A TEAR IN MY EYE

A TEAR IN MY EYE
The Retirement Ceremony of a Shipmate
By Captain John G. McCandless, USNR (Ret.)

Grosse Pointe Farms, Mich., March 14, 2009 – You may have caught the feature story on Command Master Chief Adrian D. Williams, USN in Wednesday’s Free Press. If you didn’t, take a minute to do that now to read it now: http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2009903110416

Yesterday, I had the honor to join over 150 of Master Chief Williams’ shipmates, family and friends at his retirement ceremony in the Fries Ballroom of the Grosse Pointe War Memorial. With the waters of Lake St. Clair as a backdrop, the event brought tears to my eyes more than once.

After the “Arrival of the Official Party with Honors,” the National Anthem, sung by Master Chief’s niece, Chanda E. Long, and the invocation by Pastor Daryll Gaddy, the first speaker was Commander Leonard Borgdorff, USN, Commanding Officer, Naval Recruiting District – Michigan. His remarks were brief and interactive. He started by asking for a show of hands of shipmates who had graduated from boot camp in the current decade … lots of hands. Almost as many for those who had completed boot training in the 1990’s. Fewer for the 80’s and only a couple for the 1970’s, which included the Master Chief. That set the stage for honoring a shipmate who left Detroit in 1977 for boot camp at Great Lakes Naval Training Center in Waukegan, Illinois.

Thirty-two years later, after 19 duty stations afloat and ashore, Adrian Williams will be piped ashore for the last time.

Guest speaker at the ceremony was Captain Gary Edwards, USN, who was the Master Chief’s commanding officer at Naval Security Group Activity, Fort Gordon, Georgia in 2001. CAPT Edwards, a tall, articulate cryptology specialist, relayed his personal story about the importance of chief petty officers in the Navy. Edwards, commissioned in 1986, reported to his first ship, USS Saginaw (LST 1188) http://www.usssaginaw.org/ . Knowing little of the Navy, and even less about amphibious landing ships, then Ensign Edwards had his first meeting with his captain. The “old man”, who according to the ship’s website was Commander Tematio E. Bugarin, USN (I’m not making this up), told him how hard his life would be for the next three years and that he’d better find himself “a sea daddy.” Edwards left the captain’s cabin without a clue, but soon learned that sea daddies were Navy chief petty officers. I also learned as an Ensign on the USS AMERICA (CVA 66), that it is the chiefs who make the Navy work. I also was clueless in my first seagoing assignment, which included running a damage repair locker on the ship’s hanger bay. Knowing that I had only five days training in damage control (a most serious subject given the three major fires aboard aircraft carriers in the late 60’s and early 70’s,) the chief told me not to worry. “Ensign, you’ve got the bar (Ensign insignia) and I’ve got the boot,” said the chief. “We’ll make this thing work!” And worked it did, as a few short months later our repair locker scored a 98 (out of 100) on our Operational Readiness Inspection before sailing for Vietnam.
Command Master Chief Williams was next on the program. With warmth and grace, he spoke from his heart about his experiences over the last 32 years. With many, many months of deployments, away from home, it becomes very emotional when you’re thanking your family for their love and support over the years. But, the Master Chief did this with class. Present, and also honored by the Navy, during the ceremony were his mother, Ophelia Williams; wife Brenda Long-Williams; sons Darrin and Terrence; sister, Valerie Bently-Williams and brother, Derek Williams.

Next was the “Flag Ceremony”, in which a folded American flag, flown recently over the Master Chief’s favorite shipboard duty station, the USS Lake Erie (CG 70), was passed from the most junior Seaman Recruit, through sailors in the next eight ranks, then presented to Master Chief Williams. In turn, he presented the flag to his mother. This solemn ceremony took many minutes, as each sailor slowly saluted the flag, took procession, then passed the flag on to the next in line. Over the musical background of the Navy Hymn, Senior Chief Andre Bagwell, USN, also a Detroit native, delivered these impressive “I am Old Glory”, first written by Howard Schnauber in 1944.

I am the flag of the United States of America.My name is Old Glory.I fly atop the world's tallest buildings.I stand watch in America's halls of justice.I fly majestically over great institutes of learning.I stand guard with the greatest military power in the world.Look up! And see me!I stand for peace - honor - truth and justice.I stand for freedomI am confident - I am arrogantI am proud.When I am flown with my fellow bannersMy head is a little higherMy colors a little truer.I bow to no one.I am recognized all over the world.I am worshipped - I am saluted - I am respectedI am revered - I am loved, and I am feared.I have fought every battle of every war for more than 200 years:Gettysburg, Shilo, Appomatox, San Juan Hill, the trenches of France,the Argonne Forest, Anzio, Rome, the beaches of Normandy,the deserts of Africa, the cane fields of the Philippines, the rice paddies and jungles of Guam, Okinawa, Japan, Korea, Vietnam, GuadalcanalNew Britain, Peleliu, and many more islands.And a score of places long forgotten by all but those who were with me.I was there.I led my soldiers - I followed them.I watched over them.They loved me.I was on a small hill in Iwo Jima.I was dirty, battle-worn and tired, but my soldiers cheered me,and I was proud.I have been soiled, burned, torn and trampled on the streets ofcountries I have helped set free.It does not hurt, for I am invincible.I have been soiled, burned, torn and trampled on the streets ofmy country, and when it is by thosewith whom I have served in battle - it hurts.But I shall overcome - for I am strong.I have slipped the bonds of Earth and stand watch over theuncharted new frontiers of spacefrom my vantage point on the moon.I have been a silent witness to all of America's finest hours.But my finest hour comes when I am torn into strips tobe used for bandages for my wounded comrades on the field of battle,When I fly at half mast to honor my soldiers,And when I lie in the trembling arms of a grievingmother at the graveside of her fallen son.I am proud.My name is Old Glory.Dear God - Long may I wave.

Emotion, plenty of emotion, and tears.

Then, before the retirement of the colors, the benediction and the piping of Command Master Chief ashore, Chief Petty Officer Lucio Saraiva, our recruiter in Big Rapids, Mich., read an even more moving essay, “The Watch.” Read, however, is the wrong work. Chief Saraiva delivered the message with emotion, drama and pride.

For thirty-two yearsThis sailor has stood the watchWhile some of us were in our bunks at nightThis sailor stood the watchWhile some of us were in school learning our tradeThis shipmate stood the watchYes.. even before some of us were born into this worldThis shipmate stood the watchIn those years when the storm clouds of war were seen brewing on the horizon of historyThis shipmate stood the watchMany times he would cast an eye ashore and see his family standing thereNeeding his guidance and helpNeeding that hand to hold during those hard timesBut he still stood the watchHe stood the watch for thirty-two yearsHe stood the watch so that we, our families andOur fellow countrymen could sleep soundly in safety, Each and every nightKnowing that a sailor stood the watchToday we are here to say'Shipmate... the watch stands relievedRelieved by those You have trained ,Guided, and LeadShipmate you stand relieved.. we have the watch...""Boatswain … Standby to pipe the side ... Shipmate's going Ashore.."

With that, the boatswain’s pipe sounded, the ship’s bell rang and Command Master Chief (Surface Warfare) Adrian D. Williams, USN returned the salute of eight fellow chief petty officers acting as sideboys and departed … adding a (Ret.) to his title as his new career had just begun.

Well done, Master Chief. Thank you and your family for all your service to our Nation and to our Navy.

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• For information on the US Navy visit: http://www.navy.mil/
• For information on the Grosse Pointe War Memorial visit: http://www.warmemorial.org/