USS Topeka (CLG 8), somewhere in the Gulf of Tonkin
Romeo has been hauled down, at the conn: Captain Buell,
From the oiler off our starboard, we are taking on fuel.
Chemung is her name, she carries it with pride,
She's high in the water and acting as guide.
We're part of a task unit, 77.0.1 is the number,
And all is being accomplished when normally we'd slumber.
Off to starboard, the Gridley moves forth and back,
As friendly sub Bream simulates an attack.
ComSeventhFlt has a schedule established for the quarter,
Indicating ops for Topeka while she's out in the water.
We are down in the Gulf of Tonkin, I mean,
The war has slackened, but we remain keen.
On base course, we speed at ten knots, 'till through,
The gyro repeater shows three zeros true.
With navigation for the steering and the exec for support,
We will have little problem reaching our port.
To the right of the oiler, the Berkeley is parked,
With CTU77.0.1 the OTC (ComDesRon 13) embarked.
RADM Irvine, who's SOPA, in Topeka resides,
77.1, 70.8 and 77.9 are numbers by which he's disguised.
In our ship and others, the vital word is three,
For it's the condition of readiness upon which we key.
Since quick closure's important, considering our position,
Yoke is the summary of material condition.
Radio frequency energy from all radars emits,
Because operations has decided to set Emcon Six.
Impetus for moving and the source of our light,
Comes from 2 and 4 boilers and all generators tonight.
The only lights burning on this very dark night,
Are lights termed "obstruction" (to warn of our plight).
We just rang twelve bells to make very clear,
That what just has occurred was the start of a year.
At 0007, the chief engineer reports,
The fueling is finished, there'll be no retorts.
The helo's JP-5 was topped off just so,
And we're now 98 percent NSFO.
At 0008: "Hoses clear" comes the call,
Weapons' men can be proud, the chore was not small.
At 0011 to 17 knots we did change,
And to 335 our course rearrange.
At 0019 and one minute apart,
The speed is 10 knots, the course is due north.
At 0021 on the Captain's dispatch,
The OOD took the conn for the rest of the watch.
At 0027, the special detail,
Set for replenishment only, is secured from the rail.
One more speed change, and then one in course,
The latter at 0113, 0058 for the first.
As part of the efforts to halt the aggression,
We leave you with thoughts shaped by discretion.
As we are returning to our Tonkin outpost,
We send New Year's greetings to you with a toast.
R. T. Reitmeier
Ensign, U.S. Navy
She's high in the water and acting as guide.
We're part of a task unit, 77.0.1 is the number,
And all is being accomplished when normally we'd slumber.
Off to starboard, the Gridley moves forth and back,
As friendly sub Bream simulates an attack.
ComSeventhFlt has a schedule established for the quarter,
Indicating ops for Topeka while she's out in the water.
We are down in the Gulf of Tonkin, I mean,
The war has slackened, but we remain keen.
On base course, we speed at ten knots, 'till through,
The gyro repeater shows three zeros true.
With navigation for the steering and the exec for support,
We will have little problem reaching our port.
To the right of the oiler, the Berkeley is parked,
With CTU77.0.1 the OTC (ComDesRon 13) embarked.
RADM Irvine, who's SOPA, in Topeka resides,
77.1, 70.8 and 77.9 are numbers by which he's disguised.
In our ship and others, the vital word is three,
For it's the condition of readiness upon which we key.
Since quick closure's important, considering our position,
Yoke is the summary of material condition.
Radio frequency energy from all radars emits,
Because operations has decided to set Emcon Six.
Impetus for moving and the source of our light,
Comes from 2 and 4 boilers and all generators tonight.
The only lights burning on this very dark night,
Are lights termed "obstruction" (to warn of our plight).
We just rang twelve bells to make very clear,
That what just has occurred was the start of a year.
At 0007, the chief engineer reports,
The fueling is finished, there'll be no retorts.
The helo's JP-5 was topped off just so,
And we're now 98 percent NSFO.
At 0008: "Hoses clear" comes the call,
Weapons' men can be proud, the chore was not small.
At 0011 to 17 knots we did change,
And to 335 our course rearrange.
At 0019 and one minute apart,
The speed is 10 knots, the course is due north.
At 0021 on the Captain's dispatch,
The OOD took the conn for the rest of the watch.
At 0027, the special detail,
Set for replenishment only, is secured from the rail.
One more speed change, and then one in course,
The latter at 0113, 0058 for the first.
As part of the efforts to halt the aggression,
We leave you with thoughts shaped by discretion.
As we are returning to our Tonkin outpost,
We send New Year's greetings to you with a toast.
R. T. Reitmeier
Ensign, U.S. Navy
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