERY MEMORY. DESTROYER SAILORS ARE A DIFFERENT BREED. I RETIRED FROM THE POLICE FORCE AFTER 23 YEARS. I TOOK A CHIEF OF POLICE JOB FOR TWO MORE YEARS AND AM UNEMPLOYED NOW. I SAY THAT�BECAUSE POLICE OFFICERS HAVE A STRONG CONNECTION TO OTHER OFFICERS NO MATTER WHERE THEY ARE FROM. DESTROYER MEN�ALSO HAVE THAT CONNECTION.� THERE WAS A GUY ON MY SHIP AND HE WAS EVEN FURTHER IN THE BOON DOCKS THAN I. HE WAS GETTING OUT AND I ASKED HIM WHAT HE WAS GOING TO DO. HE SAID" I AM GOING TO STAND ON THE BEACH AT THE WATERS EDGE WITH AN ANCHOR ON MY SHOULDER. I AM GOING TO WALK EAST UNTIL SOMEONE APPROACHES ME AND SAYS, WHAT IS THAT ON YOUR SHOULDER ? I WILL DROP THE ANCHOR AND BUILD A HOUSE AND LIVE THERE." HE CRACKED ME UP. WELL DAN KEEP IN TOUCH, I ENJOY REMEMBERING AND TRADING STORIES. IF YOU COME UP WITH A SIGNAL MAN LET ME KNOW. ALSO I USED TO HAVE A "DISH" AND A PAY PER VIEW PROGRAM THIRTY MIN LONG THAT SAID NAVAL BATTLES. I TAPED IT AND ALL THE SHIPS WE WERE WITH ARE ON THERE AND SHOWS DESTROYERS FIVE INCH ROUNDS HITTING ON SHORE. I DON'T KNOW YOU REMEMBER THE ARMY SPOTTER PLANE 2-6-CHARLIE. I REMEMBER BECAUSE OUR CAPT. WAS SO TAKEN WITH HIS COURAGE AND FLYING ABILITY WE BROUGHT HIM ABOARD FOR US TO MEET. HE IS IN THE FILM. I WILL SEND THAT ALONG ALSO I THINK YOU WILL ENJOY WATCHING IT.�� SEE YOU LATER jACK Q.�

 04-08-03 DAN I HOPE WE ARE SPEAKING ABOUT THE SAME INCIDENT PICKING THE PILOT. I REMEMBER THAT DAY LIKE IT WAS YESTERDAY. WE (INGERSOLL AND STODDARD) HAD MADE THE PLAN TO GO INTO GET A DOWNED PILOT. AS ALL NOSY PEOPLE ARE ALL OF US WERE ON THE BRIDGE AND SIGNAL BRIDGE WANTED TO WATCH IT ALL HAPPEN. THE OOD TOLD US SIGNALMEN THAT THE STODDARD WAS GOING IN AND PUT THEIR WHALE BOAT IN AND PICK UP THE PILOT. WE WERE TO BE AT YOUR�PORT QUARTER AND COVER YOU. I WATCHED AS THE WHALE BOAT WAS LOWERED TILL IT JUST TOUCHED THE WATER AND I GOT YELLED AT TO GO TO THE PORT SIDE BECAUSE NO ONE WAS COVERING IT. I POUTED BUT DID GO. THIRTY SECONDS DID NOT GO BY AND I COUNTED THIRTEEN RED MUZZLE BLASTS. I SCREAMED LIKE A LITTLE GIRL " COUNTER BATTERY" I THEN JUST STOOD THERE BLINKING MY EYES BECAUSE I THOUGHT I WOULD BE TAKING ONE OF THOSE SHELLS BETWEEN THE EYES. WHEN I HEARD THEM HIT AND IT WAS NOT ME I RAN TO STARBOARD ND WATCHED HORROR PIECES OF YOUR SHIP FLY THROUGH THE AIR. WE TURNED TO PORT AND WITH RAPID CONTINUOUS FIRE ;LAID DOWN A BUNCH OF AMMO ON THE THEM. YOUR WHALE BOAT WITH AT LEAST FIVE MEN IN IT WAS ACTUALLY SKIPPING OVER THE WATER. IM NOT SURE AT THAT POINT IF THE GUYS KNEW WHY THEY WERE BEING TREATED TO SUCH AN EXCITING RIDE.. NEXT I WILL NEVER FORGET LOOKING AT THE HOLE IN YOUR SHIP AND SEEING SOMEONE LOOKING OUT. HIS EYES WERE LIKE TWO PLATTERS. THE OOD STARTED YELLING FOR ME TO SEND YOU WHAT DEGREES TO STEER AND SHOOT. I REMEMBER THINKING IF I SCREW THIS UP THEY WILL SHOOT ME. THE SIGNALMAN USED THE BATTERY HAND HELD LIGHT.� WHEN YOU ARE STRESSED BY TIME IT GETS HARD TO READ THE LIGHT BUT WHEN BEING FIRED AT AND GETTING HIT THAT MAN SHOULD HAVE GOT A MEDAL. WE NEVER EVEN GOT ONE LITTLE HIT ON US. IT IS COMICAL TO THINK ABOUT NOW AS NO ONE WAS HURT. I WOULD A MILLION BUCKS TO HAVE A PICTURE OF THE GUYS IN THE WHALE BOAT. I'M THINKING THEY ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO KICKING SOMEONE'S BUTT ONCE BACK ON DECK.� I WILL BACK UP A BIT. WE GOT TO A POINT I COULD SEE THE PILOT THROUGH THE BIG EYES AND FIFTY CAL. TRACERS BOUNCING OFF THE WATER AROUND HIM. I WAS TOLD HE WAS NEVER PICKED AND ONE OR TWO MORE PLANES WERE LOST OVER THAT. BUT SKUTTLEBUTT WAS THICK AS YOU WELL REMEMBER. THE PART I TOLD YOU IS SO REAL TO ME YET IT IS LIKE IT HAPPENED YESTERDAY. BY THE WAY WHEN I SCREAMED COUNTER BATTERY THE CAPT. AND OOD CAME THRU THE PILOT HOUSE TO MY SIDE LOOKING AT ME LIKE THIS BETTER NOT BE A JOKE.� I BOUGHT A MOVIE CAMERA AND IT CAME WITH A ROLL OF FILM. AS I ALREADY TOLD YOU WE WERE ALONG SIDE THE�KITTY HAWK AND YOUR SHIP WAS NEXT. I HAD NEVER USED A MOVIE CAMERA BEFORE BUT DID A PRETTY GOOD JOB. THE VERY NEXT DAY WE�TOOK A DIRECT HIT OFF CHU LAI. I THINK THAT IS WHERE I LEARNED TO SCREAM SO GOOD. I WAS SLEEPING AFTER THE MID WATCH AND WAS AWOKEN AND TOLD TO GO TO THE BRIDGE WE WERE TAKING SOME HITS. I USED MY VERY BEST UGLY FACE THINKING THIS WANTS TO JACK ME ABOUT NO SLEEP. I GOT TO THE HATCH GOING OUT TO STARBOARD, UP STARBOARD DOWN PORT, AND THIS ENSIGN SAID OUT THAT HATCH THE SHELLS ARE HITTING THIS SIDE. HE DID NOT KNOW WE HAD TURNED AND JUST AS MY FOOT HIT THE DECK A SHELL EXPLODED RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME. I IMMEDIATELY STARTED SMELLING SOMETHING VERY�STINKY. I DO BELIEVE I CAME UP WITH A NEW HASH MARK IN THE SKIVEES.� I BELIEVE THE STODDARD & COGSWELL�WERE WITH US MORE THAN ANY OTHER SHIPS. AS A SIGNALMAN I TALKED, VIA THE LIGHT, WITH MOST OF THE SM'S AND COULD IDENTIFY THEM BY THEIR STYLE OF SIGNALING BUT ONLY MET A FEW FACE TO FACE. OF COURSE IN SUBIC, YOKOSUKA and HONG KONG I COULD HAVE TALKED TO ADM. NIMITZ AND NOT HAVE KNOWN IT. IT WAS THAT DARN SAN MIEGEL BEER. AFTER ABOUT TEN OF THOSE THE NEXT DAY I COULD HAVE USED MY BUTT AND FARTS AS A CUTTING TORCH. I REALLY WONDER HOW I EVER MADE IT THROUGH TWO WES PAC TOURS,� I GET A LITTLE TOO TALKATIVE. BUT THOSE DAYS I WHINED ABOUT THEN I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE ONE OR TWO MORE DAYS OF IT. IT HAD A WAY OF MAKING A KID AGE A BIT. IF YOU HAVE SOME TIME I LIKED A GOOD SEA STORY AS LONG AS IT STARTS THIS AIN'T NO�!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! LATER, JACK Q. YOUNG��

 04-10-03 AS I TOLD YOU THAT VERY DAY IS A MOVIE IN MY HEAD AND I HAVE TOLD THAT STORY MANY TIMES. I DID NOT THINK YOU GOT THAT MSG BECAUSE I AM HAVING A PROBLEM WITH EMAIL. I JUST GOT A COMPUTER AND NEVER USED ONE EXCEPT AT WORK AND IT WAS A YES OR NO PROGRAM. I AM LOOKING FOR SOME PICTURES OF A DESTROYER IN HEAVY SEAS. PREFERABLY GREENIES OVER THE BOW. I AM FROM THE STICKS AND I TELL PEOPLE ABOUT FIFTY FOOT SWELLS AND A DESTROYER DISAPPEARING IN THOSE SWELLS. WHEN I TELL THAT PEOPLE LOOK AT ME LIKE YEAH RIGHT!�SEND ME YOUR ADDRESS AND I WILL MAIL YOU THE VHS OF YOUR SHIP REFUELING FROM KITTY HAWK. WHEN I WAS IN THE NAVY I COULD NOT WAIT TO GET OUT. NOW I AM TRYING TO HOLD ON TO EVERY MEMORY. DESTROYER SAILORS ARE A DIFFERENT BREED. I RETIRED FROM THE POLICE FORCE AFTER 23 YEARS. I TOOK A CHIEF OF POLICE JOB FOR TWO MORE YEARS AND AM UNEMPLOYED NOW. I SAY THAT�BECAUSE POLICE OFFICERS HAVE A STRONG CONNECTION TO OTHER OFFICERS NO MATTER WHERE THEY ARE FROM. DESTROYER MEN�ALSO HAVE THAT CONNECTION.� THERE WAS A GUY ON MY SHIP AND HE WAS EVEN FURTHER IN THE BOON DOCKS THAN I. HE WAS GETTING OUT AND I ASKED HIM WHAT HE WAS GOING TO DO. HE SAID" I AM GOING TO STAND ON THE BEACH AT THE WATERS EDGE WITH AN ANCHOR ON MY SHOULDER. I AM GOING TO WALK EAST UNTIL SOMEONE APPROACHES ME AND SAYS, WHAT IS THAT ON YOUR SHOULDER ? I WILL DROP THE ANCHOR AND BUILD A HOUSE AND LIVE THERE." HE CRACKED ME UP. WELL DAN KEEP IN TOUCH, I ENJOY REMEMBERING AND TRADING STORIES. IF YOU COME UP WITH A SIGNAL MAN LET ME KNOW. ALSO I USED TO HAVE A "DISH" AND A PAY PER VIEW PROGRAM THIRTY MIN LONG THAT SAID NAVAL BATTLES. I TAPED IT AND ALL THE SHIPS WE WERE WITH ARE ON THERE AND SHOWS DESTROYERS FIVE INCH ROUNDS HITTING ON SHORE. I DON'T KNOW YOU REMEMBER THE ARMY SPOTTER PLANE 2-6-CHARLIE. I REMEMBER BECAUSE OUR CAPT. WAS SO TAKEN WITH HIS COURAGE AND FLYING ABILITY WE BROUGHT HIM ABOARD FOR US TO MEET. HE IS IN THE FILM. I WILL SEND THAT ALONG ALSO I THINK YOU WILL ENJOY WATCHING IT.�� SEE YOU LATER jACK Q.