Hey shipmates I know you have your own personal story. Why not send it to
me as Jerry Walkins has done, so all can share.
me as Jerry Walkins has done, so all can share.
| The Saga of the Captain's Bell |
In the summer of 1954 the USS BEARSS was steaming around the Pacific and the
China Sea as part of the world cruise. Among the ports of call was the great city of
Hong Kong. During one of our visits to that famous port the Bell from the Captain's
Gig came up missing ! Someone must have stolen it ! Was it a Hong Kong citizen ?
Nah, they wouldn't do such a thing. It no doubt was an inside job. Obliviously it was
removed and bartered for booze or maybe a new suit. Yeah, that's it - it was sold.
Who could have done such a dastardly thing ? Not me, said Dick Treacy, the
bowman. Nor I said Paul Mueller, the Motor Mechanic. "I would never do such a
thing," intoned Tom Rickert, the Coxswain. The Captain and the Exec were furious.
"Someone will pay for this !" "Heads will roll."
A crack investigative team determined that it was someone on the Gig's crew and
that someone wa Dick Treacy. Yes, he must be the guilty one. Dick wa perplexed.
He was to be Court Marshaled. He was in serious trouble. LTJG Don Carswell
stepped up and championed Dick by serving as his defence attorney. Dick was
proclaimed innocent at the trial and walked away a free man, thanks to LTJG
Carswell's skills.
Prologue: Note that this event occurred in 1954. At our Newport, Rhode Island
reunion, Dick and Don met again some 41 years after the court Marshal. After a
drink or two, Dick admitted that he was guilty. They beat the rap. Don had
successfully defended a guilty man !
Submitted by, Jerry Walkins
China Sea as part of the world cruise. Among the ports of call was the great city of
Hong Kong. During one of our visits to that famous port the Bell from the Captain's
Gig came up missing ! Someone must have stolen it ! Was it a Hong Kong citizen ?
Nah, they wouldn't do such a thing. It no doubt was an inside job. Obliviously it was
removed and bartered for booze or maybe a new suit. Yeah, that's it - it was sold.
Who could have done such a dastardly thing ? Not me, said Dick Treacy, the
bowman. Nor I said Paul Mueller, the Motor Mechanic. "I would never do such a
thing," intoned Tom Rickert, the Coxswain. The Captain and the Exec were furious.
"Someone will pay for this !" "Heads will roll."
A crack investigative team determined that it was someone on the Gig's crew and
that someone wa Dick Treacy. Yes, he must be the guilty one. Dick wa perplexed.
He was to be Court Marshaled. He was in serious trouble. LTJG Don Carswell
stepped up and championed Dick by serving as his defence attorney. Dick was
proclaimed innocent at the trial and walked away a free man, thanks to LTJG
Carswell's skills.
Prologue: Note that this event occurred in 1954. At our Newport, Rhode Island
reunion, Dick and Don met again some 41 years after the court Marshal. After a
drink or two, Dick admitted that he was guilty. They beat the rap. Don had
successfully defended a guilty man !
Submitted by, Jerry Walkins
| Watch here for the next Personal Account. Check back often. |
| Article was contributed by Charlie McCon |
Palmer Mueller (51-55) passed away Tuesday, May 29, 2007. Palmer was the MM
for the Captain's Gig and was part of the crew when the Bell was "Stolen". Palmer
also kept the Ice Cream Machine running. Jerry Walkins worked with him while
crossing the Pacific making ice cream and putting it into cups a-la Dairy Queen and
sold at the ship's store every day....garnered some cash for a couple of ship's
party's (Beer bust on Midway Island & a Party in Sasabo, Japan). Palmer and Jerry
worked after taps down in the scullery making the ice cream - ate some and passed
it around to deserving crew members - bakers for some hot bread, laundry for
pressed whites, ship fitters & electricians for favors whenever needed. Along with
all that, they had late sleeper's chits. Which wasn't a bad deal at all.
Submitted by, Jerry Walkins
for the Captain's Gig and was part of the crew when the Bell was "Stolen". Palmer
also kept the Ice Cream Machine running. Jerry Walkins worked with him while
crossing the Pacific making ice cream and putting it into cups a-la Dairy Queen and
sold at the ship's store every day....garnered some cash for a couple of ship's
party's (Beer bust on Midway Island & a Party in Sasabo, Japan). Palmer and Jerry
worked after taps down in the scullery making the ice cream - ate some and passed
it around to deserving crew members - bakers for some hot bread, laundry for
pressed whites, ship fitters & electricians for favors whenever needed. Along with
all that, they had late sleeper's chits. Which wasn't a bad deal at all.
Submitted by, Jerry Walkins
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Thomas E. Beglane (60-62) passed away in 07. I remember Tom as a laid back
kind of guy. When we were in the Reserve Fleet we pulled into N.Y. for liberty.
Tom lived in Brooklyn and he called his girlfriend (at the time), and had her get
dates for myself and three other single shipmates. She did a great job on such short
notice. We went out to a club of which I can't remember the name of. The cover
charge was $10.00 each, which took my pocket money immediately down to half
my starting amount. I was getting paid $36.00 a month at the time. After seating
and ordering drinks (legal age was 18 then) the entertainment started. Wouldn't you
know it! It was the same steel band we saw a week earlier in Jamaica for free.
Sometime later (like a year or so) while in home port of Norfolk, Tom was packing
his sea bag. I asked what was going on and he told me he had to go over to the
hospital, and was kind of vague as to the reason why. I let it pass and wished him
well. Little did anyone know he had reached his discharge date. He kept quiet
about this to everyone and probably bribed the yeoman to keep it under wraps
also. That was the last time I or anyone else on the ship talked to Tom.
Submitted by, Charlie Brown
kind of guy. When we were in the Reserve Fleet we pulled into N.Y. for liberty.
Tom lived in Brooklyn and he called his girlfriend (at the time), and had her get
dates for myself and three other single shipmates. She did a great job on such short
notice. We went out to a club of which I can't remember the name of. The cover
charge was $10.00 each, which took my pocket money immediately down to half
my starting amount. I was getting paid $36.00 a month at the time. After seating
and ordering drinks (legal age was 18 then) the entertainment started. Wouldn't you
know it! It was the same steel band we saw a week earlier in Jamaica for free.
Sometime later (like a year or so) while in home port of Norfolk, Tom was packing
his sea bag. I asked what was going on and he told me he had to go over to the
hospital, and was kind of vague as to the reason why. I let it pass and wished him
well. Little did anyone know he had reached his discharge date. He kept quiet
about this to everyone and probably bribed the yeoman to keep it under wraps
also. That was the last time I or anyone else on the ship talked to Tom.
Submitted by, Charlie Brown
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