Story from Donald CADWALADER
I remembered a situation that happened while the Prime was in Japan during the 66-67 cruise that involved Don Cadwalader and Gary Lehwald. I wanted to get the story as straight a possible so I emailed Don Cadwalader about it, and here is story:
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Ha! You hit
a funny-bone Paul;
Yes, I remember only too well how Gary stated that he was stationed in
Japan, knew the ropes and would show me around. Which to me meant a good
time. We started out by making the rounds at the local watering holes. (My
first Westpac as a young sailor) Gary then stated he would show me where
he "lived" during his Japan tour. As we progressed on a walk to where I
had no idea, in a strange city, Gary spied a Japanese flag on the front of
a Hotel. (My thought was that this is not a good idea, as I stood frozen
in my foot steps across the street) The flag staff was wrapped into an "S"
scroll on the side of the hotel door. Gary stated to me something like, "
My brother collects flags and needs one for Japan. He would really would
like the "Rising Sun" but the only one of those around here that I see is
down there on that Japanese Naval ship on the bay. Don't think I can get
that one. But this one here will have to do". With respect, Gary un-looped
the flag staff from the scroll, un-hooked the flag, folded it and put it
in his inside pea-coat pocket. Gary then said, "Hey! There is a good place
to eat right around the corner! Come on lets go!". Well, we stepped into
the local restaurant, ordered, and as our meal arrived, so did the shore
patrol and the local police. The SPs got there first, popped us into the
back of the paddy wagon and took us to SP HQ and put us in the brig. We
were told that if the local police got us we would never get out of jail.
After 8 hours in the brig, the SP's took us back to Prime. Once turned
over to the Quarterdeck watch, (QM1, may boss, forgot his name) I was
informed that Gary and I had somehow kicked some butt of a half a dozen
guys from some other ship. I laughed and stated how it could not have
happened as we were in the poky.
Gary and I were restricted to the ship until Captain's Mass. I must admit
the initial thoughts that I had before leaving the ship with Gary were
nothing like how it turned out. To top it all off, we were on the beach
for only a few hours before all this came about.
As a side note
and in looking back, it could have been a lot worse. The captain let me
off with a warning and the restriction time spent was all I got. In that
warning the Captain stated that I should choose better company to go on
the beach with.
During the
restriction I was in radio for a bit and noticed a teletype from, God,
Minron 72, 7th fleet, lots of other fleets, and a whole bunch of others
who were interested in the outcome of a "keep-sake" by two sailors (listed
by name, rank, number). The interesting part today is I know it can't be
changed, know we should have not done it, but, its all part of along a
go Westpac and now a "keep-sake" of a memory. The other details are
between Gary, Myself, the SP's, our memories and a closed record. The
story has been told several time with a bit of flurishment, but mostly the
truth.
Back then I was
the QM Striker seaman. Hope this gives you a little idea of our little
event. As you can see, I'm not much of a writer.
Later,
DC
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