I received a call a couple of days ago from one of my old shipmates. In a hoarse whisper he says "Frank, it's Stan. I'm dying and wanted to say goodbye." Stan is in stage 4 with massive organ failure that was just found about 4 weeks ago. I talked to his daughter this evening and Stan is unconscious and not expected to last through the night.

Stan and I were stationed together on the USS John Adams, SSBN 620 back in the early 80's during the cold war days of 72 day submarine deterrent patrols and spent months together underwater sharing every details of our lives. He was a Nuc electrician and I was a Nuc machinist mate and we stood watches together in the same section for many long, dreary days underwater.

Our families became the best of friends and we are still close 30 years later. Our off time was spent on family camping and fishing trips while we were stationed together in Charleston, SC. and Stan and I hunted deer and turkey together for years. We later served together as instructors up in the US Navy Nuclear Power Training Unit in Idaho Falls, Idaho and spent all of our free time together hunting and fishing all over Idaho.

Stan was one of the survivors of the Deep Horizons oil rig explosion in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010 and was missing for a couple of days before they found him injured in one of the evacuation hospitals.

Stan was a very Christian southern gentleman so I offer this prayer in his honor:


Submariner's Prayer

Lord God, our power evermore,
Whose arms doth reach the ocean floor,

Dive with our men beneath the sea;
Traverse the depths protectively.

O' hear us when we pray, and keep
Them safe from peril in the deep.

There are no roses on a Sailor's grave,
No lilies on an ocean wave.

The only tribute are the seagulls' sweeps,
And the teardrops that a sweetheart weeps.

Prayers sent,a beautiful friendship indeed.

Sorry to hear of your friend's condition Frank. May God bless and welcome him.

Frank,

These are borrowed words that I have referred to far to many times.

"It's hard sometimes, but as long as we remember them around the campfire, they will live forever."

Walt Specht MM1(SS), nearing Veteran's Day, 2005

My the All Mighty welcome him and help those your friend has left behind.

Carl

Your acknowledgement of your friendship is a tribute to both of you. God bless.

Prayers for your buddy and you.

Stand down Sailor, Your watch is done

Prayers to both families sir.

Frank,

Sounds like a very good friend, so sorry to hear it. God bless him and his family.

Frank,

Thanks for sharing this heavy-hearted time with us. You were blessed with a dear friend, shipmate and hunting buddy. Such relationships are a treasure.

The Lord has kept Stan in the palm of His loving hand* and we pray that he, his family and loved ones will be comforted through this time. [*Daily we are in His care and dependent upon him. Sadly, we under- appreciate this, save for the dramatic oil- rig rescue times. Wow... glad Stan made it through that... and PTL!]

Thanks also, Frank for sharing the Submariner's Prayer:

quote:

Lord God, our power evermore,
Whose arms doth reach the ocean floor,

Dive with our men beneath the sea;
Traverse the depths protectively.

O' hear us when we pray, and keep
Them safe from peril in the deep.

There are no roses on a Sailor's grave,
No lilies on an ocean wave.

The only tribute are the seagulls' sweeps,
And the teardrops that a sweetheart weeps.

To Stan: "Well done, good and faithful servant."

Condolences and prayers sent to both families. Hard to lose a good friend.

So sorry. Remember the good times and drink a toast at sundown.

Prayers sent!

So sorry to hear about your friend....prayers sent for him and his family.

Stay strong Frank

Best thoughts for you, your shipmate, and his family. Never easy ...

Tell him this old retired Chief wishes him Fair Winds and a Calm Sea to set his course by. I've got a lot of respect for you Bubbleheads. I could never sail on one of them. I'd go batshit crazy inside a metal tube day after day, week after week.