Ring Bells on Time
I was an Electronics Technician Second
Class (ET2) on board the USS Mount Vernon (LSD-25). As a shipboard
sailor, I was assigned to a duty section and I generally stood watch
every third day when in port. My watch was the Quarterdeck. At this
station was the Officer of the Deck (OOD), the Petty Officer of the
Watch (POOW), and a Rover. The Quarterdeck was an area where people may
embark or depart the ship. Generally, all coming aboard requested to
come aboard from the OOD, then waited until a salute is returned to
them. The same is true when disembarking from the ship. When therre was a high amount of traffic, or when the OOD was indisposed, the POOW performed this
function. The Rover was able to perform security sweeps of the ship,
looking for unusual activity. The Quarterdeck was relieved every six
hours.
One of the required activities of the
POOW was to ring bells. Bells were struck from 6 am (reveille) to 10 pm
(taps) local time of the port where the ship was berthed. The number
one responsibility of the POOW was to ring bells: ring them
correctly, and ring them on time. The correctly part was straight
forward – every four hours the cycle repeated – two bells for the
first hour, four bells for the second, six bells for the third and
eight bells for the fourth. Half hours were marked by an additional
bell. If standing the mid-watch (2 to 8 am), I would ring four bells
at 6 am and recite the "reveille" call. At 6:30, I would ring
five bells (four plus one) and six bells at 7 am. 7:30 was seven
bells, 8 was eight bells. When I stood the day watch, at 8:30 the
cycle would start again with one bell, then two at nine, etcetera.
Sometimes the Quarterdeck would have
been very busy, with contractors, family, port services, and crew all
wanting a salute or a sign-off on divers, fuel, ordinance, or any
number of things. Regardless of the mayhem and its degree, the Petty
Officer of the Watch showed his composure by ringing bells on time.
I have translated this over to my life,
though it has taken me a number of years to realize the lesson of
ringing bells on time.When I have felt overwhelmed, I ask God for a
little help, and he reminds me of my time on the Quarterdeck and
ringing bells on time. When I feel frustrated with myself, I ask God
for a little help, and he again reminds me of the USS Mt. Vernon and
ringing bells on time. When I want to fix all the wrongs, straighten
them, and make them right, I ask God for a little help, and he
reminds me of that little brass bell being broadcast throughout the
ship over the ship's speaker system, the 1MC.
Though the ringing of bells seemed a
bit antiquated, there was a purpose to it. Bells improperly struck or
not rung on time signaled that the Quarterdeck was potentially
breached. Another officer, the Command Duty Officer (CDO) would
listen for the striking of bells and sound the alarm if they were
erroneous, with the potential effect of having thirty unannounced
sailors, armed with shotguns and pistols, show up at the Quarterdeck.
So, if you are impatient, or inundated,
or incapable to cope with the obstacles of today, tomorrow, or even
yesterday, just ring bells on time. If you slip and folks come to
your aid, let them help you, make you stronger, and provide you the
courage so that you may always ring the bells in your life on time.
Steve Scheider, ET1, retired after 8 years
