"Out of unsuspected skies, a day of infamy dawned." "A nation at peace, staggered by a treacherous blow." "Rallied and grimly gathered in strength to fight for existence." "But in those early months, the war was still far off to most Americans." "Even amid the busy clatter of a West Coast Navy yard, many still found time to play." " Fine." " A little off your game, Commander." "Forty-love, match point coming up." "I can count!" "Go ahead and serve." "Isn't that Lieutenant Masterman?" "Yes." "Lieutenant Masterman of the Harvard and Boston, Back Bay Mastermans." "Where the Cabbots only speak to the Lodges, and the Lodges speak only to the Mastermans." "Shot!" "Thank you." " He's quite athletic?" " Hm?" "I mean, very good, isn't he?" "Well, I suppose it has to come sooner or later." "You'd like to meet him, of course?" " Oh..." " I recognize the symptoms, they all do." " Hey Gregg!" " Hank!" "Thought I left you moored in Washington." "When'd you drop anchor out here?" " Last night." " Great." "What's your duty?" " Destroyer." " Serves you right." "Oh, pardon me, may I present Lieutenant Gregg Masterman." " Presently gracing the United States Navy." " For the duration." " Miss Susan Garrison, Miss Audrey Carr." " How do you do?" "Gregg and I put in three of the loveliest afternoons pushing each others faces in the mud." "They called it Navy versus Harvard on the program." "Aren't you in charge of the reception for the Senate Naval Affairs Committee, Lieutenant?" " Why yes, I am." " Oh, Mr. Masterman, anything we can do to help." "Well, the details are practically all taken care of, but the Admiral's Junior Aide doesn't have any partner for the dance." " Would you..." " I'd love to!" "Lucky dog, Admiral's Junior Aide." "Who is he?" "I am." "Say, why don't you sit down and have a drink with us?" "No, no thanks." "I'm late for office hours..." "Old Iron Pants is running the Navy by a clock." " See you around, Hank." " Right, Gregg." "Anything you want, just let me know." " Goodbye, ladies." " Goodbye." "Any word from the Commandant's office yet?" " Not yet, sir." " Holy smoke." "I wonder if they realize how long we've been tied up here." "Having a little trouble, sir?" "A little?" "Plenty." "You don't happen to know Lieutenant Masterman, the Admiral's Aide, do you?" " Why, yes." "Very well." " Is he still up at the club?" " No, he just left." " About time." " Something urgent?" " Urgent?" "Only my ship here, the Crenshaw, you can see what happened." "Just made it in here yesterday morning, nothing's being done to make her ready for sea again." "What makes you think Masterman's keeping your ship tied up?" "The repair plans and estimates have been on his desk since early yesterday." "There's a war on, you know?" "Well, why don't you go straight to the admiral?" "He just loves to have people come to him with their troubles." "I'm sure he'll straighten you out in no time." "Go south!" "Go south!" "Yes, yes..." "Old Iron Pants sure has a full head of steam up." "He sure has..." "Yes, yes, I can hear you." "Yes, yes." "Of course." "What's that?" "The Warren?" "That hulk?" "It didn't take an overhaul and refitting job to put her in shipshape, it took a miracle." "Why didn't you fellas build some ships while you had time?" "What?" "Hm?" "You know, I'm trying to get on with this job here." "Fine, fine." "Always glad to have one of these friendly chats with you." "Goodbye." "Resurrecting ships from the graveyard..." "Masterman!" "Masterman, the Warren is to be made ready for sea at once." "Sir?" "Where's Masterman?" "You're not Masterman." "No sir, Lieutenant Commander Roberts." "The Executive Officer of the Crenshaw." "Lieutenant Masterman was not in his office, sir." " So, I took the liberty." " Oh..." "You took the liberty." "Do you realize, sir, that I am an island entirely surrounded by bright young men known as aides just to prevent people from taking the liberty?" "There is an old custom in the Navy, sir, which demands that an officer should be announced to his commanding officer." "Begging the Admiral's pardon, sir, I'd hoped he'd dispense with formality for the moment." " This is urgent." " Everything about this office is urgent." "Even "good morning" is a crisis." "But don't let that discourage you." "Thank you, sir." "It's about my ship the Crenshaw." "In the absence of my commanding officer," "I'm responsible for her repairs." "What do you want me to do?" "Roll out with a sailmakers palm and needle to hem stitch" " some plates onto your precious ship?" " No sir." "I'm just anxious to get back to sea, sir." "So am I." "I'm more anxious to get back to sea than you are." "But am I badgering the Secretary of the Navy about it?" "Yes, sir." "I think you are, sir." "Hm?" "Oh, you do, do you?" "Well, you're quite right." "I am." "It's the only place for a sailor." "At sea." "Yes sir, I think so too, sir." "Your face is familiar to me." " Weren't we ever shipmates?" " No sir." "I think not, sir." "Weren't you Charlie Harridge's communications officer on the old Norris destroyer, division seven, patrol 1918." " Yes, sir." " I knew it." "I never forget a face." "I was your division commander." "I was commissioned ensign from chief boatswain's mate the day we went into that action, sir." "Great show, Roberts." " Great show." " Yes, sir." "But this is a bigger one, sir." "Hm..." "Haven't got across?" "Foreign service?" "No, sir." "I was retired as a lieutenant in '37." "The emergency put me back on the active list." "That's interesting." "So you want to get back to sea, do you, Roberts?" "Yes, sir." "Have you ever heard of the destroyer, Warren?" "You mean that old hulk that's been growing barnacles in the back bay at San Diego?" "A ship of the United States Navy is not to be called a hulk." "Yes sir." "Particularly by her commanding officer." "Ye..." "I beg your pardon, sir?" "I said her commanding officer." "That's what you've been for the last 60 seconds." "You'll get your orders as soon as they can be written." "But she's older than the old Norris, sir." "She's been lying in a grave for the past 20 years." "For your information, Mr. Roberts, this yard has resurrected her." "And she's a pretty healthy looking ghost." "She's got a lot of fight left in her." "But my own ship, the Crenshaw, sir." "With your permission, I'd rather stay aboard." "Are you disputing my judgment, Mr. Roberts?" " No sir." " I am not interested in personalities, nor the preferences of individuals!" "What's with the Admiral?" "Lieutenant Commander Roberts of the Crenshaw, sir." "Roberts?" "Oh yes, I remember." "The Warren is your ship now, Mr. Roberts." "I'll expect you to have her ready for sea at the earliest possible moment." " Aye-aye, sir." " We have got to use everything we can float if we're going to survive." "You'll do a good job, I'm sure." "Good luck, Roberts." " Pleasant cruise." " Thank you, sir." " Is that all?" " Isn't that enough?" "Yes sir." " Hello." " Hello." "I see you took my advice." " Are you..." " Masterman!" "Why yes, I am." "Hope you got straightened out all right?" "Mr. Masterman, you have a peculiar sense of humor." "Just the kind to get you in a lot of trouble." " Masterman!" " Coming sir." "So sorry, the Admiral." "If I can be of any further assistance to you, don't hesitate to call on me." "Mr. Masterman, I expect my aides to be somewhere within hailing distance." "I thought perhaps your buzzer was out of commission, sir." "I was given a voice long before I rated a buzzer, and it's never out of commission!" " And much more effective, sir." " What?" "I'm sorry, sir." "I had to step out of the office a moment to arrange the menu for the dinner to the Senate Naval Affairs Committee." "Here it is, sir." "I thought we'd begin with oysters." "Oysters?" "I want the report on the damage to the Crenshaw." "Oh, that." "Yes sir, here it is." "A hole in her starboard side, sir." "This report reached your office hours ago." "Why haven't I seen it?" "Well, I have had the details for the committees visit on my hands, sir." "I knew you'd want that run off shipshape." "I've arranged to meet them at the airport, take them to the hotel, and interview with the press..." "We're not celebrating Old Home Week, Masterman." "Those men are coming here to try to get fighting ships back to sea again in the least possible time." "Maybe you believe, like a lot of other people, that we can fight this year's war with next year's ships." " No sir." " See that the yard manager's office gets this at once." "It gives the repairs to the Crenshaw a high priority." " Yes sir." " No wonder I have wild eyed officers barging in on me," " unannounced." " I'm sorry about that, sir." " Won't happen again." " Right." "It was rather a raw trick to play on Roberts, at that." "Taking him off a brand new spic and span destroyer leader and transferring him to a ship like the Warren." "Not that old Noah's Ark, sir." "Yes." "Having him march in like that just when I needed a new skipper for the Warren was a great a stroke of luck." "Roberts knows those old force trackers from stem to stern and truck to keel." "Couldn't have found a better man." " Congratulations, sir." " Seeing as he'll have has hands full," "I want to find him a crack executive officer." "Yes, sir." "Whom do you suggest we condemn to the galleys?" "Hm?" "Sit down, Masterman." "Thank you, sir." "You youngsters of the new Navy don't think much of officers like Roberts." " Do you?" " Well, to be truthful sir," "I haven't thought of him at all." "I can understand why." "Take you, for example." "You were given the privilege of a top drawer Harvard education, with everything that family and position could offer." "Like any good solid American, you took full advantage of it." "That shows in your examination for the Naval service, and in your service record since you've been in the Navy." "That's why you've moved ahead so fast." " I've tried to do my best, sir." " Of course you have." "Wouldn't expect anything else of you." "But Roberts did it the hard way." "He enlisted during the last war." "Must've been as young as we take 'em." "Maybe a little younger." "His father was a farmer, he had no family to help him, and no traditions." "He fought his way up." "Masterman, you've never had to fight very hard for anything." "You've missed a lot of fun..." "And a lot of Navy, the real Navy that doesn't float on salt water, but in a man's blood stream." "A man that goes to sea as the Warren's executive officer, will be lucky." "He can learn a lot from a skipper like Roberts." "Well, I'm sure of that, sir." "As for me, I've already learned a lot serving under you, sir." "Yes, yes..." "I've noticed." "Your lumbago, sir?" "Mr. Masterman, an occasional stitch in the back is not lumbago." " No sir." " And I'll thank you not to mention that where it might be misinterpreted by some long nosed sawbones." "I still have dreams of sea duty." "Yes sir, I'll be very careful, sir." "Well, what are you standing there for?" "Do you realize you've wasted 10 minutes of my time?" "Get those repair orders to the yard manager's office." "And don't forget that we're going to give Roberts a crack executive officer." "Oh yes, sir." "I'll draw up a list of officers available for the duty, sir." "And don't start with oysters!" " Here you are." " Oh, how nice." " May I get you anything else?" " Oh no, Lieutenant." " Thank you so much." " Senator?" "No thank you." "Excuse me." "Sorry to let all this music go to waste." "You seem to have the senatorial party well in hand..." "Along with everything else." "Oh, senators are really quite easy to handle." "You just remember they're human, like everybody else, and then remember not to treat them that way." "Um, now that we're alone, can you give me one good reason why I should forsake my duties as a naval officer, and accept your weekend invitation?" "Well, you meet a lot of lovely people and the food's not bad." "Well, I'm on a diet." "Besides, I want to be alone." "Hm... there's a lovely golf course." "A gorgeous swimming pool?" "Oh, and a super tennis court." "Oh, please, don't mention exercise." "I cultivate my muscles all week long." "Come Saturday and Sunday, I just want to cuddle down some place with a good book." "I beg your pardon, sir." "A message from Lieutenant Commander Roberts." "It's marked urgent." "Roberts?" "Oh..." "oh yes, Roberts." "Excuse me." " Is there an answer, sir?" " No, no answer." "Serious?" "No, nothing serious." "I beg your pardon, sir." "Admiral Thomas, may I present Miss Carr." " How do you do?" " How do you do?" " And my uncle, Senator Masterman." " How do you do?" "Well, what are you grinning about?" "It's very funny, sir." "It seems that Mr. Roberts new command has gone to his head." ""Dear Masterman, I should like to see you aboard the Warren immediately." "Relative to the ship's business." "Signed, Roberts. "" "What's funny about a captain wanting to discuss matters with his executive officer?" "I, I beg your pardon, sir?" "We agreed that the Warren needed a crack exec." "Yes sir, I submitted a list of the names of the officers..." "I appreciate your modesty, my boy, leaving your own name off the list." "But I added it to the top and notified Roberts." "I meant to congratulate you on your new duty, but the Senate Naval Affairs Committee, you understand." " Oh, happy cruise, Masterman." " Thank you, sir." "My dear lady, please allow me to present you with these lazy loops, in lieu of our literary weekend." "Attention on deck!" "Captain's coming aboard." "Good evening." "Welcome aboard, sir." "I'm sorry I couldn't pipe the Captain aboard the sideboy, sir." "Thank you." "Doesn't seem to be anybody aboard." "Oh, no sir." "Nobody but me." "I called attention through force of habit, sir." "Who are you?" "Chief Yeoman Henry Johnson, sir." "How long have you been aboard?" "Twenty-six years, sir." " Twenty-six years?" " Yes, sir." "I came aboard when she was first fitted out and commissioned." "That was 1916, sir." "We've been together ever since." "But she's been out of commission." "Yes, sir." "I went out of commission with her." "The Navy department laid us both up together, sir." "You stayed aboard all this time?" "It wasn't long, sir." "And I felt more at home here than I would've on the beach, sir." "Oh, I should've said, ex-Chief Yeoman, sir." "I've been a civilian caretaker." "Oh." "But, we, well..." "She and I sort of pretended... things hadn't changed any, sir." "Lieutenant Masterman been aboard?" "No sir." "Your the first of the new officers, sir." "Ask him to step down to wardroom, if you will." " Yes, sir." " Good night, Johnson." "Good night, sir." "Good evening, sir." "Good evening." "So, this is the USS Warren, huh?" " Yes, sir." " She's a mess, isn't she?" "Well, sir, right now, she's a little like the lady that was waked out of her sound sleep in the middle of the night with a face full of cold cream and her hair done up in curlers." "But you give her a chance to get prettied up, sir, and she'll give those new destroyers cards and spades in any beauty contest." "Oh, I can see that she's a Follies Beauty all right." "Follies of 1902." "Has the skipper come on board yet?" "Yes, sir." "His compliments, sir." "And would you step down to the wardroom." "Thank you." "Oh, Mr. Masterman." "Come in." " Good evening, sir." " Good evening." "Glad to have you aboard." "Sit down." "Cheery, isn't it?" "When's the funeral?" "Don't worry, you won't find anything scary under the seat covers." "I've looked." "Oh, I met the ancient mariner at the head of the gangway." "Oh, you mean, ex-Chief Yeoman Johnson?" "He's quite a character." "Mr. Masterman, I want you to see that the storage light comes alongside first thing in the morning." "Have the remainder of our storage put aboard and stowed." " Yes sir." " When that's shipshape, see that the fuel barge comes alongside." " You'll have to pick us a crew." " Aye, sir." "They may be scarce, but pick as many experienced destroyer men as you can find." " Aye, sir." " Oh yes, the torpedo compliment." "Have them put aboard." "Shall I also check the bows and arrows, sir?" "Mr. Masterman?" "Aboard a destroyer, the executive officer has got to be a jack of all trades." "I'm a jack, all right." "Begging the Captain's pardon, I brewed up a little java for the wardroom, sir." " It smells good." " Yes, sir." "Nothing like the smell of fresh coffee to put life in ship." "Thank you, Johnson." "Good of you to go through the trouble." " Thank you." " No trouble, sir." "I have a little galley rigged up topside." "There's something just outside the door I'd like to show you." " Cream or sugar, Masterman?" " No, black thanks." "Here it is, sir." "I guess you're the proper person to be having to carry this now, sir." "That's a plaque." "It was put aboard after the last war." "Orders of the Secretary of the Navy." "Like a medal of honor." ""USS Warren served in the World War... "" ""April 6, 1917 to November 11, 1918." "Sea patrol, 1917 to 1918." "Captured the U, 109." "March 11, 1918." "Sunk the U, 141." "August 3, 1918." "Participated in destroyer action," "September 9, 1918."" "That's where I got this... shell fragment." ""Carried the Assistant Secretary of the Navy, Franklin D. Roosevelt to Europe." "July, 1918." "Was present at the surrender of the enemy fleet at..." "Scapa Flow. "" "That's all, sir." "You'll find the screw holds for it, sir, on the after stack." "I took it down for safe keeping." "Kept it from getting tarnished." " All these years?" " Yes sir." "Thank you, Johnson." "We'll see that it goes back where it belongs." "Thank you, sir." "Thank you." "Begging the Captain's pardon, sir." "I'd like to ship over for another cruise." " Ship over?" " Yes sir." "Johnson, that's a fine spirit." "I'm sure there's a job you can do somewhere around the Navy." " Yes, sir." " You know, destroyer service is a young man's game." "It's too tough for grey hairs." "I guess, maybe you're right, sir." "Well, good luck, sir." "I know the Warren will take you where you're going, and bring you back." " Good night, sir." " Johnson?" " Yes, sir." " Mr. Masterman and I'll take good care of your ship." "Won't we, Masterman?" "Oh yes, we'll bring her back with ribbons in her hair." "I know you will, sir." "She's a proud thing." "Slipping along with the green seas rolling under her foot." "She's pretty as a picture." "Well..." "Good night, sir." " Well?" " That kind of man built the Navy." "Why don't you stretch your point and take him on?" "To board a destroyer, a man needs more arms and legs than a centipede." "But you can't leave him on the beach in these times." "You can't run a navy on sentiment, Mr. Masterson." "I'll remember that, sir." " I beg your pardon, sir." " Yes, Johnson?" "You'll be taking the Warren to sea soon now, I suppose." " I imagine so." " She's a wonderful ship on the helm, sir." "Takes it like a thoroughbred." "I know her well." "I went to sea on her first as a quartermaster." "But you'll find, sir, that when you're turning her on the heel into the wind, you've got to give her a little headway to keep her from falling off." " She likes to be coaxed." " Thanks Johnson, I'll remember that." "And the throttle valve on the starboard engine, sir..." "Creeps now and then, towards open." "It never was exactly right." "It's too bad you're not making this cruise, Johnson." "The captain knows best, sir." "Well, I suppose things have changed a lot since you went" " on the inactive list." " Oh, that they have, sir." "But all the time the Warren and I were tied up in San Diego," "I went to the school at the base three nights a week." "It kept me up on things." "Just how old are you, Johnson?" "Oh, I'm coming on 40, you might say, sir." "Let's see, that'd make you just past 14 when you were on the North Sea patrol." "Yes sir, but I was a very big lad for my age." "Uh-huh." "You'd be a great help to the executive officer of the Warren, knowing her as you do." "I'd give anything to be going with you, sir." "Grey hair makes a man look a lot older than he really is, you know?" "Without that, you'd look 20 years younger." "It'd make a different man of you." "Well, good night, Johnson." "Good night, sir." "Attention on deck, captain coming aboard!" "Officer's hands salute!" " Morning, gentlemen." " Morning, sir." " Hello Tim, glad to see you aboard." " Thank you, sir." " How's everything in the engine room?" " Everything's shipshape." "Lieutenant Royce, gunnery..." "Royce?" " How do you do, sir?" " Lieutenant Martin, torpedo." " Martin?" " How do you do, sir?" " Ensign Lindsay, sir." " Lindsay?" " First cruise, huh?" " Yes, sir." "I just came aboard last night, sir." "Think you'll like destroyer duty?" "Yes sir, it's wonderful, sir." "Crew are ready for inspection, sir." "Very well." " Chief Signalman Jones." " Morning sir." "Morning." "Chief Boatswain's Mate Jenks, sir." "Jenks, glad to see you aboard." "Thank you, sir." "Right glad to be aboard, sir." "Chief Quartermaster Rankin." " Rankin, glad to see you aboard." " Thank you, sir." "Chief Yeoman Johnson, sir." "Johnson..." "You?" "Yes sir, me." "How did you get aboard." "I applied for re-enlistment on the Warren, sir, in my old ranking and and was accepted, sir." "With the help of Mr. Masterman, sir." "Mr. Masterman?" "You didn't, by any chance, suggest that Johnson dye his hair, did you?" "Your orders were to get experienced men, sir." "And you can't run a navy on sentiment." "Hm." "Congratulations." "Very becoming." "Thank you, sir." ""By authority of the Secretary of the Navy, contained in order of May the 21st, 1942," "I hereby re-commission the USS Warren in the naval service of the United States and deliver her to her commanding officer. "" "USS Warren is placed in commission and is delivered to you, sir." "I accept command, sir." "Divisions right and left, face!" "Sound off." "Divisions right and left, face!" "Mr. Masterman, set the watch." "Aye aye, sir." "Set the watch, first section!" "Aye aye, sir." "Set the watch!" "First section!" "Set the watch, first section." "Set the watch, first section." "Officers and men, your ship, the Warren, is now commissioned by the United States to fight our enemies." "You make up it's crew." "Regulars, reservists, recruits... as you pull together, as you become a smoothly functioning machine, as through your spirit, you make this ship live... so will our country live." "For the time, we must fight this generation's war partly with last generation ships." "The Warren is old, called back out of its honorable retirement to fight again, but it is a glorious ship with a great history." "There was another old ship in the United States Navy, practically falling apart." "She fought in action with a brand new, blue ribbon frigate." "When she was shot to pieces, on fire, dismasted, the captain of the enemy frigate hailed her, to ask if she had struck her colors." "Her answer to that question has been the number one watchword of the American Navy for a 150 years." "You may remember her name... the Bonhomme Richard." "Captain John Paul Jones, a farmer's son, commanding." "Her answer was," ""I have not yet begun to fight. "" "Request permission to leave the ship, sir." "Permission granted, sir." " Happy cruise, Roberts." " Thank you, sir." " Happy cruise, Masterman." " Thank you, sir." "Salute." "Clear the side." "Leave to quarters." "The old man thinks so much of the Bonhomme Richard, it's a wonder he didn't send us out to sea on her." "You don't think so much of the Warren, do you?" "Frankly, no sir." "And I have the feeling that you don't either." "Mr. Masterman, to me," "John Paul Jones is the greatest hero in naval history." "Yes, sir." "Perhaps he didn't think so much of the Bonhomme Richard." "But she was his ship." "The Warren is your ship." "You're her executive officer and navigator." "Yes sir." "When this shakedown cruise is over, perhaps you can get yourself duty that will be more to your liking." "For now, prepare to get underway at 1100." "Aye aye, sir." "Tell the engineering officer to light off his other two boilers as soon as" " we're through the gates." " Yes, sir." "Now we're bearing two-four-six." "Mr. Masterman, if you must smoke the pipe, would you mind standing the lower, hereafter?" "Oh, sorry, sir." "Noon, sir." "Mark." "Seventy-nine degrees." "Thirty-two minutes." "Ten seconds." "You know, Masterman, you're a pretty good navigator." "Thank you, sir." "This is a lot different then that chromium-plated luxury-laden racing barge of yours, isn't it?" "Well, the accommodations were much better." "One always had that comforting feeling that she'd hold together in a blow." " Masterman." " Yes, sir?" "As soon as the sky's clear, we'll have anti-aircraft drill." "We've had one every day since we've been out." "We'll still have anti-aircraft drill, Mr. Masterman." "Aye aye, sir." "Ammunition ready?" "Release number one!" " Release number one!" " Aye aye, sir." "Use 2.0, range 7-5-0, scale 1-0-1." " Use, set!" " Set!" "Load!" " Ready!" " On target." "Commence firing!" "Release number two!" "Release number three!" "Use 2.2, range 8-5-0, scale 1-0-4." " Use, set!" " Set" " Ready!" " On target!" "Resume fire!" "Use 2.5, range 1-0-0, scale 1-0-5." " Use, set!" " Set!" " Ready!" " On target!" "Resume fire!" " Nice shooting, sir." " Fine." "Cease fire and secure." " Cease firing and secure." " Aye aye." " Use 2.8..." " Captain says cease firing and secure the batteries, sir." " Cease firing and secure." " Aye..." "Nice work, men." "Come in, Masterman." "Battery's secured, sir." "Three rounds expended, no casualties." "Very well." "Sit down." "Thanks, sir." "Smoke?" "No thanks, sir." "But..." "Oh..." "You know, the drill went much smoother today, Masterman." " Nice shooting." " Not very exciting, sir." "Like shooting clay pigeons." "It doesn't get exciting until the clay pigeons start shooting back at you." "The sooner the better, sir." "If it happens, I think we'll be ready." "You know, we've accomplished a lot the past two weeks." "The Warren's beginning to shake down now." "She's becoming a war ship." "You couldn't want a better crew." "You're being a little optimistic, sir." "Mr. Masterman, there've been a couple of times when I thought I detected a slight flaw in your schooling." "If you mean I'm not a graduate of the "Pollyanna" school, you're right." "I don't know what they taught you at Harvard, but the Navy teaches a man to do the best possible job with whatever tools are at hand." "I suppose that's from John Paul Jones too, sir." "No, that's from Martin J. Roberts." "Yes sir." " Come in." " I beg your pardon, sir, but the radio operator just picked up this message." ""SOS from SS Lancaster to all ships." "Being shelled by enemy submarines, position latitude 27'45 North." "Longitude 140'36 West. "" "Mr. Masterman, this is no longer a shakedown cruise." "Plot this position." "Give me the course and distance to the Lancaster." "Johnson?" "Tell the engineering officer to light off his other two boilers." " Prepare for full power." " Aye aye, sir." "There's a glow in the horizon." "Two points in the starboard bow." "Looks like a fire, sir." "Nothing but burning oil on the water." "Guess that's all that's left of the Lancaster." " Shall we stop the engine, sir?" " Stop the engine?" "Mr. Masterman, the sub that sank the Lancaster is out there somewhere right now, waiting." "For us." "The Warren at a standstill silhouetted against that glare" " would be a perfect target." " Yes, sir." "Come left 10 degrees of course, we'll search the area for survivors." "Aye aye, sir." "Yes, Mr. Secretary." "No, Mr. Secretary." "Yes, Mr. Secretary." "No, Mr. Secretary." "Goodbye, Mr. Secretary." "That's what I like about the telephone." "It gives a man a chance to express himself." " Yes, sir." " See that those orders are carried out immediately." "Yes sir." "Well Dudley, what is it?" "Message from the Chief of Operations, sir." " Read it." " Yes sir." ""You are relieved of your duties as Commandant of the Navy Yard of this state. "" " What?" " "And are directed to proceed to Pearl Harbor immediately to assume command of East Bound Convoy." "Now assembled in Honolulu. "" " Read that again." " Yes, sir." " You are..." " No, no, no." "I'll read it." ""You are relieved of your duties as Commandant... "" "Cruise to Chattanooga as flagship." " Active service." " Yes sir." "Dudley, how long would it take us to get on our way?" "There's a PBY plane leaving at 4:00, sir." "Good, gives us just about time to get ready." "Ha!" "Not much like my first command!" "Took me three months to get to my ship." "Things move much faster in this day and age." "Get a hold of the sea at noon one day, sitting on a PBY at four the same afternoon." "Arrive at Honolulu the next morning at seven..." "Before you can say "Jack Robbin" I'm pacing the bridge of my flagship." " And headed right back for the mainland, sir." " What?" "Well, at any rate, I'll be at sea." "Yes, sir." " Good morning, sir." " Morning, sir." "Morning Ludlow, Morning Dr. Stone." "Fine day, great sailing weather." "Yes, sir." "How are you feeling, sir?" "Never felt better in my life." "Salt air and sea, that's all a man needs." " Yes sir." " Smart ship, the Chattanooga." "Proud to have her as my flagship." "Thank you, sir." "It's a great pleasure to serve with you." " What is it Dudley?" " Just received this visual message from our right flank destroyer, sir, the Murray." "Breakdown in steering gear, makes maneuvering impossible." "Cannot effect repairs at sea." "Request instructions." "That's a fine thing." "The sun is shining, everyone is happy." "And the Murray has a steering casualty." "Serious, sir." "Leaves the right flank unprotected." "Signal the Murray to return to Pearl Harbor, and request the base to send the nearest destroyer available." "Aye aye, sir." "Mr. Martin's instructions were to show you this at once." "It's very important." "Thank you." "Well, looks like this is it." "Priority from the base." "We're ordered to join an East Bound convoy at noon tomorrow." "Latitude, 23'30 North." "Longitude, 143'20 West." "Gentlemen, it looks like we're in it." "How far do you make it, Masterman?" " About 600 miles, sir." " Six hundred miles?" "That means we'll have to do 25 knots for 24 hours." " And what about fuel?" " Let's think about getting there." " Come on, Tim." "Back to the mines." " Yes sir." "I don't know how to break the news to those poor old sputtering engines." "Check that position, put her on the course to the rendezvous, Mr. Masterman." "It's a pretty long haul, sir, at 25 knots..." " In this sea." " We'll make it." " We've got to make it." "That's an order you've got in your hand." "Well, I wish the guy that sent it were here." "This is more like it, sir." "Action." "If the bailing wire that holds our engines together don't give way under the strain." "Oh, don't you worry, sir." "She can take it." "These are no better than that." "Signal the Glengow to stop making smoke." "Aye aye, sir." "It's like standing watch over a flock of chickens knowing that a weasel is loose in the barnyard." "The Warren will join us at noon tomorrow, sir." " That flank will be covered." " The Warren." "With all the modern destroyers in the United States Navy," " I get the Warren." " I thought you put her in commission yourself, sir." "Hm?" "For coast patrol, yes." "She could've done that well enough." "To protect a convoys flank?" "The Warren." "Aircraft sighted on the port water, sir." "Bearing 225 degrees relative." "He's crossing to starboard." "Can't make out her marking, sir." "She's none of ours." "Wrong silhouette." " Mr. Lindsay?" " Yes, sir." "Sound general quarters, come right 30 degrees to course," " one mast the battery." " Aye aye, sir." "Masterman, here's a different kind of clay pigeon for ya." " Good hunting." " Stand by for action!" "Load, hurry up, load!" "Range, 1-9-0-0." "Scale, 9-7." "Commence firing!" "What's the matter?" "Those shells aren't bursting!" "What's the matter with Masterman, anyway?" "Range, 1-0-0-0." "Scale, 9-4." "Barrage fire." "Commence firing!" "Aft to deck!" "Aft to deck!" "Can't read them, sir." "I'm going in." "Mr. Lindsay, take over." " Aye aye, sir." " Look out!" "Here it comes!" "Rapid fire!" "Commence firing!" "Coming around for another try at us!" " Right at target!" " Masterman!" "Masterman..." "For the love of Mike, you're forgetting to cut your fuses." "Duck!" "Stop firing!" "We won't get another shot at that bird." "He's on his way back to his perch." "Have the gun crew stand by just in case." "Aye aye, sir." "Johnson, have the communications officer encode and dispatch this message to the base." "Yes, sir." "Attacked and bombed by enemy catapult-type reconnaissance airplane." "Ask the navigator to add our position." "Yes, sir." "Wish I could add aircraft destroyed by gun fire." "So do I, sir." "Why don't you tell him it was my fault it got away." " That's all, Johnson." " Yes, sir." "Come in, Masterman." "It was nice of you, sir, sparing my feelings." "What?" "You've downed that Jap and covered ourselves with glory if I hadn't developed a case of the galloping jitters." "That's what you've been waiting to tell me, isn't it?" "Not at all." "Sit down." "For anti-aircraft defense we also have some machine guns aboard." " They miss, too." " I know who's fault it was." " Mine." "I bungled the job." " Masterman." "A man's first action is a lot like going into his first football game." "He can be letter perfect in practice, but when he gets out on the field, face to face with the real thing, he'll be liable to get a little over anxious." "Might even develop a case of the galloping jitters, as you call them." "But after he's been bounced around a couple of times, good and hard, he usually steadies down." "Thanks for the pep talk, sir." "But we aren't playing games." "Maybe John Paul Jones or the Navy teaches differently." "Harvard teaches a man to stand on his two feet, and accept the responsibility for his own mistakes." "Aboard ship, the only man that can accept responsibility for a mistake is her captain." "Yes, sir." "Come in." "Rough log and reports to check, sir." "Thanks." "Did I ever tell you, sir, why I don't like fish?" "What?" "It's quite a story, sir." "See, when I was a lad about 10, my father took me fishing." "And along about noon, I began to get hungry." "And my father was taking a nap, so I stuck both fish poles in the riverbank, and got me a sandwich out of the basket." "Well, sir, I no sooner picked up that sandwich, then the cork on one line began to bob up and down like mad." "So I belayed everything and hauled away." "And I hooked me a beauty." "I was standing there admiring the fish." "When, so help me, the cork on the other line began to jump up and down." "Well, there I was, sir." "A sandwich in this hand, and a live fish in this hand." "Well, I got kind of mixed up in my hands." "And instead of putting a sandwich in my mouth, I put the fish in." "And I've never liked fish since." "It's funny what a man will do in a moment of excitement, sir." "Thanks, Johnson." "I see what you mean." "Thank you, sir." "No offense." "It's a lovely night, isn't it, sir?" "You look a little green around the gills, Lindsay." "Why don't you go below?" "I was below, sir, but..." "I just came topside for a breath of air." "You'll be all right, sir." "I'm glad you think so." "Our eight o'clock position, sir." "Dead reckoning." "Too overcast for star sights." " Bridge." " Starboard life raft," " adrift on deck." " Aye aye, Jenks." "Chief Paulson's made a report, starboard life raft adrift on deck, sir." "Take care of it, will ya, Masterman?" "Aye aye, sir." " I'll go with ya, sir." " All right, Johnson." "Be careful, sir!" "She's pretty rough!" "Better use the safety line, sir." "Be careful, sir!" "That was a close one, Johnson!" " You all right, sir?" " I'm all right." "Johnson!" "Johnson!" " Is he bad, Miller?" " Pretty bad, sir." "I know he has a concussion, maybe a skull fracture." "But, he has a chance." "At his age, a man doesn't rally like a 20 year old, sir." "I'm afraid he can't stand this pounding, sir." "If we were in still water, or if we could reduce speed..." " Do everything possible." " Yes, sir." " Got plugged." " Yeah." "He kept me from going overboard." "I feel like it was my fault." "Forget it." "Any man aboard would've done the same thing." "I'm woozy on my feet." "Think I'll turn in and catch 40 winks." "Keep driving her, Masterman." "But Doc said that Johnson couldn't take this pounding." "I'm afraid he'll have to take it." "Don't call me unless it's necessary." "Good ship..." "Hundred line..." " What's he saying?" " He's been talking about his ship." "This ship, sir." "Johnson..." "Johnson?" "I hear ya, sir." "Coming right up." "If you're going on watch, sir, better wear your shammy and leather coat." "Shammy and leather?" "I haven't got one." "The one you took from the skipper of the U109 when we captured it." "You'll be needing it, sir." "There's a smell of ice in the air." "Thanks Johnson for reminding me about the coat." "If we could only slow down, sir." "It might make him rest easier." "Force, 3-1-5!" "Checking 3-0-2 magnetic." "Standard speed 25, 277 turn." "Steaming the boilers, one and two." "Maintain present course and speed throughout the night." "Check with the next fray, second section." "I relieve you, sir." "Good night." "Reduce speed to 1/3rd, Mr. Martin." "But the orders are to maintain standard speed, sir." "I accept the responsibility for changing those orders." "Aye aye, sir." " Quartermaster?" " Aye." "Notify the captain that I've reduced the speed to 1/3rd on the advice of the navigator." " Aye, sir." " Belay that, Quartermaster." "Captain's orders were not to disturb him unless I considered it necessary." "Ship's office, Pharmacist Mate Miller." "That better, Miller?" "Well, yes sir, Mr. Masterman." "Much better." " He's resting a lot easier." " Good." "Mr. Martin, my orders were to maintain a speed of 25 knots through the night." "Yes, sir." "I changed those orders, sir." "I hope you have a satisfactory explanation, Mr. Masterman." "I have a very satisfactory explanation, sir." "Chief Yeoman Johnson's lying below badly hurt." "I was aware of that fact when I gave the orders." "Your counter-manning them has cost us precious time." "Life of a man like Johnson should be worth some of the Navy's time, no matter how precious." "If that's sentiment, sir, I'm willing to have the most made of it." "You seem to be forgetting that the convoy we're joining is carrying hundreds of women and children and wounded men, who may be at the mercy of the enemy." "Risking the life of any one man must be subordinated to risking the lives of many." "Resume standard speed, Mr. Martin." "Aye aye, sir." "When you achieve command, Mr. Masterman, you'll find that it'll be necessary to make many decisions that will be personally unpleasant for you." "You'll also find it necessary to carry out an order, come hell or high water." "All right, Johnson." "It's all right, old man." "Easy now." "Steady, Johnson." " Good morning, sir." " Good morning." " Good morning, Masterman." " Good morning, sir." " Morning, sir." " Oh, morning, Chief." "The next guy that calls this ship a romantic old tub with tea kettle engines, will have me and the black gang to lay." "Boy can she take it." "Listen to her." "Tickin' like a watch and purring like a kitten." " Keep her ticking', Chief." " Aye aye, sir." "Good old, girl." "Too bad the man on board who knew she could take it can't hear us congratulating ourselves." "What?" "Oh, Johnson." "Well, he took it all right." "In fact, he's much better this morning." "There's a floating object, one point off the port bow, sir." "Looks like a life boat, sir." "It is a life boat." "There might be survivors, sir." "It might be a Jap hiding his periscope behind that." " Mr. Lindsay." " Yes, sir." " Circle it at full speed." " Aye aye, sir." "Survivors, all right." "Mr. Masterman, stop all engines." "Stop all engines, sir?" "Yes, Mr. Masterman." "This is the exception that always proves the rule." "There's a man in that boat that looks pretty well used up." "Yes sir." " Stop all engines, Mr. Lindsay." " Stop all engines, sir." "There's another man in the bow." "Mr. Lindsay, all engines back one!" "All engines back one, sir." "Stand by on deck to receive life boat on port side." "All right, men!" "Barrel hand!" " See your bow line!" " Heads up!" "Over the sides, men." "Come on, Davis." "Make it fast!" "Give the stern line!" "Make fast the stern line!" "Step lively down there." "Get 'em aboard and cast that boat adrift." "All right, lads." "Bring them up." "All right, give 'em a hand." " Steady, lad." " There ya go, fella." "Heave!" "Under the tarpaulin..." "He says there's something under the tarpaulin!" "Hey look!" "Hey Chief, look!" "Holy mackerel!" "Come on, Jenks!" "Show some life!" "What's going on down there?" "I don't know, sir." "Looks like we made a haul!" "Women... and a whole school of babies!" " Babies?" "!" " Yes sir." "Kids, sir." "Minnow sized." "This is impossible!" "What are we going to do with babies?" "Well, if they're that small, you can throw them back in." "Save time." " All right, bring 'em aboard." " Aye aye, sir!" "Come on, lift the women folks up here." "Barrel hands, boys." "You're all right, lady." "Hand those children up here!" "Easy going, you big old nursemaid, you!" " Congratulations, sir." " What?" "Old lady Warren seems to have become a mother very late in life." " It's amazing." " Women and children aboard a destroyer." "Looks like we've got quite a job ahead of us." "Oh, I'm sure you'll do the best possible job with whatever tools are at hand." " What?" " Sir?" "Oh yes, you're quite right." "And I know just the man for the job of looking after them." " You." " Me?" "I seem to recall how beautifully you took care of social affairs for the Admiral." " Wait a minute..." " Mr. Masterman, that's an order." "Come hell or high water, remember?" "And you'll probably run into both on this assignment." "Resume standard speed, Mr. Martin." "Aye aye, sir." "All present and accounted for, sir." "Call the men to attention." "Attention!" "Mr. Masterman, I figure we could stow the babies here in the crews compartments." "And I mustered all hands who are off watch to kind of look after 'em." "Them women folk look mighty pinched to me, sir." "Especially that one." "Looks like we'll have to organize things to take care of the situation." "Attention men." "All married men with children, one pace forward." "The remainder, at ease." "All in line down here." "Well, here's your nursery detail, Jenks." "All right, sir." "Well, these youngster can stand this, they'll live through anything." "You're sure an angelic looking bunch of papas." "Looks like some of you men will have to take care of more than one baby." "Put all the little ladies on the port side, and all the little gentlemen on the starboard." "Fall out." "All you men who don't have babies, take one of these." "Careful now." "Restore on of the bunks and rig nettings around 'em, so they don't tumble out." " Yes sir." " Tell the cook to make up some warm milk." "They'll quiet down once they have some chow." "Oh, thank you very much, Lieutenant." "You'd make a wonderful foster father." "Aren't you a little young to be the mother of such a large family?" "You're much too exhausted to be playing nurse." "She's... pretty bad." "You'll both be quite all right." "I'll have some of the officers double up, so you ladies can use their rooms." "I've heard of three men in a boat, but two women and 20 babies, beats me." "Poor children." "They're evacuees from the maternity hospital in Honolulu on their way to the mainland." "Ah..." "Our ship was separated from the convoy." " They got us at night." " Don't think about it." "You're perfectly safe now." "Is there a doctor on board?" "No, I'm sorry." "Only a pharmacist's mate." " Yes, but..." " Don't worry." " We'll take good care of you." " Don't go." "Don't leave me." "I can't leave." "She needs help desperately." "Afraid I must insist." "You're practically out on your feet yourself." "I'll see that your friend's moved at once." "Oh, Rankin, take the other lady to Mr. Martin's room." "Aye aye, sir." "You've been through a pretty nasty experience, Miss..." " Miss..." " Missus." " Oh." " Mrs. Steve Collins." "My husband is a flyer on an aircraft carrier somewhere in the Pacific." "Well, in that case, you'll feel right at home aboard ship." " How is he?" " Better, sir." "He's sleeping now, but his mind was still wandering." "Still fighting the other war, huh?" "Yes, sir." "Well, you'd better come take a look at the ladies we just picked up." "They're both in pretty bad shape." "Yes, sir." "They're in Mr. Martin's and Mr. Royce's rooms." "Yes, sir." "Masterman, I've been hearing glowing reports on your proficiency in the care and feeding of infants." " Very gratifying." " Thank you, sir." "It's too bad that you and these other gentlemen are strangers to the soft caress of a babies hand, the magic of a dimpled smile, the charm of triangular trousers." "You have no idea what you're missing." "Excuse me, sir." "She's having a baby!" "What?" "!" "Who?" "The woman we took aboard, sir." " There were two women." " One of them's having a baby." "The one in Mr. Martin's room." "Miller, you can't permit such a thing to happen aboard this ship!" "It's strictly against regulations." "Well, perhaps if you read Navy Regulations to the lady, Miller..." "I don't think there's time, sir." "And besides, I'm only a Pharmacist's Mate!" "Query, sir." "John Paul Jones must've had something to say concerning a moment like this." "You don't remember what it was..." " Mr. Masterman?" " Yes, sir." "Now, wait a minute, sir." "I'm a ship's officer, not a stork!" "That's right, you're the executive officer." "I don't know what John Paul Jones might've said, but Navy Regulations say that all matters pertaining to the ship's company properly fall under the jurisdiction of the executive officer." "The lady, through force of circumstance, is technically a member of the ship's company." "Execute, Mr. Masterman." "Execute." "Men..." "Uh..." "Your attention." "Naturally, this somewhat unusual duty... situation... is a great shock to all of us." "But as good sailors, we must see it through for the honor of the old ship." "Now, all of you men have had babies of your own." "Did you ever lend a hand when the happy event was taking place?" "Mr. Masterman, Mr. Masterman!" "The Lieutenant, pardon sir, the Pharmacist's Mate... he wants to see you right away!" "It's that lady, she's..." "All right, all right..." "Dismissed, back to your kindergarten." "Men..." "I got an idea, sir." " Mr. Masterman!" " Yes, yes..." "Mr. Masterman, please." "She needs help right away!" "I'm sorry, I can't do anymore." "All right, I'll go back!" "Jenks!" "Jenks!" "Here sir, we're going to do this shipshape and sharp." "Just like a hospital, sir." "It's the Carpenter's Mate, sir." "He'd like a word with you." "Don't tell me he's gonna have a baby, too." " Come on in, Chips." " Thank you, sir." "It's something I wouldn't care to admit in front of the others, sir." "Well, my wife is a visiting nurse, and I have stood by on a occasions like this, and I don't claim to be no expert sir," "I had a chance to sort of memorize the specifications as it were." "Chip, you're just what we're looking for." "But this is very informal Mr. Masterman." "Don't forget I'm a total stranger to the lady." "Don't worry, Chips." "I'll introduce you later." "Take it easy, Lindsay." "After all, you're not the father." "I know, sir." "But I'm still nervous." "You know, Mr. Masterman, this is an awful lesson for me." "Once or twice I've thought about getting myself obliged." "No more." "Uh-uh." "Not after this." "Shh!" " Well?" " I wish the report the presence of a stowaway, sir." "I should say about six and a half pounds." "Chips, for bravery you deserve a medal." "I'll settle for a cup of coffee, sir." "That you'll have." "Well, the launching's complete, sir." "Mother and baby are in perfect shape." "It's a boy." "Well, I'm glad that's over." " Well done, Masterman." " Strictly according to regulation, sir." " Jenks, what is it?" " Pardon, Captain, sir." "We're a delegation from the crew." " About what?" " Well, it's about a name for the new craft, sir." "Warren is a fine name for a boy, sir." "Bridge?" "Convoy sighted on starboard bow!" "Looks like about a 30 ship convoy, sir." "The cruiser leading is the Chattanooga." "I forgot to tell you the Admiral aboard that cruiser" " is Steven Thomas, USN." " Old Iron Pants?" "Finally got his wish." " I wonder how his lumbago is." " We'll find out." "We're an hour late arriving at rendezvous." "The Warren's just been sighted two points on the starboard bow, sir." " I've got eyes, Dudley." " Yes, sir." "Signal her to take position on convoy's starboard flank" " and patrol station." " Aye aye, sir." "Then ask her to explain why she's an hour late in keeping rendezvous." "Aye aye, sir." "Orders from the flagship, sir." ""Take position at the starboard flank with convoy and patrol station. "" " Carry out those orders, will ya, Masterman?" " Aye aye, sir." "Second message from flagship, sir." ""Explain one hour delay in keeping rendezvous. "" "Signal answer, regret delay due to misinterpretation of orders." "Aye aye, sir." "Warren reports delay due to misinterpretation of orders." "Misinterpretation?" "What kind of an answer is that?" "Tell the Warren I want the signal number of the officer responsible for misinterpretation of orders." "Aye aye, sir." "From the flagship, sir. "Report immediately signal number of the officer responsible for misinterpretation or orders. "" "Place my number, Martin." "Aye aye, sir." "After all, sir, I was to blame for the delay..." "Why didn't you hoist my number?" "Isn't a question of blame, Masterman." "The Admiral requested the signal number of the officer responsible." " That's right." " Aboard ship, the captain's responsible for everything." " Oh yes." " Good." "For a moment I thought it'd slipped your mind." "Warren answered your query with a signal number of commanding officer," " Lieutenant Commander Roberts." " Uh huh." "Just what I expected from Roberts." "No alibis." "I could always tell a crack officer by the cut of his jib." "And the grace to go, Mr. Lindsay." " Change standard speed to 15 knots." " Aye aye, sir." "Attention." "Baby Division." "You will lay aft to the afterdeck house." "Sunbathing time for the babies." "Don't you forget, you nursemaids, we're in a convoy so keep those kids out of sight as much as possible." "♪ I'm a sailor man doing what I can ♪" "♪ Helping out with the plans of your Uncle Samuel's Navy ♪" "♪ And in any port I'm a dead James Ford ♪" "♪ And I'll jump at the chance just to beat off the pants ♪" "♪ Of the guy who says that the Navy ♪" "♪ And sailing, sailing over the Seven Seas ♪" "♪ Bringing freedom to you ♪" "♪ And to me ♪" "♪ As we sail along We're a million strong ♪" "♪ And we can't go wrong 'cause we're all in your ♪" "♪ Uncle's Navy ♪♪" "Hey Jenks, are you sure baking powder's all right to use?" "Of course it is." "You use it on bread, don't ya?" "Yeah, but these are little babies." "So if it's OK for bread, it's OK for babies!" "Spread it on." "Hey Jason, you'd better take in that pair of pants pull up some of that slack." "Hey, give 'em a shot out of that bottom might stimulate 'em a little." "Do you feel better now, sir, now that the Warren's in position?" "Yes, yes, oh yes, sir." "But do you see what I see on the afterdeck house?" "It appears to be a false structure, sir." "Structure?" "Looks to me like a pigpen." "They must be crazy on the Warren." "First a pigpen, and now a pig." "Right before my eyes." "I can't quite make it out, sir, but it doesn't look..." "I know a pig when I see one." "Take a message to the Warren." "Explain presence of unauthorized pigpen and pig running loose on deck." " Aye aye, sir." " I'd never have believed it if I hadn't seen it with my own eyes." "Baby Detail!" "Count your babies!" "I got nine!" "Hey, wait a minute!" "Baby number nine in division three is AWOL." "He was just there a minute ago." "Where'd that scamp go to anyway?" "Signal from the flagship, sir." ""Explain presence of unauthorized pigpen and pig running loose on deck. "" "Pig?" "Jughead?" "Jughead..." "Oh, there you are..." "What do you mean running away like that?" "I must be crazy." "Not only do they have a pig, but they've made a pet out of it." "Why, they're babies, sir." "Yes, yes, yes..." "Well, it looked like a pig." "Dudley, Dudley!" "Correct previous message to the Warren." "Substitute babies for pig and baby-pen for pigpen." "Aye aye, sir." "Message from the Warren, sir." "From the Warren, sir." ""Have onboard 25 civilian survivors of torpedoed vessel proceeding from Honolulu to San Francisco." "Rescued persons, number two women, twenty babies, and two seamen." "Report one of them... "" "Two women, 20 children and two seamen." " That's 24 survivors." " The message continues, sir." ""Report, one of the rescued ladies gave birth to a child after being taken aboard. "" "Oh..." ""In absence of doctor, Carpenter's Mate officiated." "Request your concurrence. "" "That's the end of the message, sir." "I'm surprised at Roberts." "Permitting such irregularity." "I should've been informed of the entire affair." "It's completely without precedence." " Boy or girl?" " It doesn't say, sir." "It doesn't say?" "What kind of a report is that?" "Leaving out the most important detail." " I'll find out, sir." " Yes." " Another message from the Warren, sir." " Yes, yes, yes." "It's a boy, sir." "Oh." "It's a boy." "It's a boy." "Well, well, well." "Signal the Warren." " Well done, Warren." " Aye aye, sir." "Now take it easy, Johnny." " Better?" " Oh much better, sir." " But still..." " Hello Johnson, how're you feeling?" "Oh, I'm fit as a fiddle, sir." "Except for a little buzzing in my head." "But nothing to keep a man in his bunk for, sir." "I guess we're entitled to a day off after what we did to that Heinie U-Boat yesterday." "Shot her right through her belly." "I saw her number when she blew up." "Take it easy, Johnson." "Hello Papa." "How are all the little children?" " Very funny." " You look in on Johnson?" "Yeah." "He's cruising around in the North Sea 25 years ago." "Still thinks I'm his old skipper." "Mr. Masterman, sir!" "I beg your pardon, sir, but the other lady this time, she's about to..." "she's about to..." " About to what?" " About to have a baby, sir." "Well..." "Mr. Masterman?" "United States Navy." "I'd give a month's pay to see Masterman surrounded by all those babies." " Masterman?" " He's my ex-Junior Aide, he's quite a fella." "Always made me feel a little uncomfortable." "As if my neck tie weren't on straight or something." "What's the matter with him, sir?" "Nothing that a cruise, and the Warren, and a bunch of babies won't cure." "Mr. Dudley to see you sir." "All right." " Message from the Warren, sir." " Yes, yes, yes." ""Second lady passenger about to have child." "Request concurrence and medical advice. "" "Now look here, Dudley, this sort of thing must stop." "I am fighting a war, not running a lying in hospital." "Aye, sir." "Should I transmit that to the Warren, sir?" "Certainly not." "Well, Doctor, go on." "Say something." " Say what?" " You heard the message." "The Warren wants medical advice." "Well, sir, off hand I..." "I don't know exactly what to say." "Stone, are you or are you not a doctor?" "I am a Naval surgeon, sir." "Not a baby specialist." "Now if the woman had only broken her neck, or something more in my line..." "Stone, she's having a baby." "The Warren is waiting." "Well, a question like that takes time to answer..." "I'll have to refresh my mind." "Look it up!" "What shall I tell the Warren, sir?" "Tell the Warren to delay everything, my senior surgeon is reading a book." "Aye aye, sir." " How is she?" " Not very good." "I'm pretty scared." "The other lady had a pretty easy time but..." "But Mrs. Collins, this is her first child..." "And she's been through a lot." "The torpedo, and the bumping around, the life boat and it's all against her." "But she's got grit, sir." "You think it'd help any if I spoke to her?" "Might ease her mind, sir." "Oh..." "I'm sorry to be so much trouble, Mr. Masterman." "I'm sorry there isn't more we can do for you, Mrs. Collins." "Why, you're doing everything." "I think you've been wonderful." "If we could only get you aboard the Chattanooga." "She carries a doctor." "Are you scared?" "Yes." "I'm scared to death." "But I keep thinking of Steve." "My husband." "He's been scared lots of times, but he keeps on fighting." "That's the least I can do." "Well, if it's any help, you've got all hands aboard the Warren fighting with you." "How can I lose?" "Yes, sir?" "Tell Lieutenant Dudley I wish to see him." " Aye aye, sir." " Yes, sir?" "Is there any word from the Warren?" " No sir." " What's the matter with Roberts?" "Didn't you signal him to keep us informed?" " Yes, sir." " Well, signal him again." "Tell him I want to know what progress is being made." "Aye aye, sir." "Well, Doctor?" "Well?" "I have everything organized, sir." " Well in hand." " Sit down." "After I ask the Warren a few questions," " I'll be able to advise." " What kind of questions?" "Well, I'll have to know the lady's age, height, weight, and physical condition." "And I must know if this is her first child" " and whether or..." " The Warren makes a simple request for some medical advice and you answer with a demand for a detailed history of the lady's life." "Well, how can I give intelligent instructions if I don't know the case history?" "Doctor, a short while ago another baby was born on the Warren with the assistance of a Carpenter's Mate who didn't even know the patient's name." "I remember now when the ship's cat had kittens you lost your head." "That should've warned me." "As I reminded you, sir." "I am a naval surgeon aboard a war ship." "War ship or not, a woman is having a baby over on the Warren, and I am having a nervous breakdown!" "All right, Joe." "How is she?" "Worse." "It's too bad." "After all, sir, Chip's is only the ship's carpenter, and this is a destroyer, not a maternity hospital." "I'm sorry there isn't something more we can do to help her." "There is something you can do, sir." "Transfer her to the Chattanooga, get her in the hands of a real doctor." "That's the one thing we can't do." "We'd have to bring the Warren and the Chattanooga to a stop." "That would be inviting disaster." "I keep thinking of that girl's husband, inviting disaster every time he flies his ship off the deck of that carrier." "I'd hate to tell him that the Navy considers saving the life of his wife and baby" " to great a risk." " Masterman, he's doing a job." "So are we." "Yeah, I know." "Can't make decisions based on sentiment..." "Or humanity." "Yes?" "From the Warren, sir." ""Report Mrs. Collin's condition critical." "Request instructions. "" " Ah." " If she could only be transferred here..." "No, no, no, that's impossible." "I cannot jeopardize a 30 ship convoy and it's escort." "Well, in that case, we may as well turn in." " Must be almost dawn." " Turn in?" "Stone, have you ever been a father?" " Why, no sir." " Well, you should've been." "And perhaps you could've helped her with this launching." "You talk about this baby as though it were a ship." "Well, it's practically the same procedure." "If a ship hangs on the ways, you give her a start with a good sound thump from an oak timber." "That's it." "A thump!" " But I can't see that..." " Did you know that in the days of the sailing ships in the British Navy, the sailor's wives often went along on the old frigates and when a woman couldn't bring off a launching by herself," "the gunner always started with a salvo to Lord." "Oh, that old superstition." "Yes, I've heard those yarns from old timers." "You mean some old fogeys like me." " Oh, no sir." " Do you presume to call one of the oldest naval traditions superstition?" "Well sir, if you really think it'd do any good." "Why don't you give the Warren the order to fire a gun to Lord." "No, no." "That'll reveal our position to the enemy." "And the safety of the convoy must come before one life." "Even a woman's." " Yes." " Enemy aircraft sighted..." "Enemy aircraft sighted, sir!" "Listen..." "We've been hit!" "Standby for action!" "Did you hear that?" "We're in action!" "I gotta get to my station!" "Steady, Johnson, steady." "Look sir, the flagship's been hit." "Enemy aircraft headed for convoy, sir." "Set fuses to three." "Range, 2-5-0-0." "Scale, 8-2." " Fuse set!" " Set!" " On target!" " Rapid fire, commence firing!" "Masterman's right on his target." "On target!" "On target!" "One for us!" "Lindsay, right full rudder!" "On target!" "On target!" " They got him, sir!" " Nice shooting." "That's one clay pigeon that won't shoot back at anybody!" "The flagship's out of control, sir!" "Ludlow, what's the matter with our aircraft lookout?" "Well, the plane glided in above the fog, and when first sighted, he was already diving." " What's our damage?" " We should have a full report in a moment, sir." "Ship's Damage Control Officer reports our plane catapult disabled and steering near out of control, sir." "Do something, confounded!" "Can't stay here all day with my stern shut off." "That plane was launched from an enemy capital ship that's somewhere out here in this blasted fog!" "We're doing all we can, sir." " Your coat, sir." " Nice kettle of fish." "Hit in the tail with a sneak punch by a slant-eyed Beelzebub." "Enemy battleship sighted, sir." "On the starboard bow." "Jap." "Ishamoto Class." " Ludlow, commence firing." " Aye aye, sir." "A Jap battleship." "All my life I've been praying for a crack at one of those pagoda masted buzzards." "And here I am winged in the tail, sailing in circles like a blasted merry-go-round." " Signal the convoy to scanner." " Aye aye, sir." "Signal the Warren, I'm out of control." " Yes sir." " Shot in the rear." " Yes sir." " Don't put that last in the message." "Oh no, sir." "Shot at us with their first salvo!" "Let them have it, Ludlow!" "Radio from the Chattanooga." "She's out of control." "That puts it up to us." "Mr. Lindsay, I'm going ahead, full speed." "Tell the engine room to make smoke, we lay a smoke screen between the Jap and the convoy." " Aye aye, sir." " We reverse course to the left standard rudder." "Left standard rudder, sir." "Look, sir!" "Through that break in the fog!" "The Warren's reversing her course!" "They've opened on the Warren with a secondary battery!" "Roberts is covering with a smoke screen!" " Guns 1, 2, 4 commence firing!" " Guns 1, 2, 4 commence firing!" "Duck!" "Load!" "Ready, one!" "Four, ready!" " Send for me, sir?" " Yes, Masterman." "Here's my plan of attack." "The enemy's forced it's carrier directly into the convoy." "Yes, sir." "I'm going to cease firing." "In two minutes, reverse our course again, parallel to our smoke screen." "Then cut through and give her a surprise, and give her every torpedo we've got!" "She's a battleship, she'll blast us out of the water!" " Almost certainly." " What about the women and children?" "This isn't only a destroyer, it's a floating nursery." "I know... but in a situation like this, decisions cannot be influenced by personal feelings." "When you have a command, you'll realize that." " Back to your battle station." " Aye aye, sir." "Mr. Masterman!" "The Captain's been hit!" "You bad, sir?" "Looks as if you... achieved command sooner neither of us expected." "Any orders, sir?" "You'll do all right, Harvard." "Rock 'em and sock 'em." "OK, John Paul Jones." "Get the Captain below!" "We'll take care of you." "I need you again, with Mrs. Collins." "All right, help me strap Johnson down." "I'm needed on deck, I tell ya." "Now, come on, lad." "Tell control to cease firing." " Control, cease firing." " Yes, sir?" "Be ready to fire torpedoes on both sides." " Aye aye, sir." " Reverse course to the right." "Keep her parallel and behind the smoke screen." " Right standard rudder." " Right standard rudder." "The Warren's swinging behind her own smoke screen, sir." "They're firing blind behind the smoke screen, sir." "Yeah." "Still just popping away at things up there, Chips?" "Don't be uneasy, Miss." "Just because of a bit of a fuss up topside." "Mr. Lindsay, I'm going to come right 90 degrees off course." "Well, that'll just turn us back through our smoke screen, sir." "Right into the face of the enemy." "Exactly." "I'm going to intercept the Jap at the nearest point." "I'm counting on surprise." "But she'll blow us right out of the water." "Right standard rudder, Quartermaster." "Your new course is 1-7-5." "Right standard rudder, course 1-7-5, sir." "But Mrs. Collins and the other lady, sir." "And all those children..." "There's only one way of giving the convoy a chance to scatter." "Let's come charging out of our smoke screen, and smack that Jap with a couple of torpedoes before he smacks us with a broadside." "But you can't throw away the lives of all those women and children." "Mr. Lindsay, the captain of a ship can't always do what he wants." "If you ever get command, you'll realize that." "Aye aye, sir." "What's the matter Rankin?" "Bring her around!" "The rudder's right standard, sir, but she hangs!" "Well, give her right full then!" "Give her right full, sir!" " Take the Chief below!" " Aye aye, sir!" " Johnson!" " Don't worry sir, we'll steer you a straight course." "We're about to enter the smoke screen." " Steady up, 1-1-7-5." " Steady up on 1-1-7-5." " There she is, sir." " Action port, commence firing!" "Ready, one!" "Ready, one!" "Four, ready!" "Fire torpedoes when ready!" "Targeting 2-9-0!" "Targeting angle 2-9-0!" "Stand by tubes 2 and 4!" " Two and four standing by." " Stand by." " Fire one!" " Fire one!" " Fire two!" " Fire two!" " Fire three!" " Fire three!" " Good work, Martin!" " Thank you, sir." "She's headed for the smoke screen, sir!" "Yeah and the convoy!" "How many torps left?" "Six on the starboard side, sir." " Standby starboard battery." " Aye aye, sir!" "What are you gonna do, sir?" "I'm going back through the smoke screen again and finish our job." "Right standard rudder, come to course 3-5-5 and steady!" "Right standard rudder come to course 3-5-5 and steady, sir!" "You all right, Johnson?" "Aye aye, sir." "Hey Doc!" "The lady, hurry!" "All right." "Increase to right, 20 degrees rudder." "Increase to right, 20 degrees rudder, sir." "Two points from the starboard bow, sir!" "We're heading back towards the smoke screen, sir!" "She's lefting heavily towards port!" "Action starboard, commence firing." " Speed 10!" "Target angle 1-2-0!" " Speed 10!" "Target angle 1-2-0!" "Right, let's give her the works!" "Aye aye, sir." "Stand by 223!" " Two-one ready." " Torp three ready." " Fire one!" " Fire one." " Fire two!" " Fire two." " Fire three!" " Fire three." "Mr. Lindsay, slow to standard speed." "Aye aye, sir!" "There, sir." "Can you make it out?" "Can't see a thing in this smoke and fog." "Guess that's the end of the old Warren, sir." "Yes, those poor women and babies." "That brave little ship." "Nice going, sir!" " Scratched one rice burner!" " We did it, sir!" "We did it!" "A destroyer, like the battleship." "Mr. Lindsay, behaving like a Brooklyn baseball fan." "Sorry, sir." "Johnson!" " Quartermaster!" "Take the wheel!" " Aye aye, sir!" "Mr. Masterman." "Are you all right, Johnson?" "Yes, I'm as right as rain..." " I must've bumped my head." " We just sunk a Jap battleship." "Sunk a Jap?" "Oy." "I must've slept all through it." "I feel as though I just woke up." "Do you understand, Johnson?" "Your old lady the Warren, that everybody laughed at, just knocked over a Jap battle wagon." "Well, I'm not surprised sir." "The Warren can lick anything afloat!" "Look sir!" "Over the starboard quarter!" "It's the Warren, sir!" "Incredible!" "It was the Jap that blew up!" "Yes, the Warren knocked her out!" "Here, here, here... you're acting like a bunch of school kids." " Oh, come in, Masterman." " How're you feeling, sir?" "Much better, thank you." " How's everything with you?" " Everything's under control, sir." "Total casualties, 12 men wounded." "All taken care of." "Forward gun disabled, otherwise no serious damage." "No casualties to the women and children." "I think that's all, sir." "Mr. Masterman, sir, can you come at once?" " It's very urgent." " Yes..." "Well, sir." "Ludlow, to the best of my knowledge, that was the single greatest destroyer action in naval history." "Magnificent, sir." "If it hadn't been for the Warren, our whole convoy" " might've been lost." " Yes." " Ludlow, I re-commissioned her." " Yes, sir." "From the Warren, sir." " Message from the Warren, sir." " Just one moment, Dudley." "Gentlemen, we are living one of those moments which may go down in history." "This message from the Warren might become as famous in the American Navy, as Paris, "We have met the enemy and they're ours. "" "Well?" "Read it." "It's a boy." " Hm?" " Yes, sir." "It's a boy." " Seven pounds, four ounces." "It's a boy." "It's a boy." "Seven pounds, four ounces." "Sun of a gun." "There's something grand about a homeward bound convoy, sir." " Ha!" " Quite a homecoming, sir." "Hm?" "Quite." "We're making a fine tail to the Warren's kite." "They're probably laughing from Cacosol to the Dutch Harbor, and from Iceland to Australia." "Never dare show my face in the Army-Navy Club again." "And I felt sorry sending Roberts to sea in that old coffee pot." "Lieutenant Commander Roberts." "Lieutenant Masterman." "Chief Yeoman Johnson." "Front and center." "For extraordinary gallantry, and action against the enemy, the Navy Cross of the United States, is confirmed upon the following by order of the President of the United States." "Lieutenant Commander Martin J. Roberts, USN Commanding." " Congratulations, Roberts." " Thank you, sir." "Lieutenant Gregg Masterman." "USNR." " Congratulations Masterman." " Thank you, sir." "Chief Yeoman Henry Johnson." "USN." " Congratulations Johnson." " Thank you, sir." "Well, Masterman, now that you're a blasted hero," "I suppose you think you've earned your lazy loops again." "Somehow, sir, oysters and Senate Committees don't seem so important to me now." "You're a couple of lucky dogs." "I give my flag just to stand in either of your shoes." "Destroyer in wartime." "That's a job for a real sailor." "Mind you, I'm going to camp outside the Commandant's office until I get priority on repairs and get back to sea again!" "What do they expect me to do?" "Spend eternity in a dry dock?" " I know just how you feel, sir." " What?" " Leave to quarters." " Aye sir." "Leave to quarters!" " Congratulations, sir." " Congratulations yourself, Johnson." "Yes, indeed." "Seems funny." "Me with a medal." "When only a little while ago I was afraid I was never going to get to sea again." "But I have you to thank for that, sir." "And you, sir." "It's been great being shipmates." "How soon before we shove off again, sir?" " Mr. Masterman." " Yes, sir." "Do what you can to expedite our repairs and refueling." " We want to get back to sea." " Aye aye, sir." "That's the only place for a sailor." "At sea." "Masterman." "Bows and arrows all checked?" "Bows and arrows all shipshape, sir." "That's fine."