Death of a Wooden Shoe - U.S. Coast Guard

denies it, Petrenko missed the last boat and did what had to be done. He tied his
clothes in his neckerchief and swam out in total darkness to the Nanok, about a
quarter of a mile with the sack of clothes tied to the back of his neck. Who knows
how he made it in the cold water with unlighted, small, motorized boats dashing
back and forth. If he was drunk, he was stone sober when Elmer Comer helped
him on board.
July 14, Tuesday; Portland.
Son of a bitch! What a day!
It started off when I was assigned the job of red-leading the exec’s cubicle.
Cookie Clark is in a rotten mood and argues without reason. Then Talledo and I
hit it off badly. I want desperately to please the man but find it impossible to do
so. He hisses when he speaks to me. He is always gruff and speaks in caustic
tones. He is a continual irritation to me and apparently I to him.
Al Staneczak is no help. He finds delight in goading the Chief at my expense. He
injects such things as, "I don’t think he heard your orders, Chief." Or, "Maybe that
job is beneath his class, Chief." Or, "Maybe he thinks he should have your job
and you have his," etc., etc., whenever the opportunity to do so presents itself.
Dammit, I’m learning to dislike Stan too! I ask him on several occasion to cease,
but he gives me an indignant, hurt look, and says, "Geez, I’m only kiddin’ around
fella!" His "kiddin’ around" I know, is costing me points with Talledo. Stan wants
to very much to become a coxswain too, and I can appreciate that. But maybe he
feels that the Nanok can afford only one coxswain and wants himself to fill the
position, I don't know.
Since I am the leading seaman on board, normally, the bos’n should consult with
me when lengthy jobs are to be done. I would be expected to take care of the
lesser details and minor instructions. I would thereby be in strong contention for
promotion to coxs’n. No such recognition has been afforded me. Much of this
problem, I feel, lies with the skipper. He exercises no visible chain of command
which is normal Coast Guard practice. So far, all activities on board the Nanok
are informal. While this is a comfortable way for subordinates to live, it creates a
multitude of other problems. Someone once said that familiarity breeds contempt
and indeed it does. It may sound friendly for a senior officer to address his Bos’n
1/c as "buddy," but "buddy" may rightfully be expected to address the senior
officer as "pal" or some other such ridiculous designation. Such lack of discipline
and formality could lead to subordinates ignoring authority and questioning
commands.
Example, Bos’n 1/c Robbins is shown very little respect by the skipper and
therefore Robbins receives but a minimum of respect from the seamen beneath
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