To return to memories of the SSN 667, click here.
To return to the main page of the SSN 667, click here.

Memories of Mark Schmale

The Captain's Hat!

One of my favorite Bergall memories occurred during a weapons certification run in late 1988 or early 1989 when we stopped over at St. Croix for liberty.

I was touring around the Island with a buddy (STS3 John Hutto) when we ran into the owner / operator of a charter sailing boat. During our conversation he told us he'd always wanted one of those dress white officer's caps with the scrambled eggs on the bill. He was willing to pay $150.00 for one, and asked us to bring it by his boat if we could find one.

John and I did some thinking. We knew our CO (CDR. Mike Riordan) was the only one on board who would have the requisite piece of uniform. The problem was how to get a hold of it! We briefly considered thievery, but a) we liked our CO, and b) didn't want to get caught! And anyway we didn't really want to go back to the boat until we had to, so we forgot about the hat and continued with our liberty.

Later that night we were hanging out in a bar (where else?), when in came the ships complement of officers plus the COB, all in their dress whites! Seems they had just come from some formal dinner party with St. Croix's upper crust. Our Chop had just got his dolphins, so us enlisted took the opportunity to tack them on. We had had enough to drink to lower our inhibitions, and went up to the Old Man and told him about the offer. He just took off his cap, said we'd have to cut him in on the deal so he could buy a new one, and gave it to us. Hutto and I found the Sail boat captain and sold him the cap, and split the profit (minus the Skipper's expenses).

We went back to the bar for last call. The COB called the boat for the duty van to pick all of us up at the bar. As we left the bar and walked towards the van, I noticed a violation of Navy dress code. I walked closer to the Old Man and said, "Sir, shouldn't you be covered outdoors?" He just shook his head.

Mark Schmale

To return to memories of the SSN 667, click here.
To return to the main page of the SSN 667, click here.