What is your favorite 24-Hour duty moment/memory?

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 25 Aug 2014 16:49:11 -0400

Mine was one lonely duty night a 6'5 person dressed as a pick fluffy chicken walked into my duty hut, place a chicken/cheese pizza on my desk, turn around, and walked out as if nothing happened. Thinking I was crazy I looked at the pizza, opened the box, and began eating the most delicious pizza I ever had. To this day I have no idea who that was but definitely is my favorite duty moment/memory. Share yours.

Response by SSG Maurice P. made Oct 18 at 2014 12:57 PM

SSG Maurice P. — Sat, 18 Oct 2014 12:57:02 -0400

the 1st time i was stationed on Okinawa was in the mid 1970's i was a D.n.c.o at Camp Schwab,
I heard a blood curdling scream that sounded like it came from the laundry room outside and towards the back of the barracks i thought someone was raping an old mama-san who did our laundry. i grabbed my night stick and a pair of scissors and ran out of the barracks like a mad man when i got outside i heard laughter so i looked straight up and there was 2 drunk marines laughing there asses off at me there wasnt any mama-san just those two drunk idiots hehehehehehehe

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 18 at 2014 1:00 PM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 18 Oct 2014 13:00:36 -0400

God, deploying/redeploying are all I think about when I think about being up for multiple days. Nothing worse than hitting Kuwait to find out that all the beds are full. I think when I redeployed last December I was up for almost 72 hours with a few naps during flight.

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made Oct 18 at 2014 1:22 PM

PO1 William "Chip" Nagel — Sat, 18 Oct 2014 13:22:08 -0400

Last 24 hr duty day before my Retirement. I was Duty Ops Officer. Went up to Bridge to turn on Aircraft Warning light. Duty Weapons Officer was there (FCCS) so we exchanged Pleasantries, I turned on the light. He called the Quarterdeck and Said "Petty Officer Nagel is on the Bridge and said he is taking over". I gave him the INT WTH look. The Quarterdeck called out a Security Alert, watched a big old grin on his face. I Watched the Rear View Mirrors on the bridge until I spotted the 1st member of the Security Alert Team and then I barricaded myself in the Chart Room behind the Bridge. I gave a bit of resistance as they halled me down to the Faintail. The Command Duty Officer scolded me for resisting and the Alert Team for manhandling me but a good time was had by all on my last Duty Day.

Response by PO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 18 at 2014 1:34 PM

PO1 Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 18 Oct 2014 13:34:58 -0400

Savoring the face of the married E-1 sailor as the emotions ranged from utter disbelief to sheer joy when I walked in and relieved her of her watch - which I was eminently over-qualified for - on Christmas Day. It was her first Christmas with her new baby....and I had nowhere to go anyway....

Response by SGT Richard H. made Oct 18 at 2014 1:38 PM

SGT Richard H. — Sat, 18 Oct 2014 13:38:46 -0400

I'm not sure I ever had a 'favorite' 24 hour duty, but my most memorable was when MPs picked up a guy in my Company for being drunk, but he was just shy of disorderly enough to go to jail so they brought him to the barracks. We had a "drunk bunk" which was just a bed frame with the springs and no mattress, which I directed him to sleep it off in. He kept getting up and wandering, so I moved the drunk bunk from the break room to the hallway where I could keep an eye on him, but he still kept getting up. I finally had enough, so I sent my runner after some cargo straps that were in my room and we physically placed him on the bunk and lashed him to the springs.

The next morning, he tried complaining to the 1SG about his treatment...that didn't go his way either.

Response by PO2 Jonathan Scharff made Oct 24 at 2014 2:20 PM

PO2 Jonathan Scharff — Fri, 24 Oct 2014 14:20:08 -0400

OK, this one is a little embarrassing, but here goes. As a new E-2 in the Coast Guard I was assigned to a 210' cutter. Underway for the first time I was assigned to the Ward Room to set up and clean up in the officers dining area. Part of those duties is to report to the mess deck and see if there is anything that you can do to help them get ready for chow.

On this particular patrol we were headed into a hurricane to attempt to rescue some bozo that once again couldn't listen to the weather reports and was in trouble. This was my first time in heavy weather, and I mean heavy weather. The ship was rolling and pitching so bad that you would be pinned to the bulkhead for several seconds each time the ship rolled port or starboard. I had really never experienced anything like this. I have to say I was a little unprepared for how rough the ocean is in a storm.

But, back to the story. The 1PO Cook asked me to go one deck below into the refer and stores locker and bring up a big box of cookies and also a new 5 gallon box of milk. Well I hopped right to it! As I went down the ladder into the AUX compartment, where the ships evaporator among other things were located there were about 5 or 6 members of the crew in this tiny space with this archaic piece of machinery torn apart. You see the evaporator was down and the ship couldn't make fresh water. I paid them no mind as I hurriedly approached the next hatch and opened the heavy watertight door and closed it behind me. Remember all the while the ship is really being tossed about in this heavy weather.

It took me a while to find the big box of cookies, and the box of milk in the reefer. But, I realized that I had a bit of a problem. They were both about the same size and holding both of them was difficult as I attempted to walk back down the passageway to the watertight door. Maybe you can see where this is going. lol

Well as I was new on board and was very new to heavy weather I really didn't understand that you need to time the opening of these heavy watertight doors to the rolling of the ship. I had the heavy 5 gal milk box in my right hand which was the hand that I had the door handle in...but as the ship started to roll to the starboard I had, and I remember this to this day, a split second of fear where I knew that I was either going to hold on to the door and drop 5 gallons of milk on the deck or let the door go. I choose to let the door go. It seemed like the prudent choice at the time.

Unbeknownst to me, there was a Senior Chief who was bent over at the waist just on the other side of that door working on the evaporator! The door flew open and smacked him in the ass which drove him headfirst into the evap machine! He fell to the floor and was knocked out cold! I just stood there with my mouth hanging open looking like a complete idiot with a big box of cookies in one arm and a 5 gal box of milk in the other! Everyone else in the compartment was kind of shocked about what just happened and for a few seconds just stood there. I looked up at another CPO Electrician who was standing in front of me and he looked at the SCPO and looked at me, looked at the SCPO and looked at me...and then waved me frantically by with one hand and held his other finger to his lips and said shhhhh!

I ran as fast as I could up the ladder to the mess deck! No one as far as I knew ever told the SCPO who did it or he was too gracious of a leader to ever hold me accountable for my screw up! But I certainly learned never to let go of a watertight door in heavy weather!

In closing, I would just like to say that I'm sorry to that SCPO. I thank you for teaching a young man a lesson in leadership, grace and understanding. :)

Response by SGT James Hastings made Oct 25 at 2014 11:27 AM

SGT James Hastings — Sat, 25 Oct 2014 11:27:52 -0400

Mine was being on guard duty in 1952 at the 8001st TC Depot in Yokohama walking around the perimeter during a typhoon. The bands holding a stack of metal 5' x 8' sheet metal broke loose and they started sailing like frisbees all over. I ducked behind a wall and stayed there until they were all gone. I guess I deserted my duty station but saving my life seemed more important at the time.

Response by Capt Andrew Cosgrove made Oct 25 at 2014 8:06 PM

Capt Andrew Cosgrove — Sat, 25 Oct 2014 20:06:15 -0400

I was EAS'ing on Monday morning and I got the Friday OOD. From 0600 on Friday to 0600 on Saturday morning.

At about 2100 the CO calls me and exchanges some pleasantries, the unit is going to miss me, best of luck, yadda, yadda, yadda. And oh by the way, we are going to have a health and comfort inspection around 0230 at the Barracks.

Awww crap...

Our unit procedure was for the Barracks NCO to call me if there was anything "out of the ordinary." So I had to wait for him to call me and pretend like everything was honkey-dorey.

0245, I get the expected phone call at the HQ from a breathless and whispering Staff Sergeant "Sir, sir, sir, oh crap sir, you need to get down here quick sir, something baaad has happened, oh crap, crap, crap...*click*" as the line went dead.

I thought it was unusual that this particular SSgt was A) on duty, B) Panicked, C) Calling me instead of PMO if something bad happened, even though I knew there was this inspection about to happen.

I grab the duty driver and we make haste to the barracks.

Here is the scene when I arrive...

3 PMO vehicles with lights blazing
1 Ambulance rolling a stretcher accross the lawn with what looked like the CO strapped in and unconcious with a C-Collar and bandages on his head.
LOTS of Marines standing around talking and looking both amused and horrified in alternating moments
1 Command SgtMajor chewing out anyone and everyone within earshot standing in his skivvies and shower shoes...

That's odd...

The SgtMaj does not live in nor does he frequent the barracks...

Why is he in skivvies and shower shoes?

(Wait for the senior 1stLt powers of observation to finally kick in...)

(Wait for it...)

OHHHHHhhh my.

It turns out the CO did not consult the Sgt Major about the Health & Comfort because he was advised that the SgtMaj may be part of the NCIS investigation into designer drugs on base and would possibly tip off the other Marines.

Well the SgtMaj was not involved in the drugs (hence his anger at being accused of it) but he was fraternizing with a particularly attractive Female Corporal who's roommate was on leave. The CO was knocked unconcious when the SgtMaj came flying out of the young Cpl's room to escape detection and literally ran full on into the CO shoving him into the opposite wall where he smacked his head and fell to the deck unconcious.

The OpsO and the Squadron Gunny were the ones who apprehended the SgtMaj.

I was so happy that I was flying out Monday afternoon never to see that place again...

The airwing in Hawaii. Never a dull moment.

Response by MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca made Oct 25 at 2014 10:16 PM

MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca — Sat, 25 Oct 2014 22:16:07 -0400

That same look of red-eyed discombobulated fury on all those First Sergeants' faces when I had to get them out of the rack to pickup PVT Schmedlap from the drunk tank. Don't get me wrong, Its not like I enjoyed having to do it, but imagining what Schmedlap was in for when Top got them in their office the next duty day made me laugh.

Response by Sgt Daniel V. made Oct 26 at 2014 4:48 AM

Sgt Daniel V. — Sun, 26 Oct 2014 04:48:55 -0400

Well it wasn't 24hr duty only 4 but we were forward and we were on a convoy delivering supplies to a train station outside of Fallujah. We left our base sometime after sundown the night before and had managed to make it to a small post guarding a comm tower. This was right in the middle of the siege on the city early Nov. 2004 and there was hell breaking loose all over the place. Well upon arriving at the post we decided to stop, as to why well you know how it goes, you know when but not where..etc. We kinda drew straws and I got second shift that would last until morning. It was cold and I remember taking off my NVGs as day began to break and off to the east there was one bright star hanging low over the rising sun. It was mesmorizing because the sky was a deep blue and I suddenly felt this calm like even the wind died down and there was crackling of a speaker phone and I realized that there was no firefights going on no planes, no helos, nothing was moving. It was complete and utter quiet except for the distant sound of Morning prayers crackling in Arabic over the speaker system on the minnarettes. I said my prayers silently facing west and back home and as they ended the sun broke the horzion and firefights erupted and helos thumped on by. It was the craziest and most vivid Firewatch I ever had(and I have had many).

Response by SSG Tim Everett made Oct 28 at 2014 11:24 AM

SSG Tim Everett — Tue, 28 Oct 2014 11:24:51 -0400

I had weekend SDNCO. In one 24-hr period I had two suicide attempts, an attempted violent assault on a female that turned into a severe beat-down for the would-be rapist, and an honest-to-G-d tornado that tore up the motor pool.

Response by SPC Daniel Edwards made Nov 15 at 2014 9:53 PM

SPC Daniel Edwards — Sat, 15 Nov 2014 21:53:44 -0500

I was pulling CQ. We had 4 batteries at our battalion. Each one had 2 people pulling CQ all night and every 2 hours someone from each battery would pull guard at the barracks until pt the next morning. Earlier that day, a badass SGT got promoted to SSG. He decided to celebrate by getting drunk then grilling a chicken breast in his soon-to-be-former room. He was so drunk that he fell asleep while cooking it and started a small fire. I'll let you guess from there.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made May 12 at 2016 2:12 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 12 May 2016 14:12:44 -0400

when I was HHC Commander in charge of the mob/demob barracks at Benning. Walked outside one night around 0200 to find a crackhead prostitute sitting on the steps. Asked her for some ID, she didn't have any. Called the MPs and they came and took her away. Apparently she was well known by the MPs and was barred from post but she would walk the fence until she found a spot she could squeeze through or under and then just go and sit at the entryway of random buildings begging for cigarettes and offering her "services".