So this is a "no sh$#ter" - had to be 1998, while stationed on the USS Firebolt, we were headed to do a two week JCET with the Belizean Navy. On the day we were to arrive in Belize we arrived and the pilot pick-up point at the prescribed time and the OOD called Belize Port Control informing them that we were at the pilot pick-up point and waiting for the pilot. After at least 60 minutes of chatter betwen the OOD and Port Control, the CO, is getting quite annoyed. The crew has been at Sea and Anchor for sometime. The CO gets on the B2B and at this point asks directly to the Port Control whats the hold up and when we can expect a pilot. The operator on the other end says he really doesn't know what is going on. So the CO then requests to pull into port without a pilot onboard. A pilot was required in this port, however, Belize Port Control stated we could. The channel was wide and not a ton of current and conditions were great. So the CO decided to proceed. The channel from the sea basically opens up to a relatively large bay. At the time Belize City had one pier, once we got visibility of the single pier we looked thru the Big Eyes and saw that two ships were moored there. One of those ships was in the spot were were supposed to pull in to. So the CO has had enough at this point and asked Belize Port Control when the ships currently at the pier are getting underway. Port Control responds "in a couple days". With that answer, the CO looks at the chart and scans the coastline and finds the Marriott. He then gets a quick huddle of the Nav team and decides to anchor off the Marriott. Not 5 minutes after we drop anchor we hear on B2B, from some military attache LCOL. "Firebolt this is LCOL "such-and-such" where are you?" The CO gets on the radio and responds. The LTCOL says we were not authorized to anchor. The CO then tells the LTCOL - "Colonel I don't tell you how to drive your tank. You don't tell me how to drive my ship." Best line on the radio I ever heard.

- D H.