1989.pdf

This story is on page 21. Prior to outchopping from the Pacific Fleet for the last time, I recall serving in USS Enterprise (CVN-65) and spending that Christmas visiting Singapore from 22 to 28 December. Upon arriving in Singapore, the ship anchored in Man of War Anchorage. Soon the ship is joined by ships of New Jersey’s BG Romeo returning from the Indian Ocean. On Christmas Eve, the afternoon tides shift as a 20 knot wind swung the ship west of the anchorage. Over the next two hours this causes the carrier to drag anchor approximately 120 yards toward cruiser Lake Champlain (CG-57), anchored about 600 yards away. At approximately 1700 on Christmas Eve, the quartermaster reports Enterprise’s position to be outside of her drag circle. Slow dragging continued, so the Captain returns by gig at 1830. The Enterprise is steaming, brings main propulsion online to weigh anchor and shifted into the eastern half of the original anchorage. Alert watchstanders prevented what would almost certainly have been a collision, with dire results in those crowded waters. The captain's responsibility to his ship and crew was absolute – his authority is certainly commensurate with his responsibility. What a wonderful present I learned that year about responsibility.