Lunch With the Captain

After two years in the Tonkin Gulf during Vietnam, I was stationed in the Philippines. I was invited for lunch aboard an Australian destroyer by the ship’s captain. They were getting underway for the gun line off the coast of Vietnam that afternoon. My boss told me not to plan on returning to the office that day. I asked why and he replied “You’ll find out.”. So I had lunch in the wardroom as guest of the Aussie Skipper. In two hours I had not one bite of food. Instead I was served great Anchor beer, great Scotch whiskey, and more great beer. The officers began to leave the wardroom table one by one, but the Skipper kept me there, graciously serving more liquid lunch. Finally, I heard the announcement over the PA system to “Single up all lines”, the command for untying the ship’s mooring lines. We were getting underway. I told the Captain I must go. He said “No, Lt, you were a destroyer gunnery officer, and we’re taking you back to the gun line with us.”. The crew were laughing all along the lifeline, as I staggered down the gangway just before their last mooring line let go. I even heard “Lt Rudd departing” over the PA system, an announcement normally used when the Skipper leaves the ship.