Man Overboard!


Since 03-25-04

From: Jerry Bliss Date: 04 Aug 2003

It must have been Summer 1959 or 1960. ROCK was tied up at Broadway Pier, San Diego. We were about to get underway for local ops. Engines warmed up maneuvering watch stationed, CO & XO on the bridge...

One of our junior officers was leaving the boat just at the last possible moment; transferred somewhere, I suppose. I was a line handler on #2 line, next to the gangway, singled-up, I expect... anyway up from forward room hatch comes Mr. LTJG sea bag and orders in hand; 'Request permission to go ashore" and steps onto the gangway... about halfway up the brow, it falls off the pier dumping him and his sea bag into the drink!

No one hurt, but a lot of embarrassment. Stunned for a moment, I shout. "Man overboard!" Of course that was obvious to everyone. We fish him out of the bay and he goes below to change into a dry uniform (which of course he didn't have one of...).

So one of the other officers loans him a set of khaki's... Didn't fit, of course, and looked pretty comical.

Well, up on deck again... "permission to go ashore", once more, and this time takes a good look at the brow.... safely ashore, ROCK gets underway 15 minutes late.

Jerry Bliss, San Jose, CA