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Marine Corps Stories: Chief of the Boat

A US Navy submarine runs into trouble.

By Skyler SaundersPublished 3 years ago 3 min read
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Marine Corps Stories: Chief of the Boat
Photo by Darren Halstead on Unsplash

The tight space aboard the submarine provided a theater for the lead senior enlisted actor to deliver his speech.

“We’re in a place where we’re going to fight until the last bit. We can give our best, and that might not be enough. But god dammit we’re going to fight against this sea. We’re out in the arctic. They’re going to search for us no matter what. Our role is to keep morale as high as possible. I know that things seem bleak.”

Chief of the Boat, Master Chief Rondo Desmond said. “As chief of the boat of this vessel, I have been given word from the CO and the XO that we’re still descending. Our communication with other ships is waning. As we sink lower, we must remember that we’re still able to keep our wits about us. Semper Fortis,” Desmond said. He watched a petty officer wipe away a tear.

“Until the story changes, that is all.” He hung up the receiver which broadcast throughout the entire vessel.

The gravity of the situation made bellies tight and minds spin. The switches and knobs seemed to melt like an image of The Persistence of Memory. Some sailors ate nervously, others clung to whatever faith they followed, and still others just worked their stations as if nothing was happening, as if impending doom had enveloped them, but had not fully swallowed up their spirit.

Desmond worked around the various compartments. No one was in their bunks. He was like the father of the entire boat because he was even older than the commanding officer and executive officer by a few years. He commanded respect everywhere he went. As a master chief, he had earned his way up to the highest level of enlisted personnel in the United States Navy.

He sat with the CO and XO in the hull of the submarine.

Commander Isabelle Gish looked at her two men in line for keeping order on the ship.

“That was a hell of a speech, COB,” she said.

“Yes, we’ve got to keep hope on the table,” Lieutenant Commander Grey Maalouf said.

“We’ve gotta keep motivated to see the light of day again. I’m looking...forward to seeing my daughter walk down the aisle….” Master Chief Desmond said.

“And we’re going to get there,” Commander Gish said. Isabelle rose from her seat. The two other men rose from theirs as well. She exited the room.

“We’ve got to be able to control this situation,” Maalouf said. Then, word came down from the navigation deck.

“We’ve got a signal!” Petty officer Freddy Richardson said.

The enlisted men and women worked fiercely to bring the submarine back to the surface. The nuclear reactor team used every tool in their mental toolbox to reverse the course of the vessel. Suddenly, it began to turn and rose up from the depths. The fast attack submarine was on its way of breaching the surface once again. They came to the top of the water. The crew could just barely make out the outline of a ship on the horizon.

Desmond exited the hatch holding a pair of binoculars. Maalouf stood by his side.“It’s an amphibious assault ship, and they’re here for us!” he exclaimed.

“I’ll get back on the horn, sir,” Desmond said.

He went back down and picked up the transmitter. “You can all exhale now. We’re being rescued by one of our own fleet. There will be time enough to get aboard that ship and call your families. This is a win for us, sailors. We’re going to be well.”

The ship deployed ten amphibious assault vehicles with Marines at the wheel.

“Looks like the Devil Dogs have saved the day, again,” Chief of the Boat Desmond said.

“We’re going to have to splice the mainbrace with them when we get to port,” Maalouf quipped.

“Isn’t that the truth,” Desmond said.

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