{"id":3112,"date":"2021-01-05T06:00:00","date_gmt":"2021-01-05T11:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/azadkinsiii.com\/blog\/?p=3112"},"modified":"2021-10-13T13:45:42","modified_gmt":"2021-10-13T17:45:42","slug":"64-general-quarters-general-quarters","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/azadkinsiii.com\/blog\/64-general-quarters-general-quarters\/","title":{"rendered":"#64\u2014\u201cGeneral Quarters, General Quarters\u2026\u201d"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Trivia Questions (Answers @ end)<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

  1. Who said, \u201cLook deep into nature, then you will understand everything better.\u201d<\/em>?<\/li>
  2. Who said (and what movie) did we hear, \u201cFasten your seatbelts. It\u2019s going to be a bumpy night.\u201d<\/em>?<\/li>
  3. Who sang (and what song) the following?
    I read the news today, oh boy<\/em>
    About a lucky man who made the grade<\/em>
    And though the news was rather sad<\/em>
    Well, I just had to laugh<\/em>
    I saw the photograph<\/em><\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n
    <\/div>
    Blog #64 (Audio)<\/div><\/div>
    <\/div>

    Listen to the audio of this blog, read by Andy Adkins. Click the \u201cAudio<\/strong><\/em>\u201d button below.<\/p>\n<\/div>

    Published: <\/span>October 13, 2021<\/span><\/div>
    <\/div>Audio by Andy Adkins<\/a><\/div><\/form><\/span>39<\/span> Downloads<\/span><\/span><\/div><\/div>
    <\/div>\n\n\n
    \n\n\n\n

    \u201cGeneral Quarters\u2026\u201d<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

    \u2026probably not<\/em> the best blog \u201ctitle\u201d to begin the New Year, but I couldn\u2019t resist. After all, when you go from \u201c20\u201d to \u201c21,\u201d you\u2019re now drinking age\u2026 right?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Yes, we are<\/em> in the middle of a pandemic and some parts of the country are experiencing worse conditions than others. I don\u2019t want to play that down, because this COVID is serious stuff. I’m just trying to do my part to stay safe. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    That 70s Thing We Did<\/a><\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

    Back when I first joined the Navy in 1973, we were still at war with Vietnam. Even though the war was winding down when I came aboard USS Kitty Hawk<\/em><\/strong> in March 1975, the United States military was still on high alert. And, like most other military units\u2014not just Navy\u2014we drilled, and we trained\u2026 constantly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    I don\u2019t think we ever went to sea without at least a few \u201cGeneral Quarters\u201d drills. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Most civilians have heard the term and probably know a little about what happens. But allow me to relate my own experiences aboard an aircraft carrier in the 70s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    First thing to remember is that GQ is a heightened alert status. Everyone aboard a Navy ship is assigned a \u201cbattle station.\u201d That\u2019s basically a specific location and a specific duty. No matter where you are on the ship and no matter what you\u2019re doing, when the General Quarters alarm sounds, you spring into action and hoof it to your GQ station.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The first time I heard “General Quarters,” I was already at my GQ station\u2014the flight deck. I had been assigned to Crash & Salvage<\/strong>, part of V-1 Division<\/strong>. That was logical, since I\u2019d just transferred from NAS Agana, Guam<\/em><\/strong>, where I worked Crash & Rescue for 15 months and\u2026 I knew how to drive the Crash fire trucks<\/a>. Crash was short on both crew members and drivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    I was a young ABH3 (Aviation Boatswain\u2019s Mate<\/strong>, 3rd Class Petty Officer) and had turned 20 years old a few months before leaving Guam. Even though I\u2019d been in the Navy for a year and a half, I was still an FNG on the flight deck. Fortunately, we had a great Crash crew\u2014all 14 of us, including Bos\u2019n Ty Robuck<\/strong> (Air Bos\u2019n), Jeff Atteberry<\/strong> (Crash LPO-leading petty officer), Shelby \u201cBig Willie\u201d Williams<\/strong> (Crash Asst. LPO), and Gary Borne,<\/strong> my good buddy who\u2019d transferred earlier from Guam.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    My<\/em> Flight Deck Orientation<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
    \"\"<\/a>
    Vulture’s Row – USS Nimitz, CV-68 (2009)
    (Click to enlarge)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

    My first time at sea in V-1 Division\/Crash was spent\u2026 observing\u2026 NOT<\/em> on the flight deck.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Kitty Hawk<\/em> sailed for a \u201cFamily Day Cruise,\u201d a one-day cruise allowing sailors\u2019 dependents on board for a day. I thought that was so cool\u2014\u201csee what daddy does at work.\u201d Note: back in my day, there were no female sailors aboard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Since this was my first time on the ship when at sea, I was told to stay off the flight deck during flight ops and hob knob with the civilians. I wasn\u2019t a happy camper, but I understood the reasons and I followed orders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Vulture’s Row<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

    \u201cVulture\u2019s Row\u201d is an open air balcony on the ship\u2019s island overlooking the flight deck. I got to observe flight deck operations for the first time from a great vantage point: Navy jets being launched off the catapults and returning to land on the carrier. It was pretty exciting, and I couldn\u2019t wait to get onto the flight deck. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    It was loud and jaw-jarring. Later, I would learn just how LOUD Navy jets are, when I\u2019d stand about fifteen feet from an F-4 Phantom in full-afterburner, ready for launch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Before joining the Navy, I could hear a rabbit fart at 200 paces. After the Navy, well\u2026 let\u2019s just say I learned to say \u201chuh\u201d (before<\/em> marriage) or \u201cwhat was that, honey\u201d (after<\/em> marriage) with a bit of panache.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"A-7<\/a>
    USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63), Westpac ’75
    A-7 Corsair Launch
    (Click to enlarge)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

    I think most of us Airdales would agree that once you\u2019re out on the flight deck for a day or two during flight operations, you quickly learn two things. One, you better know where you are supposed to be and more importantly, know where NOT to be<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    And two\u2026 know that experienced Airdales are always watching your back. I\u2019ve twice witnessed a Yellow shirt director literally tackle someone on the flight deck who was in the wrong place, keeping him from being sucked up into the intake of an A-7 Corsair.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Those<\/em> sailors needed to take a quick break to go below and change their skivvies\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Danger Everywhere<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

    I\u2019ve been blown down on the flight deck more times than I can count from the exhaust of a taxiing aircraft. I\u2019m sure I\u2019m not the only one here. Not on purpose, mind you\u2014I don\u2019t think I pissed anyone off enough for them to do that. All Yellow shirts train to not only watch where the aircraft they\u2019re directing is going but also what\u2019s behind the jet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"EA-6<\/a>
    YouTube Video – Crewman blown down by EA-6 Prowler<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

    Sometimes, you just find yourself in the wrong place at the wrong time. But that\u2019s also something you train for. We were trained that if blown down on the flight deck, roll to one side or the other, reach out and grab a pad eye, if you can\u2014they\u2019re all around. And if you find yourself blown off the flight deck, remember your training\u2026 don\u2019t activate your life vest CO2 cartridge until after<\/em> you hit the water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    For those who want to see what it\u2019s like being blown down on the flight deck, here\u2019s a short 50 sec YouTube video<\/a>. Don\u2019t worry, nothing \u201cbad\u201d happens, and there’s a happy ending. You can thank me later\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Flight Deck Drills\u2014Continuous Training<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

    Training on the flight deck was constant, even during flight ops.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    We\u2019d have simulated crash drills and \u201crig the barricade\u201d drills at least once or twice while at sea. That typically only involved those of us on the flight deck. But that training was imperative to keep us on our toes in case… you know… we had a real crash.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    There were times we trained on an aircraft that just trapped (landed). This would be the last one in the flight cycle, so there were not any more planes waiting to land. The drill was that the aircraft crashed, there was a fire and we had to extinguish it, and rescue the crew. Flight deck personnel would man four fire hoses from the catwalks, the Crash truck and Crash tractors would be on the forward side of the plane all pretending to fight the fire.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Lessons Learned from Training Exercises<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

    On one particular training exercise, I was the hot suit rescue man. It was up to me to rescue the pilot and co-pilot from the A-6 Intruder<\/strong> that just \u201ccrashed.\u201d I climbed up the plane\u2019s ladder, unstrapped the pilot, and inserted the ejection seat safety pins. Then I pulled him out and threw him over my shoulder (yes, he helped). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    He was nervous and asked if I was sure I could carry him. I climbed down to the flight deck, then with the help of a couple of other crash crew, carried him over close to the island and gently laid him down on the flight deck. Not bad for a day\u2019s work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"\"<\/a>
    A-6 Intruder
    USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, CV-69
    (Click to enlarge)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

    We learned several things during that particular exercise. Not everyone was big and strong (I was 6\u20194\u201d and weighed about 185 pounds; I\u2019m still 6\u20194\u201d today\u2014don\u2019t ask me what I weigh).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    When we debriefed the exercise, one of the Crash crew members suggested rigging a rescue basket on the forklift and use it to help get the crew out and onto the ground. It would reduce the risk of dropping the pilot on his head when getting him out of the cockpit. That made sense to me, so Crash rigged up a basket and we used that for rescue training the rest of the cruise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Training Throughout the Ship<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

    When at sea, we\u2019d constantly drill, not just of those of us on the flight deck, but also the entire ship. Other divisions held their own training exercises, specific to their areas. Again, the purpose to keep them on their toes and sharp.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Sometimes, there would be mock drills, like chemical gas attacks, or leaks and explosions where several designated crew members would either feign wounds, injuries, or be “missing.” And most of the time, those of us on the flight deck weren\u2019t aware these exercises were happening in other parts of the ship. We knew, though, that training\u2014as tedious as some of us thought\u2014was necessary and <\/em>beneficial.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    But General Quarters would put the entire<\/em> ship into an almost perfectly<\/em> orchestrated response…<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    General Quarters\u2014This is a Drill<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

    Several times at sea we\u2019d hear with no prior warning, \u201cGeneral Quarters, General Quarters. All hands man your battle stations!\u201d<\/em><\/strong> Sometimes that would follow by \u201cThis is a drill\u201d or… a few times I remember, \u201cThis is NOT a drill!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    And to make you a little<\/em> more anxious, we rarely knew what the emergency was until you reached your GQ station. I think they did this on purpose to get everyone \u201coff their ass & on their feet,\u201d so to speak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    It was important to know where we were supposed to be and what we were supposed to do when we got there. For most in V-1 Division, our battle station was on the flight deck.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Traffic Rules<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

    When an aircraft carrier goes to General Quarters, no matter where they are, 5,500+ guys hoof it to get to their GQ station as quickly as they can.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The traffic rules are simple: if you are going up or forward, your path is the starboard<\/em> side of the ship; if you are going down or aft, you stay on the port<\/em> side. You would cross over from one side to another in any of the many passageways.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Also during GQ, watertight doors and fireproof doors between bulkheads are shut and latched down, and security is increased around sensitive areas, such as the bridge and engineering rooms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"\"<\/a>
    USS Ronald Reagan, CV-76
    Passageway
    (Click to enlarge)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

    Hoofin\u2019 it, you get into a rhythm: trot, trot, trot\u2026 hop; trot, trot, trot, hop\u2026 Many of the passageways seemed spaced so that an average size sailor (not<\/em> me) would run three paces, then step (or hop) over the \u201cknee knocker,\u201d or door, as some civilians call it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Some sailors tried to run faster, but with narrow passageways, you could only go as fast as the guy in front of you. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    We would run mock torpedo drills which were announced over the 5MC (flight deck PA system). The Air Boss would state, \u201cBrace yourselves. Torpedo impact starboard side in fifteen seconds,\u201d at which time we’d find something to hang on to, squat down, and brace ourselves. Most of us sat down on the flight deck and just grabbed a pad eye.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    There were times, though, when I imagined \u201cwhat if,\u201d but I wasn\u2019t worried about a torpedo. I was more concerned about an air or missile strike. Thank the good Lord that never happened on my watch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    General Quarters \u2013 This is NOT a Drill<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

    During Westpac \u201975<\/strong>, we left Hawaii on Wednesday, June 4. Our next stop would be the Philippines<\/strong>, a trip that would take about two weeks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    A little over a week out of Hawaii, Kitty Hawk<\/em> experienced a major problem. One of the main engine rooms flooded around midnight: a steam line ruptured, followed by a sea valve malfunction, causing flooding of the machine room space. Thank God, no one was hurt and everybody down there got out. That was the good thing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Kitty Hawk<\/em> went to General Quarters. Since it was midnight, most of the crew were fast asleep in their berthing compartments. We hustled to our battle stations. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Shortly after announcing \u201cGeneral Quarters\u2026 this is NOT a drill!<\/em>,\u201d the CO came over the 1MC and announced, \u201cAnyone with scuba equipment please report to engine room #1 … and\u2026 bring your equipment<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    That last comment was scary. I began to think about abandoning ship, but those were just fleeting thoughts. I\u2019m sure I wasn\u2019t the only one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Once up on the flight deck and informed of the emergency, we moved all the crash equipment and aircraft to the port side of the flight deck since the flood caused the ship to list to the starboard side.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    That was a fun night and we got to watch the sun rise. We didn\u2019t return to our berthing compartments; we still had work to do on the flight deck.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    From what I heard, the snipes (those are the sailors below decks who keep the ship\u2019s engines and boilers in good working order), were able to seal off the flood, pump out the engine room, and get everything back in order, all (I believe) within a day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Kitty Hawk<\/em> kept cruising toward our overseas home port, PI (The Philippines<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Winding Down<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

    This past year has been challenging, no doubt about that. I think most of us are still on \u201chigh alert.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    I just turned 66 this past December, so I\u2019m in a \u201chigh risk\u201d category (i.e., Medicare age), though I certainly don\u2019t feel like it, either mentally or physically. I\u2019m sure I could still lift a (short, skinny) pilot out of an A-6 Intruder again, but\u2026 coming down the ladder with him over my shoulder, I don\u2019t think my knees could handle that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    I continue to wear my mask when out in public, which is rare for me. I try to social distance (that\u2019s still hard for me) and our only dinners \u201cout\u201d are takeout. I\u2019m okay with that, because like everyone else, I know people (family and friends) who have experienced COVID. Because my wife is a retired ICU nurse who also has a lot of friends in the health profession throughout the country (it\u2019s a small world), we know and understand the impact many hospitals are currently experiencing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    I know we\u2019ll get through this. I have no doubt. Meanwhile, what do I do to keep my sanity?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Well, I write (this blog & working on a book) and I spend a lot of time outdoors. We walk, we bike, we hike. Nature is my healer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    As John Muir once said, \u201cIn every walk with nature, one receives far more than he seeks<\/em>.\u201d True \u2018dat!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Until we meet again,<\/em>
    Andy<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"NEVER<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

    Andy Adkins is a US Navy veteran (\u201973-77) and the author of several books. His newest novel, NEVER FORGET, is the story of A Vietnam Veteran\u2019s Journey for Redemption & Forgiveness. NEVER FORGET is FREE (eBook, PDF) for all veterans. Download your FREE<\/strong> copy HERE<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Previous posts mentioned in this blog:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n