The Old Outfit (1 Viewer)

[Navy Pride]

Brings back lots of memories.....

>>> >> > THE OLD OUTFIT

>>> > "Written By a World War Two Sailor."
>>> >
>>> > Come gather round me lads and I'll tell you a thing or two,
>>> > about the way we ran the Navy in nineteen forty two.
>>> >
>>> > When wooden ships and iron men were barely out of sight,
>>> > I am going to give you some facts just to set the record right.
>>> >
>>> > We wore the ole bell bottoms, with a flat hat on our head,
>>> > and we always hit the sack at night. We never "went to bed."
>>> >
>>> > Our uniforms were worn ashore, and we were mighty proud.
>>> > Never thought of wearing civvies, in fact they were not allowed.
>>> >
>>> > Now when a ship puts out to sea. I'll tell you son- it hurts!
>>> > When suddenly you notice that half the crews wearing skirts.
>>> >
>>> > And it's hard for me to imagine, a female boatswains mate,
>>> > stopping on the Quarter deck to make sure her stockings are straight.
>>> >
>>> > What happened to the KiYi brush, and the old salt-water bath
>>> > Holy stoning decks at night- cause you stirred old Bosn's wrath!
>>> >
>>> > We always had our gedunk stand and lots of pogey bait.
>>> > And it always took a hitch or two ,just to make a rate.
>>> >
>>> > In your seabag all your skivvies, were neatly stopped and rolled.
>>> > And the blankets on your sack had better have a three-inch fold.
>>> >
>>> > Your little ditty bag . . it is hard to believe just how much it held,
>>> > and you wouldn't go ashore with pants that hadn't been spiked and
>>> > belled.
>>> >
>>> > We had scullery maids and succotash and good old S.O.S.
>>> > And when you felt like topping off -you headed for the mess.
>>> >
>>> > Oh we had our belly robbers- but there weren't too many gripes.
>>> > For the deck apes were never hungry and there were no starving snipes.
>>> >
>>> > Now you never hear of Davey Jones ,Shellbacks Or Polliwogs,
>>> > and you never splice the mainbrace to receive your daily grog.
>>> >
>>> > Now you never have to dog a watch or stand the main event.
>>> > You even tie your lines today- - back in my time they were bent.
>>> >
>>> > We were all two-fisted drinkers and no one thought you sinned,
>>> > if you staggered back aboard your ship, three sheets to the wind.
>>> >
>>> > And with just a couple hours of sleep you regained your usual luster.
>>> > Bright eyed and bushy tailed- you still made morning muster.
>>> >
>>> > Rocks and shoals have long since gone, and now it's U.C.M.J.
>>> > THEN the old man handled everything if you should go astray.
>>> >
>>> > Now they steer the ships with dials, and I wouldn't be surprised,
>>> > if some day they sailed the damned things- from the beach
>>> > computerized.
>>> >
>>> > So when my earthly hitch is over, and the good Lord picks the best,
>>> > I'LL walk right up to HIM and say, "Sir, I have but one request-
>>> >
>>> > Let me sail the seas of Heaven in a coat of Navy blue.
>>> > Like I did so long ago on earth - way back in nineteen-forty two."
>>> >
>>> > Lt. J.G Don Ballard joined the U.S. Navy in 1935 when he received
>>> > $21.00
>>> per Month. What the author says in his words is true. In 1935 only 13
>>> men
>>> joined the Navy (from Tennessee) and Don was one of them.
>>> > Proudly copied from Lt .Ballard USN Retired, April 13, 2002 , who
>>> > loved
>>> the Navy and all the men he served with in all of World War Two.
>>> >
>>> > Courtesy of the author's son
>>>