How Sailor Poets Take Over U.S. Navy Deck Logs On New Year’s Day

this deck log A commissioned U.S. Navy ship is generally not a place to mess around. In that humble book, a ship deck officer (OOD) Carefully record important information about weather, sea conditions, engineering equipment status, ship heading and speed, and other mission-critical factors.

But during the earliest hours of New Year’s Day, during the in-between shifts from midnight to three or four in the morning, the OODs could unleash their respective poetic talents and write their deck log entries in the form of poetry.

The tradition of New Year’s Deck Journaling dates back nearly a century to 1929, According to the Navy. Occasionally, the OOD would hand over responsibility for the deck log poem to another sailor who was more gifted in writing.

Arguably, it reached its peak during the Vietnam War, when deck log poetry became so popular that navy times According to the organization, an annual competition is held to select the best contestants national archives. But as writing has given way to telephones and other electronic media, this naval tradition has been in decline, and as of 2017, fewer than 20 ships in a fleet of nearly 300 ships had written mid-course poems.

But it’s still a cool tradition, and we’re happy to bring you a selection of deck log poems from Navy bridges over the years. Check U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Also read more New Year Navy poems from past years.

I wish you and your family all the best. See you next year.

U.S. Navy Gilmer (DD-233), 1942

Boat: this destroyer After the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, they immediately went to work in the Pacific, performing submarine patrols and escort missions. In late 1942, she entered a Washington state shipyard and became a fast transport ship, when Lieutenant LC Brogger wrote the ship’s New Year’s deck log entry in the Pacific Northwest.

poetry:

We’re anchored in Port Townsend,

Stop briefly with anchor.

Be prepared for any emergency,

You’ll be ready to go in a minute.

Wilson’s Point has thirty-six true

from where the anchor is;

Pier light orientation

Likewise, twenty-seven does not equal.

The chain is thirty fathoms long

water depth seven;

the captain in his soft bunk

In the slumber of the new year.

He has never met such a person

Because today is already the thirtieth day,

We hunted down Japanese submarines

Departing from their base in Crescent Bay.

We haven’t found one yet,

No matter what the flyer says;

their logs, roots, trees and stumps

Let’s move on.

Young Bratz on the sound equipment,

Powers is on the phone;

Scherer holds a machine gun

But his thoughts were on his home.

It’s the night before new year

and throughout the ship

Not a living thing stirs

Except Judkins – Drip.

He’s breaking into the kitchen

To stir up some Joe,

Because the wind is blowing very hard

And the temperature is low.

Morton in the cabin

Keeping his turbines hot.

bosun’s mate is helmsman rink

Sleeping – is like not sleeping.

I’m trying to rhyme my journal today

But the navigator will definitely say,

“Write it down as a routine.”

U.S. Navy threshing machine (SSN-593), 1963

submarine: First of its kind, threshing machine story This was a tragedy because the ship sank at sea in April 1963, just months after this deck log poem was written. All 129 officers, sailors and civilian technical personnel on board were killed. This is also the world’s first nuclear-powered submarine lost at sea. Until today, threshing machine A cruel reminder of how dangerous it is to serve in the Navy’s silent service. Nonetheless, Lieutenant J. S. Lyman plays up to the sailor’s satire in the opening lines of his poem.

Lyman wrote: “This post is dedicated to the unknown, unrated, and unnecessary yeomen of NavPers who so faithfully and competently read, took note, and filed away, yet forgot all about my consistent efforts throughout the year. “

poetry:

Read it now, good yeoman, and you will understand

How THRESHER is approaching his best year yet and first of 63 years

The temperature is zero or slightly below

The wind howled from the stern to the bow.

The sky is clear, although the waters to the west

A few broken clouds appeared,

At best, call it “dispersion.”

This is hardly worth repeating – you must know as well as I do

The thresher is located in the dry dock, also high and dry

Same as before sky week moon

(Excuse the crossover, please, just this once)

No one is missing, we’ve got the whole flock together

The ship remains moored at Pier #2 with full crew

Or do you believe we will leave?

Our protected spot on New Year’s Eve?

Still receiving AC power, as previously reported

Provides various services brought from shore.

Atlantic Fleet and Reserves

Still with us in our private domain.

Mooring on pier or block with wire or abaca

Whether it’s a vernal line or a bust line, we’ve got you covered in Portsmouth, New Hampshire.

No demotion or major promotion

In this untimely, almost forgotten corner of the ocean

You see, our highest ranking on AEOLUS is SOPA.

(Lest you forget, the number is still ARC-3.)

This concludes my letter tonight. This is the first letter of the year.

Judging from past performance, I’m worried this won’t be the last time!

U.S. Navy Farragut (DDG-99), 2024

Boat: Fast forward to our last New Year, the Navy continued its Deck Log Poetry Competition and this entry by Quartermaster Officer 2nd Class (SW) Anthony Bentley took the top prize, earning the sailor an engraved U.S. Navy constitutionalso known as Old Iron Armor, as well as certificates and commander coins. Hopefully the Bentley gets a break too, those mid-shift shifts must be brutal. Rest or not, the QM2 deftly balances light, relaxed tones while ensuring the essentials are covered. Great Zulu!

poetry:

It was the night before the wait; what did I say?

Forgive me, I got the holiday wrong.

As you can see, at sea this can become quite mundane.

This week alone, I’ve been called by the wrong name three times!

and caste, caste, and sex,

But exhale, inhale, there is no time to be nervous.

New Year’s Day, if you want to know when,

So, let me start over:

A long time ago, in a faraway land

We’ve returned to Fourth Fleet and are ready to do it again.

The name of the mission “Catch Drug Smugglers”,

Disguised as a small boat said to be fishing.

Like a hound new to the new TOI,

The flight took off and it was time to take off.

LEDET is always second to none,

Just simply polish their guns until it’s time for fun.

I didn’t want to be a smuggler because they would go to jail.

Operating area: Caribbean Sea, blue,

Sailed independently with a crew of only 99.

“We’ll see a lot of islands!” the captain did say,

But all we see is Guantánamo Bay.

I had to include the plant state or they would throw out a cow,

And used my rotting corpse as a makeshift eyebrow.

Therefore, 1A and 1+2 air conditioners are running online

#1 Just refrigerate frozen rations

2B GTM, 1+2 GTG,

EMCON Condition Delta, Readiness State III.

SWSP 1+2+5 ready,

And FP 2+5 has stable fire power.

Look, it’s all done, oh, wasn’t I smart?

(I can’t lie though, it took me a long time.)

Once the countdown is complete, I can lie down on the shelf;

[Redacted] OOD, keep the ship on track.

[Redacted]Connecticut, forward-looking, keen-eyed,

Throughout the evening, make sure no contact goes unnoticed.

Dreams of holiday routines I would quickly shelve,

Because I have to get up early on September 12th.

Happy New Year to all of us at Tropical Journeys,

We look forward to the yard in 2024.

Happy New Year everyone.

Contact the author: geoff@twz.com