Sea Stories

Ted A. Blanke ’57:

After graduation, my first as­signment was to go to Supply School in Athens, GA. Upon graduation, I was ordered to report to the USS KERSARGE (CV33), Aircraft Carrier to replace the Disbursing Officer. The ship was in Japan. Soon after I arrived on board and took over the office, the ship was out to sea and headed for Hong Kong. In route, we formed for a special pay day for the crew to have money for our time in Hong Kong. I had two other officers who also had money trays to help. When we were about to begin, the Sergeant at Arms had a nice line up and I had a .45 pistol on the table, we were on the Mess Deck. A hatch opened and a gust of wind came into the area, which took all the money up and out of the three trays. I grabbed the .45, chambered a round and raised my arm say­ing “Nobody move” – then the lights went out. When the lights came on, we dismissed everyone, swept up the money and took it back to the office to count. Not one dollar was lost.