Just in case you are wondering about the numbering system for this series, i have given up and restarting at “40.” i plan to go through the files and hard copies to make what i’ve posted thus far into some kind of order that would eventually become a manuscript for a book if i ever get that far,
This past weekend (12/9-10/2023), a bunch of old farts and their lovely brides held their annual party.
i met the first old fart, Pete Toennies, in Hobart, Tasmania in November 1979 when i joined an amphibious squadron staff. Pete is now a retired Navy SEAL captain.
i met the second old fart, Jim Hileman, in 1983 at my wedding. Jim arrived late for the reception. He apologized explaining he had been playing golf. i asked why he didn’t ask me to play. We’ve been friends ever since. Jim was an aviation technician in the Navy, got out and moved up through Ma Bell’s ranks before retiring.
i met the second and third old farts at the Naval Amphibious School in 1985. All three of us were on our twilight tours. Marty Linville was an Army Artillery major. He was awarded the Army’s Silver Star in Vietnam. Rod, like me, was a Surface Warfare Officer commander. He became XO of the command. The three of us began playing golf together shortly after i arrived. We’ve continued our weekly round ever since.
There are other golfers who play with us, but this group, along with Al Pavich, a hero and shipmate of mine who has passed on, are the corp group that began playing golf at Sea ‘n Air on the North Island Naval Air Station and the two Admiral Baker courses in Mission Valley on Fridays in 1991.
When the three of us at the Amphibious School were still active duty, it was difficult to get weekend tee times, the only time we could play, because old farts like we are now grabbed a lot of the those tee times. We vowed not to play military courses (except for tournaments) on weekends when we retired. Our reasoning was it would be just a bit easier for those still on active duty to secure tee times.
Then, in May of 1991, Marty went to a 4/10 schedule, working ten hours for four days. i was Mister Mom. We decided to play on Fridays. Rod soon joined us and the others followed. About two months ago, we switched to Thursdays for several reasons. But the game goes on.
At some time beyond my recollection, this group began meeting at restaurants for a Christmas dinner. Pete and Nancy Toennies offered to host the party.
This year, we had an afternoon and pot luck dinner at their home on Coronado. It was a great time with a bunch of sea (and war) stories we’ve shared before and a couple of brand new ones. We like to laugh at each other and ourselves.
Before dinner, Pete, Marty and i were discussing many things when Pete brought up carrier landings with the Korean Special Forces back in the early 80’s. No, not with aircraft on real carriers. His “carrier landing” experience was at a party thrown by the Koreans for their three US military advisors.
His tale reminded me of my “carrier landing” experience, something i had not included on my description of the Hawkins‘ Refresher Training in Guantanamo in 1969.
As noted earlier, we were on port and starboard liberty. My one day on the weekend was spent mostly in the officer’s club bar. Most of our wardroom became very familiar with the bar keepers and played a lot of dice games there. On one such liberty, the barkeep told us of the crazy weekend when the USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67) had visited a couple of months before us. i believe it was the Kennedy’s first cruise.
The aviators took over the club and drank like…well, like aviators. At some point, they decided to have carrier landings. This is an event where a number of dining tables are lined up end to end and the plates, silverware, table cloths, etc. are removed. Most of the participants line up across the table from each other and extend their uniform neck ties between each facing participant. These are the “arresting gears,” which on real carriers is a system that grabs the aircraft when it lands, slowing it down and bringing it to a safe landing…or at least as safe as an aircraft can be when conducting real carrier landings.
Once set up, one of the “pilots” “flies” around the room and then attempts to land by diving onto the beer soaked tables and sliding toward the other end. The “arresting gear” participants attempt to use their ties to grab the feet of the “aircraft” and slow him down before reaching the end of the table.
Of course after several “añejo goodies,” our officers in attendance that day decided we should try it. It was a complete and utter disaster. i remain amazed that no one was seriously hurt.
Pete’s tale was better. The senior officer at the Korean party was a Republic of Korea Special Forces general. The US Special Forces officers brought up this game of carrier landings and everyone decided to try it. Instead of neck ties, the group used the table cloths for the arresting gear.
The general was really excited and sufficiently soaked. He was eager to try it. He flew around the room and approached his carrier landing. He dove onto the table and slid down the simulated flight deck. The participants holding the arresting gears pulled them back. The general slid off the end of the table.
i’m still laughing.
