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Contributed by: Bob Rotruck on 12/1/2007

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

During my twenty year Navy career, there numerous times when there were close calls because of a safety violation. I was very lucky to get through my years without any major injuries. Probably the worst was not ducking enough going through a knee knocker (an opening in a bulkhead [wall] separating one passageway from the next.

You had to step through them and duck at the same time especially if you were tall. I was a Chief Warrant Officer attached to RVAW-120 at Norfolk Naval Air Station, VA. RVAW-120 is the training squadron for pilots and aircrew for the VAW (Airborne Early Warning/Command and Control) squadrons that go aboard aircraft carriers with the E-2C aircraft which provides the eyes and ears for the carrier task force.

Many times I was detached aboard ship as the onboard Maintenance Officer during carrier qualifications. This typically lasted one to two weeks until all of the squadron pilots got "currency" in landing and taking off of the ship. We had a very small cadre of maintenance personnel that could do emergency repairs in an effort to just get the aircraft back ashore for more serious repair.

When the aircraft came out to the ship and made the first landing, typically several pilots as passengers would deplane and go to the squadron ready room awaiting their turn to be the Pilot in Command and get their qualifications. One of my tasked was to assist the officers as they deplaned and get them pointed toward the ship's island (super-structure) and out of harm's way.

One carrier qualification was very memorable for me. When the standby pilots deplane, the aircraft continues to run its turbo engines and huge four bladed props in the neutral position to minimize aft air flow. A young Lieutenant was the first to jump out of the hatch of the aircraft, but instead of turning right toward the aft of the aircraft, he turned left toward the running prop which would have made hamburger of his body.

I grabbed him by the collar of his flight suit and spun him around and escorted him to the entrance to the island. Just before stepping through the hatch, he turned to me and screamed that I better never lay my hands on him again and he disappeared toward the ready room.

As soon as the aircraft was empty of its passengers, it turned and got into the launch lineup for more traps (landings). I went down to the ready room to grab a cup of coffee. Apparently, I was not the only one to witness the flight deck event.

The same young lieutenant walked sheepishly up to me and apologized for his words and actions on the flight deck. Others in the ready room were watching when he stretched out his hand and said, "Thank you Gunner, I think you just saved my life!" In the military service you do that for your comrades and in the Navy, you do it for your shipmates!

Fair winds and smooth seas!

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Submitted By: Michael Rule

posted on 12/2/2007 @ 7:52:25 AM

Rated Story

Good story!

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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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