The Real White Hat (fiction, Revised title)

U-96 · 10-13-07, 01:46 PM

December 25th 1939

I never much cared for Christmas, The partying, the noise, the religion.. none of that suited me, it was a day like any other. Though it helps crew morale bringing them home before christmas. They've earned it enduring 2 weeks cramped inside that dugout canoe.

Why did I pick U-boats? I was happy on the Koln. She was a good ship, And actually had room. What was I thinking entering the U-Boat service? I could actually breath on the Koln. I know why I picked the U-Boats, because I wanted to command so desperately, even though I had no idea what U-Boats were like. After 3 patrols in my Canoe, what will my men and I remember most? The stench... It burns the hairs in your nostrils to the point you wish someone would fart to help cover up this reek. I wanted to command so badly, that I picked a cramped tin can that smells worse then spoiled sardines. And all this squalor to haul 5 torpedoes... That's our only reason of being out there, those 5 fish, 3 of them are defective at any given time...

A fimiliar voice breaks the cool snowy silence, Who else comes to the dockyard at Christmas time? It was none other then my trusted LI, stern yet wise, he was even older then I am, but you'll find no-one better with a wrench. His soft slightly cracking voice cut through the cold air with a strange childish excitement. He saluted as he said. "Herr Kaleun". This was strange, I was just a Leutnant s.Z.

I couldn't help but to grin at this tease. "stop it LI, we're off the boat." With a grin akin to seeing a son achieve the highest honour he offers me an envelope while he responds with "Doesn't matter anymore Herr Kaleun".

The LI always prefered ranks to names, I remember him remarking it is because he hates looking like a twit forgetting a person's name. Doenitz Just loves to send letters that say nothing anyways. Still as the paper crinkled in my fingers, the words dawned on me. 'Kapitainleutnant.'

"I've been promoted? Seems like BdU do get things right once in a while. But still why is the LI still grinning? "Did you get promoted too LI?" He just shook his head in response. "No, something even better. Reliable rumours say we're getting a 7."

I just looked into my own LI's eyes with a twinge of regret that I can't share this excitment with him. Kapitainleuntant is a rank of respect in the Kriegsmarine. But now a bigger boat, the type 7B... Do I really want this? Just a bigger but equally cramped and smelly boat? Yes.... I do....

"Merry Christmas Herr Kaleun" said my faithful LI... "We'll see..." was all I could say...

10-13-07, 01:46 PM	#1
U-96 Mate Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Montreal, Quebec, Canada Posts: 53 Downloads: 388 Uploads: 0	The Real White Hat (fiction, Revised title) December 25th 1939 I never much cared for Christmas, The partying, the noise, the religion.. none of that suited me, it was a day like any other. Though it helps crew morale bringing them home before christmas. They've earned it enduring 2 weeks cramped inside that dugout canoe. Why did I pick U-boats? I was happy on the Koln. She was a good ship, And actually had room. What was I thinking entering the U-Boat service? I could actually breath on the Koln. I know why I picked the U-Boats, because I wanted to command so desperately, even though I had no idea what U-Boats were like. After 3 patrols in my Canoe, what will my men and I remember most? The stench... It burns the hairs in your nostrils to the point you wish someone would fart to help cover up this reek. I wanted to command so badly, that I picked a cramped tin can that smells worse then spoiled sardines. And all this squalor to haul 5 torpedoes... That's our only reason of being out there, those 5 fish, 3 of them are defective at any given time... A fimiliar voice breaks the cool snowy silence, Who else comes to the dockyard at Christmas time? It was none other then my trusted LI, stern yet wise, he was even older then I am, but you'll find no-one better with a wrench. His soft slightly cracking voice cut through the cold air with a strange childish excitement. He saluted as he said. "Herr Kaleun". This was strange, I was just a Leutnant s.Z. I couldn't help but to grin at this tease. "stop it LI, we're off the boat." With a grin akin to seeing a son achieve the highest honour he offers me an envelope while he responds with "Doesn't matter anymore Herr Kaleun". The LI always prefered ranks to names, I remember him remarking it is because he hates looking like a twit forgetting a person's name. Doenitz Just loves to send letters that say nothing anyways. Still as the paper crinkled in my fingers, the words dawned on me. 'Kapitainleutnant.' "I've been promoted? Seems like BdU do get things right once in a while. But still why is the LI still grinning? "Did you get promoted too LI?" He just shook his head in response. "No, something even better. Reliable rumours say we're getting a 7." I just looked into my own LI's eyes with a twinge of regret that I can't share this excitment with him. Kapitainleuntant is a rank of respect in the Kriegsmarine. But now a bigger boat, the type 7B... Do I really want this? Just a bigger but equally cramped and smelly boat? Yes.... I do.... "Merry Christmas Herr Kaleun" said my faithful LI... "We'll see..." was all I could say... __________________ Because this boat is barely enough for the 50 men we already have. How many would you have rescued, 1? 10? 100? -Kptlt. Willenbrock (film: Das Boot) Last edited by U-96; 10-13-07 at 10:15 PM.