I’ve been
writing these stories for some time now and I figured on Memorial Day I’d
better pin something up that’s really worth writing about! Denise Blackburn
(Carroll) brought an ol’ shipmate to mind and thought it only fitting that he
be included in the memoires of good ol’ shipmates, so here goes!!!
If you look
up “clean-cut American Boy” in the dictionary there is surely a picture of
Jimmy D. Priestap. When every other dirty rotten scoundrel to include myself
was wearing their cracker jacks out debauching the town and causing as much
mayhem the mayor of any liberty port might not allow, carousing with women who
made Pamela Anderson look like Mother Theresa and shutt’n down all the bars
because there wasn’t enough liquor to keep us shipmates adequately supplied,
Jimmy was out keeping the piece and doing volunteer work trying to make a good
name for the Navy. The kinda thing responsible people do. Yep, he was the
poster boy for the Navy’s Core Values, “Honor, Courage & Commitment!”
As a young
lad I never understood the concept of good behavior and lived in a world where
barbaric, degenerate and contemptible behavior was the norm. I knew the
difference between right and wrong but chose to follow my nose and do what felt
good at the time. That’s rarely gonna be what’s right! But Jimmy on the other
hand was a different breed. While the rest of us scandalous cretins were out
boozing and cavorting Jimmy was out getting his uniform pressed for inspection
or doing the kind of things mature young men were expected to do. He was the
kind of fella that would make any parent proud. The kinda guy you would want
your daughter to bring home.
Jimmy was on
the Rainier. He was a Damage Controlman and the best one I’d ever met. He
always gave 110% in everything he did and was a true believer in whatever cause
he chose to defend. He was the best that the best had to offer and anyone you
ask will tell you the same. He was our go to guy and could always get you outta
trouble when you needed his help. He was a great guy to be around who always
had a smile on his face. Mediocrity was not his place and he made sure he gave
everything his all.
I heard when
he was in High School he was the Captain of his Football team. Sounds about
right, he was always one of the best and everyone’s favorite. He was good in
all things right as if I hadn't made that point already!
He only
broke the rules once that I know of….
One
afternoon in the Spring of 1994 Jimmy and I were out in Mission Beach to enjoy
an early day off from the Precom Unit at NASCCO Shipyard. It was a busy &
sunny day and there wasn’t a damn place to park, legally anyway. So we had to
sit and wait for somebody to leave and open a spot. After dilly dallying around
for a good while biding our time we were finally in luck. A couple was just
getting in their van and pulling out so Jimmy crept up in his big ol’ pickup
truck so we could pull right in.
Just as the
couple had pulled out some chicken livered bastard pulled right up and took the
spot right from under our noses in his little tin can convertible midget. He
just happened to squeeze in before we had a chance to haul that big crate of a
pickup into the spot. This about blew the lid of ol’ Jimmy’s top. He was so
damn livid he was ready to pulverize that rotten lowlife sonuvabitch.
Jimmy rolled
down his window and asked the fella, “What gives?”
He says to
Jimmy, “To bad so sad, finders keepers loser weepers!”
I never seen
Jimmy so fervently enraged. It took me a good five or ten minutes to calm’m
down and keep’m from climbing outta the truck and beat’n the living day lights
outta that panty waste. So I came up with an ingenious plan. We pulled his
truck over at the end of the lot and waited for that insipid sonuvabitch to
walk off. Just when the moment was right we pulled the stems outta not one, but
all his flaccid little tires. We didn’t hang around to see that fella’s face
when he got back, but that would have been priceless. It was enough to know he
would’ve had to call a tow to pick his butt up. He-he!!!
But you know
Jimmy would’ve never thought of that himself. He was too good a person and it
took my devilish ways to talk’m into such nonsense. Oh, the webs we wove!!!
I didn’t get
the opportunity to know Jimmy after he left the Rainier. He got out of the Navy
and moved on. But he was sorely missed. I heard he went down to New Orleans to
help clean the carnage that ensued from Hurricane Katrina. Just a typical day
for that fella, always lending a helping hand where ever he could.
I would
expect nothing less of him to join the Army so he could serve once again in
honor of his countrymen after 9/11. That was in his character. While in Iraq,
Sgt.1st Class James Priestap, was shot and killed by a terrorist sniper while
working at his checkpoint near Baghdad. They say he wasn't even supposed to be
at the checkpoint, but a generator blew out and since Jimmy was in charge of
the platoon, he went out instead because he felt responsible for his men, a
true leader. They also say that just moments before he was killed he was
smiling and giving out candy to the kids in the area.
So I write
this Sea Story out to Jimmy Priestap in honor of his service to God, Country,
Family and all those who were fortunate to serve with him as well as friends
who cherished his presents. Jimmy is a real American Hero and will always live
in our hearts.
