In previous editions of The Tin Can Sailor I have read some very interesting accounts of personal experiences during underway replenishment (unrep) operations. I thought that I should add mine to this collection.

During the USS Taylor (DD 468) 1967 deployment to WESTPAC I stood watch as OOD during Condition IV (independent steaming) and condition II (Modified General Quarters for gunfire support) and as JOOD during condition III (Wartime Cruising). My memory of these times is not perfect but it seems like we were always replenishing something; either fuel, ammunition or stores – sometimes all at once. This was particularly true when we were firing on the gunline off the coast of Vietnam. For example, during one particularly active period, we stood two section watches – port and starboard – for 40 days straight while doing gunfire support missions.

We probably averaged an unrep of some sort every other day and during some days we had two unreps. We went alongside a wide variety of Navy ships; several Aircraft Carriers; the Fast Combat Support Ship USS Sacramento AOE-1 which replenished everything simultaneously; and an assortment of fleet oilers and logistics vessels. On one oiler we could still make out the word “ESSO” hiding under a coat of haze gray.

The Operations Officer, LT Mike Stout, was OOD for replenishment and was usually up to speed, especially during Condition II, so once the replenishment detail was called away relief went quickly but not perfunctorily. If I had the watch, next came the race back to my stateroom to don a life jacket, followed by another race up to the refueling station where I, with the help of MM2 Kenneth Wescott as phone talker, was in charge of the refueling station (if it was a refueling), the phone line to the replenishment ship, and the ships band.

At this point, I need to back up and explain that last item. Earlier in the deployment LT Walter Kopp, the Engineering Officer, departed on emergency leave for an indefinite period of time. That left me in charge of the department. At about that time the Skipper, CDR James D. Taylor, decided that I needed a little more stress, so he assigned me an additional duty as the ship’s Band Officer with responsibility to establish a ship’s band and provide entertainment during replenishments. He picked me, I’m sure, because I have the musical skills of a giraffe. At least I thought all this at that time.

I was aware of a group, mostly of electricians, who played rock and roll music in the evenings for their own amusement. Not wishing to, or capable of, having tryouts for a musical group, I quickly deputized them as the Ship’s Band. This did not sit well with EMC Lawrence Hansen who thought it was an inappropriate reward to his men. While conceding the point, I overruled him – “Sorry, but I need a band, NOW!”

The Ship’s Band turned out to be a big success. The members self-organized with a vocalist, electric guitar, drums, microphone and maybe one or two other instruments. What did I know? They would eventually name themselves “The Mechanical Lawnmowers”. During unreps they stationed themselves back where all the action was and played pretty much whatever they wanted to with occasional “requests” coming from the bridge through me. I could see sailors on the unrep ships come out and line the rail to enjoy the music; even their bridge watches would be out on the wing.

I remember a refueling from an aircraft carrier, although I can’t remember which one, when its surface search radar was causing a screechy feedback in the band’s amplifier on each rotation past our direction. Essentially the band was going to have to shut down if this continued. In a “what the heck” moment, I told MM2 Westcott to ask whoever was on the other end of the phone line to turn off the surface search radar so that our band could play. To my amazement, within a minute or two, the large object rotating 12 stories above us on another ship came to a complete stop. Evidently carrier sailors like that kind of music too (better than knowing where they are?). For a brief second I felt like the most powerful junior officer on earth. How many Band Officers on a Destroyer get to do that? On the other hand just how big is the Destroyer Band Officer career field?

Then, after a refueling it’s requesting a blow down and a back-suction from the oiler to clear the hose, perhaps with a breakaway song by the band. Once all lines were clear the Taylor executed a hard rudder turn at flank speed to break away while I raced back up to the bridge.

The band played during all our unreps and upon entering our home port of Pearl Harbor although, on that occasion, the Captain gave orders that the band could play any song they wanted except “I’m back in the saddle again”.

The Mechanical Lawnmowers went on to win a local Navy talent contest in Pearl Harbor and competed at the next higher level in San Diego. By that time I was on my way to the USS Leahy (DLG 16) going through modernization in Philadelphia Naval Shipyard. I understand that the Taylor had a band for the next cruise but someone else will have to complete that part of the story.

CDR(ED) James G. O’Neill USNR-RET
USS Taylor (DD 468), 65-67