In a message dated 98-12-22 18:01:19 EST, wildeman@psn.net writes:
In particular the policy of USS KAMEHAMEHA and other Pacific Fleet boats
was to allow a 'no-shave chit' to be issued for a small donation to the
ship's Morale Welfare and Recreation fund. (It was $5 on KAMEHAMEHA).
Sailors were still required to keep their beards neat, and if there was
question concerning this, said sailor would be expected to demonstrate a
proper face seal on his EAB mask. The beards were to come off prior to
setting the Maneuvering Watch for coming into port, and on short term
cruises (less than a month), beards were not allowed.
I still have one of my 'no-shave chits.' it reads, and I quote:
It IS a lot different in the Surface fleet. I served on a Cruiser in Pac
Fleet, CGN-41 USS Arkansas (the only good thing ever to come out of that
state, and their scrapping her, and the Lady is younger than I AM!!!) and no
shave chits were only allowed for people who had a diagnosed skin condition
that made it nigh unto impossilbe for them to shave... and they still had to
shave once a week. It used to drive both me and my division chief up the wall
because I suffered from a bad case of baby fuzz in those days and I would
shave and think I got it all only to have pale tufts of hair pointed out to me
by my CPO{Chief Petty Officer] (Usually in the most derogitory terms!) at
morning muster.
For all of that, it was a great growing experiance, but one I wouldnt repeat
for the life of me, for one very important reason. 6am Reville.... and my
natural circadian rythem is that of a swing shift worker. I can honestly say
that if they didnt test the various alarms every morning at 7am I would have
been late to morning assembly even more often than I was... and Breakfast???
Only on the days I happened to have been on the 4-8am watch!!!
Now if I could only polish my writing skills and dicipilines to make a living
at it so that I could set my own hours.
--
Starrngr -- Now with an UPDATED webpage:
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"You wear a Hawaiian shirt and bring your music on a RUN? No wonder they call
you Howling Mad..." -- Rabid the Pysad.