One of those days!

Have you ever had “one of those days”? I sure did. On a hot and sunny Friday afternoon while stationed with the Army in Danbury Connecticut, my Commander came to my office to see me. He asked if I wanted to go for a SCUBA dive in nearby Candlewood Lake. Well, that wasn’t a very tough question to answer…stay at work or go diving? We met “Captain Charlie” who was great guy who worked at a local dive shop. Captain Charlie had a 32 foot dive boat and was always available for a quick dip. After several dives in the 30-40 feet deep area we were in, we decided to call it a day and return to my office.

My Commander, Major Howie Lapidus and I were sitting in the drill hall having a soda and I notice everything looked “foggy”. I mentioned to him that it looked the building was full of smoke or something. He said everything was fine and I should go rinse out my eyes. We thought I might have gotten some oil or something in them. Rinsing them did not help.

Later that evening while at home with Barbara, my eye starting hurting and watering like crazy. I sat all night long in my recliner with a damp washcloth getting virtually no sleep at all. The next morning (Saturday) Barbara came down stairs and saw I was still in my chair. She asked what the problem was and I told her my eye was still hurting and I had developed a cough that resulted in a pain in my chest. We decided to head over to Groton CT submarine base to the military hospital to get it checked out.

When we arrived at the hospital, I was the only patient. They had me sit in a small cube and I waited for the doctor. When she arrived she asked what my problem was. I told her about going SCUBA diving the day before and about my eye hurting. I also told her about my coughing and the pain in my chest when I coughed. At that point…I learned a very valuable lesson. Never, never, ever say you have a pain in your chest while in the emergency room! I was suddenly surrounded by 8 or 9 medical personnel with crash carts, monitors, wires, and scopes…the whole deal. Since I had taken a physical only days earlier for my pending transfer back to Ohio, they were able to compare my EKG with the one taken a week or so prior. The doctor said there was a difference in the EKG and I would need to go to the New London Connecticut city hospital for evaluation. I said I would have my wife drive me over there. Nope! They insisted on sending an Emergency Squad (still no relief for my eye). Soon the squad arrived and transported me to the civilian hospital in New London.

Upon arrival at New London Hospital, I was again hooked up with every medical machine known to mankind with wires flowing everywhere. Several blood tests were taken but STILL NOTHING FOR MY EYE! At about 5:00 PM, the doctor told me that he didn’t think I had any heart problems but he was still going to admit me to the cardiac unit for observation. So, after more than 10 hours and thousands of dollars of tests, I was wheeled to the cardiac unit. They said they would give me something for my eye…but they lied. Finally, about 3:00 AM, I told a nurse that either I get something for my eye or I was pulling off all the wires and going home! She returned a few minutes later with some salve which we applied to my eye and I felt fine. Seems I had a small piece of sand or something in my eye and when I rubbed it, it caused a scratch on the eyeball. It took all of 2 minutes for instant relief! I finally fell asleep.

The next morning I was given a stress test and deemed physically fit to be discharged. My eye wasn’t hurting any longer, my heart was in great shape, and I quit coughing. Ahhh, the marvels of modern medicine! I’m sure the taxpayers were billed several thousands of dollars and I was billed for the emergency squad ride across town for months which was finally paid by the military. It’s all pretty funny now but it sure wasn’t back then. It was definitely “one of those days’”!

The day I met the President of the United States

In the summer of 1966 I was stationed aboard the USS Northampton CC-1. The "Grey Ghost" as she was known was a Presidential Command Ship complete with a "war room". The Grey Ghost was basically a communication ship which was 1 deck higher than any other ship in the Navy and featured the "pig stick" on the bow. The pig stick was a 156 foot (if memory serves me) stanchion that was not supported by anything...just a big steel antenna that rose from the deck. It was said we could transmit a message which would circle the earth and we could receive it at the same time. That was quite a feat in 1966. Now, you probably can do that with a cell phone!

That day in August 1966, we pulled into Portsmouth New Hampshire and picked up President Lyndon B. Johnson along with his wife Lady Bird and both daughters along with numerous other politicians, secret service agents, and staff and a Marine Captain, Charles Robb.. As you may expect, everything was cleaned, shined, painted or hidden!

Around 9:00 PM that evening, I was standing helm watch on the bridge. It was just turning dusk and the sea was absolutely calm. We were steaming toward Campobella Island Canada where the President was to meet with the Canadian Prime Minister. It was a warm evening and nothing had been said on the bridge for probably a half hour or so and we were all caught up in our own thoughts. Suddenly, the hatch behind me opened and a voice shouted out "UNITED STATES ON DECK". Wow, the hair stood up on the back of my neck. I was only inches away from President Johnson! I wanted so badly to turn around to see him but knew better. President Johnson then walked around the bridge and shook hands with everyone, including me. I was so excited I don't remember what he said to me but I know I responded "Yes Sir". The whole time I couldn't take my eyes off his ears. He had, without a doubt, the biggest ears I've ever seen on a human being! All too soon, the President, our Commander, and a couple Marines left the bridge and I was able to breathe again!

A few months after that, one of President Johnson's daughters got married to a Marine. His name was Captain Charles Robb...who later became the Commander of the Marine Detachment on board our ship. I wonder how he got that job during the Vietnam war?

How I became "The Poolpatcher"

As anyone who has known me for any length of time knows, one of my early passions was treasure hunting with a metal detector. My dad gave me my first metal detector during the spring of 1980. My first time out with it I found a 1906 Indian Head penny and the hook was set. I would use that metal detector every chance I had...and I had plenty of chances!
After being transferred to Lake Station Indiana in 1987 I bought a underwater metal detector and began find rings, coins, keys, fishing lures and even a set of false teeth underwater. It seemed like the deeper I got (wading) the better things I found. I often thought "gee, if only I could get out in the deep water under the rafts and diving boards it would be great". So, on a whim, I decided to become SCUBA certified. One thing led to another and I eventually became a PADI Master Diver. Now, I had two passions!
One afternoon, I went into Lake County Divers Supply in Hobart Indiana just to get my tank refilled with air. While the staff was doing that, they received a call from a man who wanted to "rent a diver" to find a leak in swimming pool. They turned to me and asked if I was interested. At that time divers were making $45.00 per hour. I saw dollar signs and without any hesitation I agreed to meet him.

"Frank" was the owner of pool company in Hammond IN and we met at a pool that his company has recently built. After suiting up in all my gear and entering the pool, Frank told me what to look for and the most logical places. I found a hole in the liner in less than a minute. Frank cut patch, put some glue on it and handed it to me. The whole process took less than 5 minutes. When I got out of the pool, Frank said "thanks" and handed me a $100.00 bill. I was shocked. I told Frank if he ever needed another diver to please call me directly. I gave him my home phone number. The next day when I got home from work I had two messages from Frank...2 more leaks in 2 different pools. The day after that, another call, another repair. I was in business and it was all by accident! Every time Frank's secretary would call she would say "is this the poolpatcher"? The name has stuck with me.

I kept the business going for 20 years and reestablished it every time I was transferred by the Army. Finally, in 2007, Barbara said "enough is enough" and I gave the business away to a fellow diver...but I kept my name...THE POOLPATCHER

A wacky weekend in Hollywood!

Congratulations! You have found the most obscure blog on the Internet! My good friend "Retired Guy" has recently created a blog so I thought I would try it as well. I really can't decide if I want to give out some of my history or just make this blog a diary of sorts. Having spent 4 years in the US Navy, followed by 10 years in law enforcement, and then 20 years in the Army, I can probably find some interesting if not hilarious stories from my past...I have seen a lot, done a lot, traveled a lot, and lived a lot.

Just for starters, I think I'll relate one of my first experiences with Retired Guy. He was a 1LT in our Army Unit (447th MP Co.) and was the "XO". Captain Wonder was our Commander and he was a free spirit to say the least. During the summer of 1984(?) we were doing duty at San Luis Obispo California. One afternoon after lunch in the mess hall, I was walking toward my "hooch". I saw Cpt Wonder heading my way. I ducked between a couple of buildings but it was too late. He yelled out "Sergeant Morris! Go pack military and civilian clothes to last 3 days and meet me at the helicopter pad in 15 minutes". When I arrived at the helicopter pad, there was a Huey warming up. Retired Guy was there also. At this point, I really did not know Retired Guy very well as he was relatively new to the unit. Anyway, the 3 of us got into the chopper and it lifted off. I asked the Captain "where are we going"? He said we were heading to Long Beach. On the way to Long Beach, the pilot flew very low over a nudist beach. I really think the rotors acted as a sandblaster on the beach goers!

Once we arrived at Long Beach we toured the Queen Elizabeth (or was it Queen Mary?) and saw Howard Hughes' "Spruce Goose". It was a very memorable day. Later we rented a car and drove to Hollywood where we found a motel. After eating dinner and walking around Hollywood for a few hours, we returned to the motel. There was 2 beds and I sensed a problem... The Captain said "since I'm the highest ranking guy here, I'll sleep in this bed, you two can have the other. I will never forget getting into bed with Retired Guy, rolling over and saying "You know LT, I don't usually sleep with someone on the first date"! I giggled over that for a couple hours! It was a great couple days...one that I will never forget.

OK...that's enough for today...tune in occasionally. I have no idea how often I will update this or what I'll post but I will try to add something as time permits. It's actually kind of fun doing this!