> CP wrote --
>> Not to someone hoped up on some thing, or just seriously enraged, beyond
> reason & awareness, then the balsa holder is in big trouble. Did you carry a
> proper cosh in your back pocket for such an emergency?
> No idea what the other SP guys were carrying.
> I was in the waiting area for the motor launch back to the ship moored in
> the harbour.
> Like I wrote, it was temporary duty, filling in.  I wasn't regular SP.

So you didn't think much of it -- just another assigned task, eh?

> I think the worse we had was maybe some guy who had had a bit too much to
> drink and passed out.  :)

Those are everywhere.

I had to get a buddy home one time, who was pie-eyed neyond the abilityto feel  or be aware of the world around him -- it was cvold &slushy. I ordered im to  grip the nacjk of my wheelchair & I dragged ghim, walking for the first  fewsteps until he fell inot theslush, then I tyelled at him to get the fleep up
& grab hold again; Ewe went like that for the 2 blocks to my place where I 
encouraged him, rough-verbally, to crawl through the door & get to he couch, on it & stretch out; I made sure he was angled in case he puked, & took his shoes  off, then covered him & wejt to bed. He was feeling it in his head the next  day; I never got hungover, no matter what I drank or how  much, so I let my  cheerful morhning nature tick him off for a while,. giving us both strong  coffee to get going.

The funny part is the bar wouldn't serve me my usual drink (triple Jack  Daniels, neat in a rocks glass) for fear I couldn't handle the alcohol.  My  friend, able-bodied & ambulatory *9no wjhee;chair for him -- just me) was  ordering triople black or white Russians constantly & they gave him them all,  evern if he ordered 2 at once.

Yet, he was the one who got too drunk & Io'm the one who got us both home  safely, even though I'm left-paralyzed in a wheelchair!

Oh well; I'm used to people making assumptions about my abilities, & I just  don'tcare -- I know myself & that I don't believe in limitations, barriers, or  any of that guff.  I stay aware of thosewho are thusly biased, & look for  opportunities to provide teaching moments, if they're open to them.

Or I just find ways to show them up in front of those who know me & can  translate my words to know they're mocking, not sincere.

Like "Thank you for looking out for me, since I'm handicapped & can't do stuff" (sdaid in a slow stereotypical voice, of course--causing my friemds to crack  right up)

> We were dealing with other shipmates.  My ship, the Newport News was a
> heavy cruiser with 1000 men onboard.
> https://www.uss-newport-news.com/

Look at that - a ship with its own custom URL & n ot just a Facebook page --  this is different! This is to continue the esprit de corps after y'all swap  out?

What, one of the past crewmen made the site for y'all & whoever cares to,  donates to keep it going?

>> My main defense, if needed, is my brain -- I'll first try to talk down the
> miscreant, then use what I know about self defense to maximize mty chance of
> survival
> Wise thing to do.
> And a good judo flip could flatten them for a second, provided they are
> unarmed.

Not a lot of judo moves to be done by a guy with only one working hand & leg!

Ive received Krav Maga trainig on how to deal with an armed attacker(mugger,  etc, when diplomacy won't do the trick; even this guy (BIG, all muscle, & 3rd  level Blacjk Nelt sdays he'd prefer to just get away without an altercation;  funny, my 7th dan Taekwando instructor said the same!); must be good advice, I  figure!  When in doubt, follow the experts, I say.

>> In wartime, I'd hope, as the enemy Seal-types could board you on the quiet
> sider & attenpt to take over the ship'scontrols.
> We didn't have any problems like that on my ship.

You weren't in the middle of a big war, were you, or were you?

> During my time we were usually around the Caribbean visiting friendly
> islands.  :)

Peacetime? Why did the Navy deploy you like that, knowing you're mainly  vacationing with the pretty island girls & $1 rum drinks? No woinbder the Army  gets mad at you guys! :D 

While they're crawling in mud -- you're having a blast in the Caribbean! ;)

>> He was the sole fatality? :(
> There were 250 who lost their lives.
> https://taskandpurpose.com/news/uss-serpens-coverup/
> https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-1-d&q=USS+Serpens

Eep! So not cool if there's anything to his suspicions. . .

He used the Freedom Of Informsation Act to request information - how likely is  it hat the info he received wasn't 'sanitized'p prior to sending to him?

Of course, it's SUPPOSED to be largely unedited, but we know that's just a nice dream.  Some redaction is necessary to guard secrets that could harm the  nation, including her forces, of course, but I suyspect certain embarrassmentsa that are clearly due to individuals, not the system, would 'ddisappear,' too. . I hope he can find the truth & set himself & others emotionally free with it.

Yup, war is hell, it's been said, & I accept that, sight of war unseen, thank  God.

So grateful  that the US pulled ground troops out of Ukraine -- that was just  asking for WW3 to start -- once a bit of stray(or not so stray) Russian  ordnance kills or injured a US troop, now the war is on 3 continents &  incvolving the two world superpowers. . .

I wouldn't blame the US for responding to such a thing, but I'm glad Biden  chose to pull them out to avoid such altogether.

I think the average American is sick to death of corporations being in charge  of how long a war lasts & how many good young people(the strongest & best who  are the future of the nation at home); sure would be nice to have a minimum age for new recruits/draftees, instead of a max, & put these CEOs to the front!

It's all push-button warfare now, so no physical strength & stamina needed, for yhe most part.

Put a few bankers, politicians, & overpaid CEOs out there, & let's nip war in  the bud if there's a next big one!

Let mothers & fathers enjoy their young men & women safely at home a little  longer, building careers & a viable future.

Believe me, I'm a hawk, when it comes to defensive war, if not forced into  being by manipulation, but otherwise, I'm becoming a dove. Whatever results in  the feweart deasd bodies, I say.

Well, hopefuly I'm not crossing the guidelines here; I'm trying to avoid  "current politics" per se, by sticking to a philosophical look at war.

Best to all of you & your families, both near & far. . .

--- BBBS/Li6 v4.10 Toy-6