Oberon meets a nuc

Oberon · 05-02-08, 09:04 AM

Today as yesterday, an American gentleman took breakfast in the hotel I work at, he carried with him todays Telegraph which front page features the satellite picture of the new Chinese naval base. I noticed it and commented on it, something along the lines of "Ah, interesting headlines, that must be about that new Chinese sub base." to which he replied "Yeah, well I used to be on submarines." My jaw hit the floor and I enquired further into his old profession. It turns out he used to be on the reactor crew (A reactor officer I believe) of the USS Flying Fish. I shook his hand and told him that it was an honour to meet him (as I do any submariner or naval crewmember I meet) and he replied that it was an honour to protect us.
It's not often that I meet members of the naval community, or at least find out that they are members of the naval community, in person and so I was grateful to be able to shake his hand and thank him.
And of course, to all of you out there who have served and those who continue to serve.
Thank you.

Konovalov · 05-02-08, 09:29 AM

And thanks for sharing.

HunterICX · 05-02-08, 09:57 AM

Nice!

thanks for sharing, always nice to meet someone in person who was in the real thing.

I once met a USA merchant skipper from WW2, he sailed throught the mediterranean Sea. Also witnes how a ship in front of his got torpedoed by a U-boat I never forgot what he said about uboats.

''its just the fact that he might looking at our ship that scared the crap out of me''

talked with the old guy a long time on that rainy day, he was on a trip from coast to coast from where he sailed back then. he said it was his first time he was back near the mediterranean.

HunterICX

Cohaagen · 05-02-08, 10:22 AM

My old grandad, who died Tuesday night aged 88, served in the RAF during WWII. He always went out of his way to point out that he enjoyed an entirely unheroic war, and actually spent a great deal of time playing football, cricket, water polo and other sports. He organised the tri-services football and water polo leagues in fact, having been dragooned into it on the long flight over by a SNCO who'd heard he was a great sportsman and terrific footballer (he'd trialled for Celtic before volunteering)!

Anyway, apparently my mum's brothers and sisters have discovered an old case full of photos of Alexandria during the War, and there's pics of what sounds like Warspite, Queen Elizabeth, Valiant, cruisers, destroyers, etc. in the harbour there. I shall get a look at them Wednesday coming.

lesrae · 05-02-08, 01:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cohaagen

My old grandad, who died Tuesday night aged 88, served in the RAF during WWII.

Sorry to hear of your bad news mate, I hope some good memories will be comforting to you and your family.

Jimbuna · 05-02-08, 02:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lesrae

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cohaagen

My old grandad, who died Tuesday night aged 88, served in the RAF during WWII.

Sorry to hear of your bad news mate, I hope some good memories will be comforting to you and your family.

Same wishes from me......treasure the mempories mate

Oberon · 05-02-08, 06:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jimbuna

Quote:

Originally Posted by lesrae

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cohaagen

My old grandad, who died Tuesday night aged 88, served in the RAF during WWII.

Sorry to hear of your bad news mate, I hope some good memories will be comforting to you and your family.

Same wishes from me......treasure the mempories mate

And me, I lost my grandad last year, sadly I didn't know him as well as I'd have liked to, so treasure those good memories. He sounded a great sporting man.

05-02-08, 09:04 AM	#1
Oberon Lucky Jack Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 25,976 Downloads: 61 Uploads: 20	Oberon meets a nuc Today as yesterday, an American gentleman took breakfast in the hotel I work at, he carried with him todays Telegraph which front page features the satellite picture of the new Chinese naval base. I noticed it and commented on it, something along the lines of "Ah, interesting headlines, that must be about that new Chinese sub base." to which he replied "Yeah, well I used to be on submarines." My jaw hit the floor and I enquired further into his old profession. It turns out he used to be on the reactor crew (A reactor officer I believe) of the USS Flying Fish. I shook his hand and told him that it was an honour to meet him (as I do any submariner or naval crewmember I meet) and he replied that it was an honour to protect us. It's not often that I meet members of the naval community, or at least find out that they are members of the naval community, in person and so I was grateful to be able to shake his hand and thank him. And of course, to all of you out there who have served and those who continue to serve. Thank you.

05-02-08, 09:29 AM	#2
Konovalov Ocean Warrior Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: High Wycombe, Bucks, UK Posts: 2,811 Downloads: 9 Uploads: 0	And thanks for sharing. __________________ "In a Christian context, sexuality is traditionally seen as a consequence of the Fall, but for Muslims, it is an anticipation of paradise. So I can say, I think, that I was validly converted to Islam by a teenage French Jewish nudist." Sheikh Abdul-Hakim Murad (Timothy Winter)

05-02-08, 09:57 AM	#3
HunterICX Rear Admiral Join Date: May 2006 Location: Malaga, España Posts: 10,750 Downloads: 8 Uploads: 0	Nice! thanks for sharing, always nice to meet someone in person who was in the real thing. I once met a USA merchant skipper from WW2, he sailed throught the mediterranean Sea. Also witnes how a ship in front of his got torpedoed by a U-boat I never forgot what he said about uboats. ''its just the fact that he might looking at our ship that scared the crap out of me'' talked with the old guy a long time on that rainy day, he was on a trip from coast to coast from where he sailed back then. he said it was his first time he was back near the mediterranean. HunterICX __________________

05-02-08, 10:22 AM	#4
Cohaagen Frogman Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: UK Posts: 296 Downloads: 43 Uploads: 0	My old grandad, who died Tuesday night aged 88, served in the RAF during WWII. He always went out of his way to point out that he enjoyed an entirely unheroic war, and actually spent a great deal of time playing football, cricket, water polo and other sports. He organised the tri-services football and water polo leagues in fact, having been dragooned into it on the long flight over by a SNCO who'd heard he was a great sportsman and terrific footballer (he'd trialled for Celtic before volunteering)! Anyway, apparently my mum's brothers and sisters have discovered an old case full of photos of Alexandria during the War, and there's pics of what sounds like Warspite, Queen Elizabeth, Valiant, cruisers, destroyers, etc. in the harbour there. I shall get a look at them Wednesday coming.