Back to our attractive over 40 not quite sober schoolteacher and the Dentist.
But 1st some housekeeping things. The schoolteachers and other civilians like Scotty who managed the Bank of America branch on Midway and Art Rossinette who was the Red Cross Representative were assigned quarters in the BOQ. So, we would see these folks in the dining area, and they also had Officer Club privileges.
Art also sponsored a club function, Toastmasters International and I was encouraged to join (encouraged meant that's an order). It actually was fun and later was critical training for later civilian jobs. The Toastmaster's club was designed to improve one's public speaking skills. It wasn't long before I was on the speaking agenda and I was to give a persuasive speech.
My regular job assignment was Base Maintenance Officer, (BMO... nothing to do with BM's) and we had a serious problem with littering. It seems the usual practice was using the big garbage can on the ground. Our regular trash crews would daily pick up large bags of empty beer and coke cans simply thrown on the ground.
Thus, my persuasive speech was to engage the other department heads on Midway to help abate the littering. In a persuasive speech, the 1st trick is to get the audience's attention and the close is a commitment to a call to action. How to do that?
Not knowing any better I reasoned "I need a sit up in the seat opening". I opened by having a small bag of empty coke cans which I carefully aimed at and threw at the audience. The opening line was this is a problem. The close was raise your hand to show commitment to discussing with their troops the need not to litter. We need to keep Midway Clean and Green. Later on, Art asked if I had done any public speaking my answer this was a first for me. That experience served me well.
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Back to the semi-sober schoolteacher and the Dentist. October was here and it was decided that the Officers Club would sponsor a dress up (optional) Halloween Party. Still being new to the base, I chose the optional.
The Dentist showed up in a Toga and Tennis shoes. He had absolutely nothing on under the bedsheet toga which would often open up to show his well you know what. That confirmed his Midway assignment.
The schoolteacher came dressed maybe like a Lady of the Night. I do know she had a full shot glass stashed in her cleavage. I spotted her accessing the stash and she saw me looking at which point she said to me... it saves a trip to the bar. BTW shots were a quarter a piece. For $2 you could get one hell of a buzz.
Midway actually had two BOQ's with one being a wooden building dating back the WWII and a much newer one made out of concrete block. Yes, my 1st billet was in the old BOQ. The building smelled of old wood and cigarette smoke. At that time, I smoked and I noticed after a couple of nights there that my cigarettes were chewed up. Oh, Oh mice. Since I was the BMO, I asked my chief to get me some mousetraps. His reply was we only have large RAT traps and that is what you need. I set the trap that night and caught a 13-inch rat.
I had a bit of a chat with the BOQ officer about a move to the new BOQ and sweetened the deal with whatever you need fixed will get a priority. I was moved in 10 minutes. Wow, I was learning how the Navy operates.
The chief means of transportation on Midway other than walking was by bicycle. I had my very own official bicycle assigned to me as the BMO. Now a unusual situation occurred on Midway and that was as a Staff Corp Officer I stood OOD watch for the whole base. On larger Navy bases the OOD is carried out by Line Officers.
Standing OOD meant two things: I got to drive a pickup truck to carry out my duties, and I also would carry a loaded side arm on certain occasions. About a half an hour on the range qualified me to use the .45. Then there was the huge problem while I had a civilian driver's license, I did not have a government license and did not know how to drive a stick shift. A second-class Petty Officer spent a whole morning with me teaching me how to drive a stick shift out on an abandoned runway. He was also the license examiner. I passed. That was invaluable training as I was able to teach my kids how to drive a stick.
That is where I learned them that know can make things go.
73's
Pete N6QW
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