Navy 243rd Birthday
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We were aboard the USS MacDonough (DDG-39) on the missile deck underway immediately after quarters when Wayne Mead, one of the finest fellows anyone would ever want to meet took a moment to wish me "happy birthday" and said a few words about honor, duty, and the Navy.
We were at sea somewhere, but I don't remember the last port of call but I recall that moment as one of those kindred things — having been a Navy brat and all. It rather brought me full circle and helped me in coming to grips with the entirety of enlisting, "plan B", and completing my hitch honorably.
Wayne Mead was a very young Chief Petty Officer. He ran the 48A three dimensional radar mounted on the mast, forward and above the stack amidships. He was good company and someone you could talk to about anything.
I worked the AN/SPG 55-B Air Search Radar and Missile Guidance Set. I also did two tours of 'mess cooking' (their reward for doing such a good job on the first assignment) ... and I was also a compartment cleaner upon demand.
You see, my enlistment wasn't the "smooth sailing" I might have preferred; but everyone there knew I was the son of a Master Chief. — even the Captain ... and it made a difference in my interactions. So even if I was cleaning the compartment, workspace, or mess cooking I always threw myself into it lest I become known for the low quality work of some others who I encountered there like me, having a somewhat less than optimal attitude.
I wanted to be someone who could be counted upon despite my dismal combative behavior otherwise. Yes, I was trouble.
The first iteration of the US Navy was the formation of the Continental Navy on October 13, 1775. The Navy was reprovisioned by Congress in March of 1794. Though the Continental Navy was to be decommissioned and dismantled that original October 13, 1775 remains the official birthday and today is it's 240th anniversary.
Happy Birthday Navy. Thank you Chief Mead for everything.