STORY PAGE
Where Did The Liquor Go
When outside the Continental United States, Liquor can often be purchased much cheaper. This is mostly due to lack of taxes that we pay stateside. We often visited Argentia, Newfoundland and Bermuda where liquor was cheap. (Along with other taxable items)
Most physically small taxable items were purchased without problem. The policy on liquor was different. The ship had what was referred to as a "Liquor Locker". Each individual aboard who was above the drinking age of our homeport was eligible to purchase liquor through the Ships Exchange. This would go directly into the Liquor Locker until distribution when we returned home.
Distribution at home port was a matter of requesting your share after custom's officers had been aboard. You also had to be departing on Liberty or Leave as it was only allowed on board in the Liquor Locker. (At least for the enlisted men)
The Liquor Locker had physical limitations. The ships policy arranged quotas by rank and time aboard. The higher your rank, the larger your quota. The Same principal applied for longevity aboard ship.
Scuttlebutt had it that liquor was illegally being brought aboard by some enlisted personnel. A few surprise "Captain's Inspections" were also conducted. Nothing was discovered. At one point during a ship's party the Captain himself asked if I were involved or knew anything about this scuttlebutt. (I no longer wondered why "random seating" had placed me next to him at the dinner tables.)
I laughed. I explained that even if I was involved I would not be so foolish as to admit it. I then explained that I had heard the scuttlebutt, but outside of that, I could be of no help. We turned to another subject.
During the next few Inspections, my normal areas of duty were given considerable time by the Captain. Nothing was found. Life went on.
(Now if I did choose to help bring liquor aboard, I would have needed the help of at least one other person. I would have to be
standing an “after hours Gangway Watch" for the other person to bring Liquor aboard. During our stay in Bermuda the other person would have to be an
operator of the Liberty Boat as we anchored in St. George's Harbor and the gangway was only used while others were present. He could however use my help in
getting something in the boat during regular liberty trips and out when securing the liberty boat for the night, especially if I stood Shore Patrol.)
Just before he was transferred, the Captain asked, "Just between you and I, were you bringing liquor aboard?" I hesitated. He continued, "Just answer that one question."
I said, "Yes Sir." He then asked, "How did you do it, and did you have help?" I again hesitated and said, "I answered your one question Sir."
He was a good man. I remember him once saying; "A man was not worth his salt if he didn't get into trouble once in awhile." (I sure fit that description.) We never spoke again.
(Captain, if by chance you read this, the liquor was hidden in Lower Sound. It was placed in the cabinet containing the heavily charged capacitors. No one ever opened the door but myself, and if anyone had, it was out of sight behind those “hot” electrical capacitors. I will not give the name of the other person who was involved. But then, why should I, this is only a story.) | |
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