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There are many ways of keeping it real. There are also men of many nations who strive to keep it real but none of them are worth a damn when compared to the British and their innate ability to discern between keeping it real or only alluding to a construct that has very little to do with anything whether real or not.
Majors all over the world will be nodding in agreement with that statement. They'll be saying, "see I've been saying it all along", or,"I told you so", and even "the truth is what it is". So if you know a Major who is more deserving than the little appreciation he or she gets then give them a hug and tell them "I know...I know..."
When the senior man resorts to such behaviour there is not much to do but stand agog. Trust is difficult enough to build, but it can all be thrown away in an instant by one person. Strange actions and outbursts do not the leader make.
The selection process for 2IC was remarkably unimaginative. 'Must have pulse' was the only criteria. Yet surprisingly the Major had difficulty in filling the position. His eventual choice was less than perfect and that bothered him greatly. So even as the effects of late onset lead poisoning take their toll on the Major's health his dismay concerning his decision can be heard above his pain.
Some guys get the job because they're well connected. Others do well because they display a natural aptitude. This guy, because he is Nazi vulture, got the job because he's a creep who can sniff out good guys from miles and miles away. The other boys at Nazi school used to tease him about his hooter until he discovered his talent. They even made up a song about him, however that got sanitized for post-war use.
The ugly great sardine that gets around dwells deep in the fear of men. Some say it is only a myth, a mere story to scare young sailors in their Aran knit onesies. But beneath the turtlenecks the fear is real. The ugly great sardine knows no mercy. The ugly great sardine does not grant or asks for forgiveness. Chief knows this only too well.
Below decks things can get tight. Pause for thought...isn't it all below decks on a submarine?...thought over, continue. And when considering ordeals are there any pleasant ones? So when it comes to ordeals Chief Grimshaw must be facing something pretty tough. If only his name was Happyshaw or Estaticshaw things wouldn't be so bad.
At sea, at night, it can get pretty dark. Usually there is a lot of nothing. It is what comes out of that nothing that can be beyond frightening. You don't need to go looking for it as it always find you. Always.
That aside...isn't this just the greatest picture!
Our three friends appear to be very much enjoying their ever so mildly lewd ditty. One, which no doubt, has been repeated with equal enthusiasm with each recital. Though it borders on lewd, it is not vulgar, ribald, crude, lusty, rude, belligerent, or nasty. Even though it would not take much to imagine that their colleagues from the vessels they are extolling would take umbrage concerning at the subject matter.
...even though technically it's coming from submariners. All that 'full ahead full steam, back three quarters is always exciting' even though it makes little sense to those of us with our boots on dry earth. Shame they're trying to get that deck gun into action otherwise they could be calling 'dive, dive, dive' into action.
Oh the life above (or below) the ocean blue.
Don't think much of that beer can conning tower though...
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