his head for the invocation, then relaxed into his chair as the crew, lining the rails, snapped to parade rest. He felt inside his blouse for the square of paper. His remarks.
âI now introduce Rear Admiral Jerry Sapp, Deputy Commander, Naval Office of Technology Transfer and Security Assistance.â
Sapp acknowledged the general, the former skippers, the family and friends present, âshipmates, and guests.â He focused his opening remarks on Gaddis âs service career. âDesigned and has performed as a mainstay and a workhorse.⦠Carried our nationâs flag during the closing phase of the cold war ⦠a total of fifteen deployments literally spanning the globe, most recently during Operation Checkmate, interdicting drug traffic in the Aruba Gap and Colombia Basin.â He gave numbers and specs, horsepower, speed, weapons. He went on to congratulate the crews who had manned her and the captains who had led her, naming each, nodding to those present on the platform. Dan noticed he wasnât included, but kept his expression relaxed and benign.
âWe gather today to celebrate a job well done. We say good-bye to a ship that has given much, that has been well maintained by the literally thousands of sailors who have passed over her decks.
âAt the same time I sense exultation among our friends from Pakistan, a nation with which the United States has long enjoyed a special relationship.â Danâs attention wandered as Sapp praised the alliance as a force for peace in the Mideast, then returned as the admiral closed with a tribute to the crew that had worked so hard to prepare for turnover. âFor you, the journey continues,â he said at last. âTo new ships, new places, new challenges. Take the spirit you learned aboard Gaddis with you. Godspeed; fair winds and following seas. I will now call the commanding officer forward.â
Dan cleared his throat and rose, but Juskoviac was there before him.
âShipâs company: atten-hut. General Saqlain will present a letter of appreciation to Lieutenant Commander Daniel V. Lenson, United States Navy.â
Dan stood at attention as the little man handed over the scroll and shook his hand. He saluted him, then glanced at the exec.
âCaptain Daniel Lenson, Commanding Officer, USS Oliver C. Gaddis. Shipâs company: Parade rest .â
His turn at last. Snapping open the paper, Dan looked out over the pier, the green cold-looking water beyond, the bright sky. A freighter was coming around Windy Point, windows flashing golden in the sun.
âGeneral, Admiral, sponsors, honored guests, plankowners and former skippers, relatives and friends. Welcome to the official transformation of USS Gaddis into PNS Tughril .
âAny decommissioning is a bittersweet occasion. I myself have only had a few weeks to know her as a ship. But even in that short time I have come to understood what she means to her former crew members. It is hard to say farewell. But in this case we all know the ship we loved will sail on, under a new name and a new flag, but still in the defense of freedom and the maintenance of peace.
âAs you see her now, poised to make the transition from U.S. to Pakistani man-of-war, I will say for all the crew: the best of luck to her new owners. What has made these last few weeks special has been the close bonds of friendship that have grown up between the two crews as they worked together, side by side, to pass the skills of one seafaring nation to the seamen of another. And between myself and Captain Khashar. It is a tribute to him, his officers, chiefs, and men, that the process has gone so smoothly and that I can hand Gaddis over knowing she will be well taken care of.â
Hoping he would be forgiven for that, he lowered his eyes to the second page. âI will now read my orders. âFrom: The Chief of Naval Operations. To: Commander in Chief, U.S. Atlantic Fleet. Subject: Decommissioning
âI now introduce Rear Admiral Jerry Sapp, Deputy Commander, Naval Office of Technology Transfer and Security Assistance.â
Sapp acknowledged the general, the former skippers, the family and friends present, âshipmates, and guests.â He focused his opening remarks on Gaddis âs service career. âDesigned and has performed as a mainstay and a workhorse.⦠Carried our nationâs flag during the closing phase of the cold war ⦠a total of fifteen deployments literally spanning the globe, most recently during Operation Checkmate, interdicting drug traffic in the Aruba Gap and Colombia Basin.â He gave numbers and specs, horsepower, speed, weapons. He went on to congratulate the crews who had manned her and the captains who had led her, naming each, nodding to those present on the platform. Dan noticed he wasnât included, but kept his expression relaxed and benign.
âWe gather today to celebrate a job well done. We say good-bye to a ship that has given much, that has been well maintained by the literally thousands of sailors who have passed over her decks.
âAt the same time I sense exultation among our friends from Pakistan, a nation with which the United States has long enjoyed a special relationship.â Danâs attention wandered as Sapp praised the alliance as a force for peace in the Mideast, then returned as the admiral closed with a tribute to the crew that had worked so hard to prepare for turnover. âFor you, the journey continues,â he said at last. âTo new ships, new places, new challenges. Take the spirit you learned aboard Gaddis with you. Godspeed; fair winds and following seas. I will now call the commanding officer forward.â
Dan cleared his throat and rose, but Juskoviac was there before him.
âShipâs company: atten-hut. General Saqlain will present a letter of appreciation to Lieutenant Commander Daniel V. Lenson, United States Navy.â
Dan stood at attention as the little man handed over the scroll and shook his hand. He saluted him, then glanced at the exec.
âCaptain Daniel Lenson, Commanding Officer, USS Oliver C. Gaddis. Shipâs company: Parade rest .â
His turn at last. Snapping open the paper, Dan looked out over the pier, the green cold-looking water beyond, the bright sky. A freighter was coming around Windy Point, windows flashing golden in the sun.
âGeneral, Admiral, sponsors, honored guests, plankowners and former skippers, relatives and friends. Welcome to the official transformation of USS Gaddis into PNS Tughril .
âAny decommissioning is a bittersweet occasion. I myself have only had a few weeks to know her as a ship. But even in that short time I have come to understood what she means to her former crew members. It is hard to say farewell. But in this case we all know the ship we loved will sail on, under a new name and a new flag, but still in the defense of freedom and the maintenance of peace.
âAs you see her now, poised to make the transition from U.S. to Pakistani man-of-war, I will say for all the crew: the best of luck to her new owners. What has made these last few weeks special has been the close bonds of friendship that have grown up between the two crews as they worked together, side by side, to pass the skills of one seafaring nation to the seamen of another. And between myself and Captain Khashar. It is a tribute to him, his officers, chiefs, and men, that the process has gone so smoothly and that I can hand Gaddis over knowing she will be well taken care of.â
Hoping he would be forgiven for that, he lowered his eyes to the second page. âI will now read my orders. âFrom: The Chief of Naval Operations. To: Commander in Chief, U.S. Atlantic Fleet. Subject: Decommissioning
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