Always good to remember the classicsRic |
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Plankowner Posts: 9175 Location: Upper lefthand corner of the map. | Subject: Always good to remember the classics 11 Jun 1942: Lt Cmdr James W "Red" Coe, commanding USS Skipjack (SS 184), wrote a letter to the Supply Officer, Mare Island Navy Yard. USS SKIPJACK June 11, 1942 From: Commanding Officer To: Supply Officer, Navy Yard, Mare Island, California Via: Commander Submarines, Southwest Pacific Subject: Toilet Paper Reference: (a) USS HOLLAND (5148) USS SKIPJACK req. 70-42 of 30 July 1941. (b) SO NYMI Canceled invoice No. 272836 Enclosure: (1) Copy of cancelled Invoice (2) Sample of material requested. 1. This vessel submitted a requisition for 150 rolls of toilet paper on July 30, 1941, to USS HOLLAND. The material was ordered by HOLLAND from the Supply Officer, Navy Yard, Mare Island, for delivery to USS SKIPJACK. 2. The Supply Officer, Navy Yard, Mare Island, on November 26, 1941, cancelled Mare Island Invoice No. 272836 with the stamped notation "Cancelled---cannot identify." This cancelled invoice was received by SKIPJACK on June 10, 1942. 3. During the 11 ¾ months elapsing from the time of ordering the toilet paper and the present date, the SKIPJACK personnel, despite their best efforts to await delivery of subject material, have been unable to wait on numerous occasions, and the situation is now quite acute, especially during depth charge attack by the "back-stabbers." 4. Enclosure (2) is a sample of the desired material provided for the information of the Supply Officer, Navy Yard, Mare Island. The Commanding Officer, USS SKIPJACK cannot help but wonder what is being used in Mare Island in place of this unidentifiable material, once well known to this command. 5. SKIPJACK personnel during this period have become accustomed to use of "ersatz," i.e., the vast amount of incoming non-essential paper work, and in so doing feel that the wish of the Bureau of Ships for the reduction of paper work is being complied with, thus effectively killing two birds with one stone. 6. It is believed by this command that the stamped notation "cannot identify" was possible error, and that this is simply a case of shortage of strategic war material, the SKIPJACK probably being low on the priority list. 7. In order to cooperate in our war effort at a small local sacrifice, the SKIPJACK desires no further action be taken until the end of the current war, which has created a situation aptly described as "war is hell." J.W. Coe | ||
| Jim M. |
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Great Sage of the Sea Posts: 877 | Subject: RE: Always good to remember the clasics Where's Lt. Nick Holden when you need him??? | ||
| Box kicker |
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Old Salt Posts: 336 | Subject: RE: Always good to remember the classics In contrast on one patrol, the off-going crew ordered to much toilet paper, but the COB, being the wise person that he was, passed the word amongst the crew that there was a shortage, so when it came down during bulk loadout, somehow, a fair amount never made it to the aux tank, so it all fit! Some times ya just gotta love them COBs! Box Kicker, Extraordinaire | ||
