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The Smyth Story

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Contributed by: Bob Rotruck on 2/16/2007

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

The Smyth Story
In 1968 as a Chief Petty Officer, I was attached to Attack Squadron Sixty-five at Naval Air Station Oceana, VA. We had just received the newest version of the A-6A Intruder aircraft and I had just received twelve young Aviation Electronic Technicians fresh out of school. One of these young lads working for me had a last name spelled: Smyth. Yes, it is spelled correctly!

While preparing to take my crew aboard the USS Kitty Hawk in route to the waters off of Vietnam, it was necessary to check into some temporary quarters at Naval Air Station Miramar, CA to do some special testing of the squadron aircraft prior to entering the war zone. I took my crew to the transient barracks for check in. Behind the desk sat a rotund, salty Third Class Boatswains Mate. He had likely spent ten years at sea to finally have a two year tour of shore duty in the good old USA and here he was, coddling a bunch of "Airedales" (Navy slang for Aviation Personnel). He was checking them into the barracks, issuing them a blanket and pillow and assigning them to a bunk number. Instead of handing each man a check in card, the Bosun was filling in the cards himself. Actually, I think he was trying to demonstrate that he could print. No reflection on the honorable Boatswains Mate rating but mentally, this guy's ship had clearly sailed without him!

My man Smyth stepped up to the counter and the Bosun asked for his last name. Smyth said his last name and followed it with the words," with a Y". Without batting an eye, the Bosun wrote down: LAST NAME: Smith, FIRST NAME: Witha, MIDDLE INITIAL: Y. My guy Smyth not even cracking a smile signed the card: Witha Y. Smith. For the remainder of the cruise, Smyth was nick named, Witha-y.

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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