Dear Old Friends' Final Goodbye
The port bridgewing of the USS BRISCOE (DD 977) seemed to hover 48 feet
from the water's silent surface, but in fact she was traveling at fifteen
knots.
Her bow throwing a perfect wave through 75 degree air onto the
untouched 78 degree ocean. The milky way shone a bright strip in the
heaven, and since our course was 068 degrees I could follow the North Star
as I said my silent goodbye. Cassiopeia was there to say farewell, as was
BM3 Rosenbaum, who kindly piped my friends over as I gave a final salute
to those that had never been saluted before. I watched as the port
running light of our fine warship shown its red glare as the remains
passed by. There were no words passed, no deck log entries made, in fact
only a small handful of people ever knew of the ceremony. The sea claimed
my dear friends, one last time. 1678 fathoms, over 10,000 feet of the
deep embraced the remains at 32 41 30N 039 04 30W, at 0307(+2P), on
02JUL00.
My friends walked with me since 29MAY96, and survived through six
commands, spanning four years, one month, and three days of continual
active duty service. They were there with me from the heat of Orlando
summers to the chill of Saratoga snowbanks, from Seaman Recruit to ET2 to
LTJG, through class rooms to five mile runs, swim quals to fire fighting,
from boot camp first issue to the deck of a United States destroyer. My
boots were a good friend to me and I hate to see them go, they never even
needed so much as a new shoe lace from me, so after extraordinary service
during a long life, I have done them the honor of sending them home.
LTJG McCARTHY
02JUL00, 0400(+2P)