Category: Short Stories

I had an uncle that was in the NAVY. He was on the same kind of ship as the USS Vermilion in WWII. He drove the Higgins boats to the beaches in Europe for the invasions. How ironic, I used to control the waves of Higgins boats, to make sure they arrived exactly on time. I had a fifteen (15) second leeway. To early and our planes were bombing the beach to keep the enemy away. They would have been hit with friendly fire. To late and the enemy would have time to come out and shoot them. The enemy takes invading their country deathly serious. Our goal as well as theirs is to survive and destroy the enemy. In the words of Gen. Patton “You don’t win wars by dying for your country, you win the war by making that other Son of a b’ die for his country.”

I only found out what my Uncle did a few months before he died. I deeply regret that. I guess I was of the same mentally that we didn’t like to talk about that. I wish I had now. I would have wanted to know about his experiences. It would have helped me understand mine better.

I’ve been shot at a few times but there’s no comparison to the fire he went through. You’re being shot at from the beach you’re trying to get to. You have to go anyhow and deliver your soldiers to that same beach the fire is coming from, knowing some will be shot and killed. There are safety nets in place but all it takes is one bullet to get through.

Story by Perry Serrette. My uncle was Wesley “BB” Serrette. “Passed away at 94 years old.”

   The U.S.S. Constitution (Old Ironsides), as a combat vessel, carried 48,600 gallons of fresh water for her crew of 475 officers and men. This was sufficient to last six months of sustained operations at sea. She carried no evaporators (i.e. fresh water distillers).

   However, let it be noted that according to her ships log, “On July 27, 1798, the U.S.S. Constitution sailed from Boston with a full complement of 475 officers and men, 48,600 gallons of fresh water, 7,400 cannon shot, 11,600 pounds of black power and 79,400 gallons of rum.”

   Her mission: “To destroy and harass English shipping.”

   Making Jamaica on 6 October, she took on 826 pounds of flower and 68,300 gallons of rum.   Then she headed for the Azores, arriving there 12 November. She provisioned with 550 pounds of beef and 64,300 gallons of Portuguese wine.

   On 18 November, She set sail for England. In the ensuing days she defeated five British men-of-war and captured and scuttled 12 English merchant ships, salvaging only the rum aboard each.

   By 26 January, her powder and shot were exhausted. Nevertheless, although unarmed she made a night raid up the Firth of Clyde in Scotland. Her landing party captured a whisky distillery and transferred 40,000 gallons of single malt Scotch aboard by dawn. Then she headed home.

   The U.S.S. Constitution arrived in Boston on 20 February 1799, with no cannon shot, no food, no powder, no rum,  no wine, no whiskey, and 38,600 gallons of water.

Go Navy!