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Comment by diannep on December 22, 2013 at 8:33pm

Everyone will not be able to call on Christmas.  There are over 7,000 SRs there on RTC....so you can see why all can't call.  Keep the phones close because they may try to let some call during the days up to Christmas.  My son actually got to call on Christmas Eve when he was in bootcamp. 

Comment by sailormom_913 (Ship 14 Div 061) on December 22, 2013 at 3:34pm

I have been surpirsed by the phone calls that we have gotten all together. Honestly, I was expecting the inital I made it call, the I am alive call, and the I am a sailor call, but I have received 3 calls already and he is in his 5th week (the end of the 5th). Tuesday will be the beginning of the 6th week. I hope to receive a call on Christmas but I wonder if they will manage to let everyone call on that day. I sure do hope so!!! 

Comment by diannep on December 22, 2013 at 9:12am

Good Morning to All !

Comment by Craig on December 21, 2013 at 9:07pm

*** Weird Navy History ***

 

Who would think that potatoes could save a U.S. Navy warship? But that's exactly what happened at the height of World War II.

On April 5, 1943, the destroyer USS O'Bannon (DD-450), on patrol near the Solomon Islands, was sent to investigate a blip on the radar. The blip turned out to be a Japanese submarine casually floating on the surface. The Japanese sailors, unaware that they had been discovered, were sleeping on the deck — even the lookouts were asleep on their watch.

The Americans were poised to ram the sub, but at the last minute the captain, worried that the sub might be filled with explosives, gave the order to swing the rudder hard to avoid a collision.  With the O'Bannon so close to the sub, an explosion would have destroyed both vessels at the same time.

 

When the sleeping Japanese sailors opened their eyes, they were startled to find an American warship alongside them. The two ships were so close that the O'Bannon's guns could not be lowered enough to fire upon the sub. For a time no one seemed to know what to do; sailors on both sides just stood and stared at one another.

Suddenly, the spell was broken and the Japanese made for their guns. Unwilling to be sitting ducks, the American sailors looked for something, anything that could be used as projectiles. What they found were measly potatoes in a nearby storage locker. In a stroke of genius, some sailors reached into the storage bins and started pelting the enemy with them. The Japanese, probably thinking that the potatoes were hand grenades, hurriedly caught them, and with no time to think, throwing them back at the O'Bannon or overboard into the water. They were kept so busy battling the potatoes that they had no time to man their guns.

With the enemy occupied, the O'Bannon was able to maneuver into a position from which her guns could be used. Several shots were fired and the sub's conning tower — the compartment that houses the periscope — was hit. Nevertheless, the sub was able to get below the surface, but it was too late for the Japanese. The destroyer moved into a position just above the sub and set off a depth charge. The sub was sunk, and the potatoes were credited with the victory.

 

When the Association of Potato Growers of Maine heard the story of the O'Bannon's exploit, they had a commemorative plaque made, which read:

A TRIBUTE TO

THE OFFICERS AND MEN

OF THE

U.S.S. O'BANNON

FOR THEIR INGENUITY IN

USING OUR NOW PROUD POTATO

TO "SINK" A JAP SUBMARINE

IN THE SPRING OF 1943

PRESENTED BY

POTATO GROWERS

OF THE STATE OF MAINE

JUNE 14, 1945

The plaque was awarded to the O'Bannon, where it was proudly displayed near the mess hall - where the sailors thereafter put the potatoes to more peaceful (and hopefully more delicious!) purposes. It was perhaps the only time in history that a potato was credited with winning a naval encounter.

 

Craig
PIRGifts.com (Providing 100% funding for NavyDEP.com)
NavyDEP.com – Our Mission: Remember - Honor – and Teach
“To Remember the fallen; Honor those who serve, and to Teach our future sailors the value of freedom.”

Comment by CatMom509 on December 21, 2013 at 4:20pm

Hi Friends~

     "Surely God is my help;

      the Lord is the One who sustains me."

                                             Psalm 54:4

Comment by Craig on December 21, 2013 at 2:17pm

Per the classification meeting, read the 3-2 day here... http://www.navydep.com/forums/showthread.php?t=433

Comment by PoodleLady on December 21, 2013 at 2:11pm

My daughter (div 062) told me in our phone conversation on Monday afternoon, Dec. 16th, that her div was scheduled to meet with the classifiers this week (the week that just pasted). She said the meeting was for the purpose of confirming their jobs. Waiting to hear from her again and hoping nothing has changed for her unless it was her choice. She had a contract for an HM position attending A School in San Antonio, Tx. She was in DEP for several months waiting for this position to become available before attending boot camp.

Comment by navymomx3 on December 21, 2013 at 1:49pm

My daughter is also AECF so they will be in school together.

Comment by bikerbabe55 on December 21, 2013 at 1:23pm

I'm not sure where I read about those classification meetings. I found it confusing because my SR has not mentioned them. She contracted as an HM. I wish I could find the original post but no luck yet! Thanks for clarifying tho I really appreciate your help!

Comment by diannep on December 21, 2013 at 10:52am

Ok, I see where bikerbabe in this group is the one who mentioned the meetings.  So sounds like they happened during this week.

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