A SALTY TALE

On Board the USS Hanson DDR 832

The Bo's'n's Chair and a Ukulele
by Richard Duffy

  While the USS Hanson was patrolling the Formosa Straits in early November, 1956, the only land mass we saw in close to 30 days was, "THE ROCK." It just stuck out there like a little Mount Fugi. If it were not for our entertainment center, the fantail, we would have been bored out of our 'gourds!' When underway, weather permitting, the fantail becomes the Hanson's cinema. The aft 5" gun mount is turned sideways, and the side of the mount becomes a movie screen! It's a site to behold. If you look to port and starboard, all you see is...ocean, and sometimes 'the rock.' And there on the deck are a bunch of swabbies, laying on gray navy blankets with their coffee, smokes, and goodies, enjoying a good 'shit-kicker' (a cowboy movie). Then there's that clown from the deck crew who walks out carrying a wooden box with a strap around his neck barking..."Popcorn, ice creme, Milk Duds..."

Then when a few apple cores, tomatoes, and some coffee are thrown at him, he seems to disappear? There was something brewing, something different was going to happen...I could feel it? While we were patrolling the straits, there 'was' something brewing back home! My brother, Ronald E. Duffy, Seaman Apprentice, Naval Reserve, had transferred to active duty. The Navy had assigned him duty aboard the USS Hanson DDR 832....he had requested to be with his brother, Richard...the resident musician. The Navy flew Ron to Hawaii, then to the postage stamp land mass, Wake Island. Then it was off to Tokyo where they dropped him off...after they landed.

In search of the Hanson, he took a bus to Yokosuka...no Hanson? Then a train to Sasebo...and again, no Hanson? In Sasebo, Ron managed to hitch a ride on the USS Stemble DD-644, part of DesDiv 72, along with the Hanson, the Laws, and the Tossig.

When I saw Ron's name on the dispatch, I threw my hands in the air and, "HOORAY! Someone from home." Boy he's gonna love this ship...just what he wanted...to get sea-sick...and he will!

At 1500 hours, all hands were port side to, preparing gear-pulleys, block and tackle, and lot's of one inch line. From the outside, it might appear to be a helter-skelter operation...well, it was! The tanker was dead ahead. We moved to starward and picked up speed till we were along side and adjusted our speed to that of the tanker. Interesting thing about a tanker, and other large ships...they don't have any brakes! With a full belly, it takes a tanker about two miles to stop!

We hear a voice from the tanker, "Ready for the shot-line?" "Ready as ever." Then we hear a bang...BANG! A thin line comes to the deck. It's picked up and put through a pulley, then they run aft with it. The thin line becomes a thicker line, and finally, a one inch line. The deck crew is now ready to accept the 5" reinforced rubber fuel hoses. While all this is going on, I'm looking for my brother. I see him. "HEY RON, HEY DUFF!" He can't see me or hear me. He was fooling around with his ukulele and looking down at the water. After seeing the turbulence between the two ships, he puts his ukulele under his arm and holds it tightly. Here comes another shot-line...BANG! This one is for the bo's'n's chair. Quickly, the crew goes through the same routine. With all systems go, Ron held his uke tightly as they strapped him in the chair. As the chair lifts up and over the life lines, he strums the uke and, "Row Row Your Boat Gen...." the ships pull away from each other..."Let Me Down...DOWN!" As he attempted to strum and sing again, the ships lean towards each other..."UP...UP, TAKE ME UP!" Too late. The crest of a wave came very close...his navy shoes were no longer shiny...they were sloshy! A couple of rounds of this up and down splash business, and the chair landed on the Hanson's deck. The crew steadied the chair and let Ron out of his cage! He saw me and we HUGGED! I asked him, "Ron, under those circumstances, why did you attempt to play and sing." "Well Duff, I wanted to make a splash on Broadway?" That's my brother! The Master of Arms came and took Ron to his quarters and a short tour of his new home!

Later I heard that the captain was on the bridge watching and hearing all the commotion. My source told me of what the captain said to the officer of the deck. "Ensign, who the hell was that?" "That was Ronald Duffy sir, Duffy's brother." The captain barked, "OH NO...NOT ANOTHER ONE?"

This story is true to the best of my knowledge. I have added a little flavor as I do in most of my works. I was very fortunate to have my brother on board for the last two cruises to WesPac...the USS Hanson will never forget us...and neither will the NAVY!

Richard Duffy rich@telnor.net