The Hawkins had been back in Newport for about a week, March 1968. It was time enough for a dinner at my apartment with my two friends stationed in Norfolk who had stayed there while attending training in Newport.
Doc Jarden, my OCS roommate, was one. My old brain cannot recall the other’s name right now. They brought the two coeds attending Salve Regina College they had met at The Tavern. During the meeting process, beer drinking went to be a bit too far, and Doc’s dinner date was a tad inebriated. She was Kathy McMahon. That evening, she earned the nickname of “Kathy the Drunk.” During our dinner, she did not drink too much, and was funny and engaging. The other coed was Irene Cruess, who was pretty and earned the nickname of “Irene the Siren.”
We had a good time, Doc and the other fellow left the next day. i, you might say, was occupied. But that dinner was important a little later.
i was occupied with the NWAI. That is not a Hawaiian village. It stands for Nuclear Weapons Acceptance Inspection.
This inspection was critical for the Hawkins to become fully operational. We were capable of carrying nuclear weapons, specifically Anti-Submarine Rockets (ASROC) with nuclear warheads. Whether we did or not i cannot confirm or deny – the required response to any questions about whether we had nukes on board or not. But to be capable, we had to pass the NWAI before loading our ammunition and operating with the fleet.
The entire process was brutal. First, i, as the “Nuclear Weapons Officer,” had to keep all of our publications relating to nuclear weapons up to date. There was a very small compartment, i don’t remember where, that had a safe with the secret nuclear weapons related publications were kept. Most took little upkeep. But one, Special Warfare Operational Publication (SWOP) 5-5 was a bear.
This publication was a thick, sophisticated, complicated, gobble of stuff i could not comprehend. Never used it. But changes came in bunches, several days each week, and required pen and ink and cut and tape changes to be entered, noted, and initialed. i would enter, notate, and initial the changes in the small space. It required an hour or two each week, sometimes more. But it had to be up to date for us to pass the NWAI. I am reminded of that arduous task today when i get another of the continuing updates to apps and programs for my computer and phone. It’s still not fun.
There was an added complication for us as we faced our NWAI. Commander, Cruiser, Destroyer Fleeet, Atlantic Fleet or CRUSDESLANT, or perhaps an echelon higher had come out with a standardized check sheet for operating, loading, firing, unloading, and maintaining the ASROC system. Before, each ship had created their own check sheet and were graded on the check sheet as well as the procedures. This check sheet was brand new and had a lot of errors throughout for loading. Loading the ASROCs into the launcher was one of the critical aspects of the NWAI.
Fortunately, i had help. The CRUDESLANT Nuclear Weapsons Mobile Training Team came aboard and went through the check sheet as we were loading mock ASROCs. They also were a great help in most of the other preparations.
One morning, i was going through a practice loading with my ASROC team consisting of ASROC gunner mates, torpedo men, and sonar technicians. The ASROC launcher and loader were located amidships on the 01 level. Captain Max Lasell came down from his cabin and walked over to me. He directed me to have my check sheet reader continue the practice and walked me over to the starboard lifelines.
The captain asked me how it was going. i was hestitant in replying. My boss, the weapons officer, kept interrupting, trying me to change the way we were doing things, putting things into play that did not work.
i finally said, “Captain, things are going okay. There are a few problems but we are working on them.”
The ever aware CDR Max Lasell looked around to ensure no one could hear us and said, “Jim, i know what your problem is. i’m going to have a meeting with him after the noon mess. i will tell him to stay completely out of your preparations, to leave you alone. This is yours now. All yours.”
The big affable man stopped and looked around before concluding, “Jim, you know how important this inspection is. You can’t just do your best. We have to pass or you and i may not have a job.”
He walked away with me staring after him feeling like i had a challenge larger than any i had ever had.
i was right.
…To be continued.
