Tag Archives: chief petty officer

April 2, 2012 · 23:45

Happy Birthday Chief’s: Navy Chief Petty Officers Celebrate 119 Years of Service

On Sunday April 1st the US Navy Chief Petty Officer Rank officially celebrated it’s 119th Anniversary. Today in most Navy commands as well as Marine Corps units that have Navy Chief’s assigned that anniversary was celebrated. I was in attendance today as our command celebrated the “birthday” of the Chief Petty Officer rank with the cutting of a cake.

The rank and pay grade of Chief Petty Officer was officially established on 1 April 1893 but the roots are deeper to the years prior to the Civil war as the rating structure of Petty Officers became more formalized and in 1864 with the pay manual listing Chief Boatswain’s Mate, Boatswain’s Mate in Charge, Boatswain’s Mate, Chief Gunner’s Mate, Gunner’s Mate in Charge, Gunner’s Mate, Chief Quartermaster and Quartermaster in the list of ratings.  The development continued in the 1880s with the formalization of Petty Officer ratings and Pay Grades as well as that of Seamen.

The 1893 regulations listed 9 Chief Petty Officer Ratings divided between three branches, the Seaman Branch which was composed of Chief Master at Arms, Chief Boatswain’s Mate, Chief Quartermaster and Chief Gunner’s Mate. The Artificer Branch had the Chief Machinist and Chief Carpenter’s Mate and the Special Branch had the Chief Yeoman, Apothecary (the future Pharmacist Mate and Hospital Corpsman) and Band Masters.  Pay for all Petty Officers and enlisted ranks was standardized in 1920 and in 1958 the Grades of Senior Chief Petty Officer and Master Chief Petty Officer were established.  Today Chiefs form the backbone of Navy commands around the world, from SEAL and EOD teams, surface ships, submarines, aviation squadrons, shore commands and medical units.

Above: Chief Aviation Ordnanceman John William Finn was awarded the Medal of Honor for extraordinary heroism and distinguished service during the December 7, 1941 Japanese air attack on Naval Air Station Kanoehe Bay, Oahu, T.H. He is wearing the medal in this photograph. 

Navy Chiefs wear a Khaki uniform similar to that of Commissioned Officers and on ships have their own berthing and Mess area in which only Chiefs or invited guests are allowed. The area is called the “Chief’s Mess” and nicknamed the “Goat Locker.”

While the three pay grades of Chiefs correspond to the pay grades of senior non-commissioned officers in the Army, Marine Corps and Air Force no other service sets its senior NCOs apart as does the Navy nor gives them the same measure of authority. Part of this goes back to the maritime tradition where a ship once it departs harbor has to depend on the skills and abilities of every member to the crew and that help should there be trouble will seldom be close at hand.

Cake cutting at Naval Hospital Camp LeJeune 

Navy Chiefs have been the linchpin of the Navy for 119 years. They are depended upon to help train new sailors as well as help train and advise Commissioned Officers. I have been fortunate to have served with some of the finest Chiefs in the Navy aboard the USS Hue City, EOD Group Two, 2nd Marine Division and the Naval Medical Center Portsmouth VA and now at Naval Hospital Camp LeJeune NC.

My Dad Aviation Storekeeper Chief Carl Dundas shortly after his promotion to Chief in 1967

Additionally I am blessed to be a “Chief’s kid.” My late father, Aviation Storekeeper Chief Carl Dundas retired from the Navy in 1974. I grew up in a Navy family and was blessed to have the Chiefs that my dad served alongside during his career and their families remain engaged with my parents. My dad died from complications associated with Alzheimer’s Disease in June of 2010 but to the end he was a Chief.

Blessings to all that wear or have worn the Khaki uniform and Fouled Anchor that symbolize this proud tradition.

Peace

Padre Steve+

2 Comments

Filed under Military, US Navy

Tagged as , , , ,

December 16, 2010 · 23:17

The Passing of a Baseball Legend: Bob Feller 1918-2010

Baseball lost a great yesterday. Bob Feller sometimes known as “Rapid Robert” died of Leukemia at the age of 92.  Feller was born in Van Meter Iowa and was drafted by the Cleveland Indians when he was 16 years old and went directly to the Major Leagues at 17 and won 17 games in his rookie year. He threw the first opening day no-hitter and t

he first by an opposing pitcher at Yankee Stadium.  He struck out 15 batters in his first major league start.

Feller played 18 seasons and missed three and a half seasons after volunteering to serve in the Navy the day after Pearl Harbor. He was 23 years old and had already won 107 games and was the highest paid player then in the game when he left baseball in his prime to serve in the war. He did not take an assignment where he was ashore but he served as a gunner’s mate on the USS Alabama BB-60. He said in 1997 “We were losing a war, a big war, we were losing big in the Pacific … any red-blooded American with a gut in his body would have gotten busy.” The former anti-aircraft gunner screamed again: “We took back the Pacific. I can look anyone in the eye and say, ‘I was there.'”

He rose through the ranks and was promoted to Chief Petty Officer while serving as the gun captain of a quad 40mm anti-aircraft mount on that ship.  He is the only Chief Petty Officer in the Baseball Hall of Fame.  Many baseball historians believe that had Feller not missed those seasons he might have won 350 games as he was winning close to 25 games a year at that point. He didn’t have to enlist as he had a deferment to take care of his ailing father. He was sworn in by Heavyweight Boxing Champ Gene Tunney. He never mourned his lost wins or other statistics. He told ESPN Commentator Tim Kurkjian in 1997 “I’ve never once thought about all the prime years that I missed. I did what I had to do for my country. We won that war. I’m as proud of serving as anything I’ve ever done in my life.”

Feller won 266 games while losing 162, with a 3.25 ERA in 484 starts.  He pitched 279 complete games struck out 2581 batters and won 20 games in a season 6 times, each time leading the league in wins. He was an 8 time all star, seven-time MVP, led AL in wins 6 times. He helped lead the Indians to their last World Series win in 1948 but did not win a game in the series itself.  Feller averaged 247 innings pitched, gave up and average of 211 hits, 89 Earned Runs, 167 Strikeouts and 114 walks a year if his statistics were averaged into a 162 game season. Between seasons he barnstormed often playing against Negro League teams, pitching against his future team mate Satchel Paige several times.

My first encounter with Feller was reading his book as a 10 year old. I believe that he pitched in an Old Timer’s game at Anaheim stadium that I attended.  He was a practical joker and had a tremendous sense of humor. He had a “moo-cow” horn on his car, and once made an “ice cream Sandwich” with a bar of soap which Satchel Paige left his false teeth in. Feller also depending on the account was clocked at pitching a baseball 100, 104 or 107  miles an hour.  When I heard that Feller had been

Feller played all 18 seasons with the Indians and was very loyal both to the organization and the city. In an era where many ballplayers move from city to city with every better offer it is refreshing to remember a man who valued that relationship.  Bob Feller. Baseball Great and Navy Chief dead at 92., may his soul and the souls of all the departed rest in peace.

Peace my friends,

Padre Steve+

 

3 Comments

Filed under Baseball, US Navy

Tagged as , , , , , , ,