‘Navy New Year Logs’

A Ship’s Deck Log is the Day-to-Day sequence of events the Navy uses for each ship’s administrative and legal purposes. It’s been a Navy tradition that the first entry of the New Year be written in verse or limerick and is usually submitted by one of the crew through contests or someone personally chosen by the Chain of Command… After thirty or so years it ends up in the attic of some ol’ National Archive in Washington D.C. where it collects dust & oxidation… guess that’s better than barnacles and salt deterioration.  

When I was in the Canoe Club on the  USS Rainier I wrote a limerick for the New Year Log… but unfortunately it was probably to brash and bolden to be posted in the annals of Naval History… could’a been my usage of whiskey & women in my prose of heathen fortunes… who knows!?!?

Nevertheless I found this Log entry on the ‘Scoop Deck’ from the USS Cole after it had survived the attack in Aden, Yemen… and I have to give props to the ladies & gentlemen who served on that mighty fine vessel!!!

So if you don’t mind reading this ode’ of honor… here it goes:   

“The year of ’03 has come to an end
Sit back and listen to a story, my friend.
The story of Mighty Warship COLE,
And her survival of the “Big Black Hole.”

Was her first cruise of the new millennium
She stopped for fuel in the port of Aden, Yemen.
Alongside with terrorists and bombs, a boat did come,
Intent on stopping the COLE’S engine’s sweet hum.

With fire and flooding in the spaces contained,
Through crew sacrifice, watches of vigilance were maintained.
Put a Big Black Hole in her side, they did,
Finall-y carried to the shipyard with the winning bid.

To Pascagoula, Mississippi the COLE did go
It seemed the work and training was going too slow
But 3 years and two hundred fifty million dollars following
Mission is to find terrorist’s hearts, in fear, wallowing.

So here we are in the Ionian Sea,
Destroyer 67, as bad as can be.
DESRON 18, a part we are,
Sailing the seas, near and far.

Our course 045 TI Speed 7 knots,
Our plant full steam, our guns ready with shots.
Commander Grady is Captain of this mighty warship,
He leads COLE with honor, smart as a whip.

As we sail through the ocean, our boss is COMSIXTHFLT,
The Atlantic is behind us, time to crank up the heat.
Her keel is hot as she tears through the sea,
A warrior at heart she only can be.

As 2004 we see through the haze,
Our determination shines through with a blaze.
This ship stands fox freedom, honoring sacrifice and loss,
We fight for our country, no matter the cost.

The crew sails with honor and soul,
To put right which was wronged, they fight for the COLE.
God bless our families, this ship, and the sea,
As we lay down this year, good bye 2003.

The new year rolls in, it’s 2004,
We’re on our deployment, need I say more.
One last comment, to the terrorists, I leave,
The message we send should be clear to see.

In honor of our shipmates lost in the blast,
Remember our motto “17 Reasons To Kick Your Ass.”

Once again I must say it’s an honor to have served in the likes of shipmates like these… though I never walked the decks of the Cole… my condolences and appreciation are of the utmost respect!!!