La Junta tribune., 1917-10-18
LIFE OF A BLuEJACKET
Henry Bomgardncr Relates ENpcr-
icncc As = Rookie" In Navy
Now In Flying Corps

About five months ago when was
in La Junta l suggested to some
Of the boys who were going into
the service that We ought to write
to the Tribune occasionally, using
It as a medium to keep in touch with
each other. Since have been in
active service l have received sew
eral copies and every one contained
mighty interesting news from some
Of the boys. SO guess II is about
time for me to come across"
I started in training at Newport.
r. l.. and soon found the life OF
bluejacket to be q continuous chang
ing of events. Various magazines
have pictured and told OF Newport's
wonderful Training Station and War
the Great Lakes Station probably
know as much about 1t as l could
possibly tell them.
When the rockies" (as the re-
cruits are termed) first arrive they
arc outfitted with = full bag. The
bluejacket. when on the move, car
ries neither suit case nor trunk. but
. canvass "duffei" bag In which his
gear Is stored. (The words l am US
ing are not slang. but are terms used
In the navy.)
Bag inspection II held weekly and
the bags inspected for cleanliness and
tidiness. II q mans bag, bed or
clothing is not properly marked.
clean and orderly. the man is put
on the restricted list which means
his shore liberty has been taken
away.
The first six weeks At Newport
were full Of new experiences. the
time being well used from 5:30 .. m.
tthree bells) to . .. m. 1.-TWO bells).
tdsily. except Sunday in classes Of
navigation. seamanship. signaling.
infantry drill. cutter drtll and also
BY fatigue. guard and orderly duty.
Time IL recorded aboard BY bells.
At four bells. .. m. which is
O'Clock. the boatswain's mate howls
out. Sailors. rise and shine" We
are never called but once. for sec
ond call means restricted liberty. so
the boys all snap our OF their
hobs
The first real boat I boarded was
the U. 8. S. San Francisco. She was
In the battle OF Manila Bay and is
now q flag ship OF the Atlantic Fleet.
After q short trip on the Frisco. I
was transferred to the U. S. Mine
Force and stationed at New London.
I could write many pages on the life
and activities here. but for military
reasons I am not allowed to do so.
There are about coo men In this
detail. all Of then rugged and mighty
saxlovs 10 get on transports for
forstsn service.
Yesterday went to sea on convoy
duty with 4 chilian submarine.
There are q good many submarines
here at present. Besides our own.
there are six from Chill. These same
boats have probably been seen on
the screen At the Rourke for the
Mutual Weekly and Psthe Review
caught them leaving the ship yards
some where on the Atlantic Coast.
The maneuvers Of the under-sea
crafts are mighty interesting. when
they submerse the portable deck
rails and all movable gear is taken
down. the matches are closed and
sealed. and n she II submerEing un.
der power the blades or fins are
spread.
Tue interior Of these crafts IL
wonderful. and II il beyond me 10
draw & verbal picture Of such me-
chaAicai wondsrs. The engines are
at. the sleeping quarters forward
aad the coming tower and perl
scopes auidships. A. the present
writing ! am within twenty feet Of
the : s which flies the lone star flag
Of Chill.
This IL my last week With the u.
q. Nine Force at New London. have
passsd aii examinations for the ~.
ias Corps. have my transfsr In my
pocket and have Just received my
app6latmsnt from washiaston TO
attend the. officers school In Dos
ton.
am 70 study Theoretical flying
for three months and thea 80 70
Florida 70 eet the practical snd Of