This
is a ‘No Shitter’ Originally published by…
The New York
Times…
‘36 Women
Pregnant Aboard a Navy Ship That Served in Gulf’
Published:
April 30, 1991
SAN DIEGO, April 29— Thirty-six crew members
of the supply ship Acadia were pregnant and had to be transferred during the
ship's deployment to the Persian Gulf, naval officials say. (Approximately 10%
of the females onboard!)
More than
half became pregnant after the ship was under way, but a Navy spokesman, Lieut.
Comdr. Jeff 'Smallwood,' said there were no indications of improper fraternization
between men and women on the ship.
"These
women have a right to get pregnant," Commander 'Smallwood' said. "The
conclusion somebody is jumping to is that the Acadia is a love boat, and that's
not the case."
He said nine
women became pregnant before the Acadia left San Diego on Sept. 5, but were not
tested until the ship was under way. Five others were transferred to the Acadia
while she was sailing to the gulf, but their pregnancies were not discovered
until after they were on board. Seven Months on Duty
The
remaining 22 women became pregnant while the ship was deployed, perhaps on
liberty calls in Hawaii, the Philippines and other ports the Acadia visited on
her way to the gulf, Commander Smallwood said.
The ship,
whose 1,250 crew members included 360 women, returned to her home port here on
Friday. The Acadia is among a number of Navy support vessels that permit women
to serve on board because she is not considered a combat ship.
Naval policy
is to transfer women immediately to shore duty if they become pregnant.
The Navy has
strict rules against sexual relationships between men and women while on duty
or between commissioned officers and enlisted personnel, but Commander
'Smallwood' said there was no evidence any such regulations were broken.
The tender
nicknamed the "Love Boat" received the Navy Unit Commendation for her
exemplary service upon return from the Gulf War.
I still can't get over the Commander's last name... 'Smallwood!'
