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Scrounge versus Scrounger

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Contributed by: Bob Rotruck on 2/8/2007

THE LANDLOCKED SAILOR
By Bob Rotruck, CWO3, USN (ret)
Castle Rock, Colorado

Scrounge versus Scrounger
There are many words used in the Navy that are not typically used in your general public conversations. No, I am not talking about four letter words. Take the word: scrounge. In the Navy, it means an unclean, dirty person, with very poor hygiene. On the other hand, scrounger is a revered word. It simply means that if a person is called a scrounger, they can find anything you need. The source of an item is never questioned. You accept it with thanks and just continue to do your job.

In 1967, I was Chief Petty Officer attached to Attack Squadron65 on board the USSKitty Hawkin the Gulf of Tonkin. I had a young third class petty officer working for me by the name of Mike. Mike had the uncanny ability to find and procure any object, no matter how mundane. One afternoon while at sea, the ship was conducting an UNREP (underway replenishment of supplies).

Several of us, including Mike, were sitting in our shop/office. I casually mentioned that it would be a nice change just to have a plain old bologna sandwich with mustard. Mike disappeared! Twenty minutes later, Mike walks into the office with two loaves of white bread, a ten pound hunk of bologna, and a jar of mustard. I just sat there and wondered, how does he do it? We all had a great picnic in the shop.

Another time, I mentioned that the Chief's Quarters, where I had my bunk, was just above the number 3 main machinery room and the bunk area was always close to 100 degrees. I complained about it one day in the shop and casually said, it would be nice to have a small fan to mount on the end of my bunk so I could get some decent sleep. Of course, Mike overheard my comment. Within thirty minutes, a small personal size Navy issue gray fan was sitting on my desk. It had a tag with a federal stock number, model, and manufacturer. It also had stenciled with black paint the words, "CO CABIN!" Mike was smiling ear to ear. I didn't ask and just said thanks shipmate. Mike, top scrounger.

Fair winds and smooth seas!

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CONTRIBUTOR INFORMATION

Bob Rotruck

Castle Rock , CO

Bob Rotruck has posted 60 stories and 2 comments since joining on 7/26/2006. Bob Rotruck 's average story rating is 4.89.

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