One day on main deck at what served as in port quarterdeck ... some of the bosun's had a box that contained a raffigator that was captured in main control. ... the box had some shoring timbers around it to control it and a few tarps over that.

An ensign that was the boot officer aboard crossed from port to starboard and asked .. "what is in the box" ..... no one snickered ... kept it solemn and a BM1 told the ensign ... " a freshly caught raffigator" .... a wide eyed ensign begged to see and it was explained that you had to be on your knees and peek under the canvas and he was all gung ho to do that.

As BM1 explained that you had to look deep in the box for two beady red eyes (cardboard with holes over red flashlight lens) and NO sudden moves..

When the ensign was on his knees and started to lift the canvas ... I swung a soaking wet swab full circle and connected home run style square across both rear pockets of his khakis ... .... laughter then broke out and I was immediately nose to nose with the ensign ... he advised me of how bad a captains mast would be and stormed off to get clean uniform.

Within minutes of all this I was called to XOs stateroom .... now you have to understand ... the XO is a WW II vet .. UDT and got his commission via the V12 program ... as I stood at attention ... I got the right hand index finger wag and "do not ever do that again" ... DISMISSED .... I survived .. no Captains mast ...

Found out that the ensign got scolded too ... basically "don't be so damned stupid" ...

- Jerry S.