Old Navy vs. New Navy

2009-12-28T14:16:24-04:00

"Untitled"

Come gather round me lads and I'll tell you a thing or two;

About the way the Navy was in nineteen fourty two.

When wooden ships and men of steel were barely out of sight;

I'm going to give some facts to you just to set the record right.

We wore the old bell bottoms, with a flat hat on our head;

We always hit the rack at night and never "went to bed."

Our uniforms were worn ashore and we were mighty poud;

Never thought of wearing civvies, in fact, they were never allowed.

What happened to the Kiyi brush, and the old salt-water bath;

Holy stoning decks at night cause you stirred the Boson's wrath.

We always had our gedunk stand and lots of pogey bait;

And it always took a hitch or two just to make a rate.

In your sea bag all your skivvies and towels, were neatly stopped and rolled;

And the blankets on your fa _t sack, better have a 3 inch fold.

Your little ditty bag, it's hard to believe how much it held;

You wouldn't go ashore with trousers that hadn't been spiked and belled.

We had scullery maids and succotash and good old SOS;

And when you felt like topping off, you headed for the mess.

Oh we had our belly robbers but there weren't too many gripes;

For the deck apes never went hungry and there were no starving snipes.

Now you never hear of Davy Jones, Shellbacks or Polywogs;

And you never splice the mainbrace to receive your daily grog.

Now you never have to dog the watch or stand the main vent;

You even tie your lines today, back in my time they were bent.

We were all two-fisted drinkers and no one thought you sinned;

If you staggered back aboard your ship, three sheets to the wind.

And with just a couple hours of sleep you regained your usual luster;

Bright eyed and bushy tailed at quarters - you still made morning muster.

Rocks and shoals have long since gone, and it's now the UCMJ;

Back then the old man handled things if you should go astray.

Now days they steer their ships with dials, but I wouldn't be surprised;

If some day they sail them from the beach, totally computerized.

So when my earthly hitch is done, an the Lord picks out the best;

I'll walk right up to HIM and say, "SIR, I have but one request.

Let me sail the seas of heaven in a coat of Navy blue;

Like I did so long ago on earth, way back in forty-two.

"-Author Unknown-"

USS Fort Snelling (LSD-30)