My first ship I was assigned to fresh out of the Naval Academy was the USS Charles P. Cecil(DDR-835). I served aboard Cecil for a full two years. During that time I served as the Damage Control Assistant. The damage control team excelled in Gitmo by scoring the highest final battlle problem score ever recorded. After a year on board I qualified for Officer of the Deck Underway steaming. During my time aboard I served under the command of Commander Dave Green, USN- one of the best skippers I had the pleasure of serving over my eventual 31 year naval career.

    While on Cecil I had the not so envious job of "movie officer". At least before the evening movies we usually showed "Victory at Sea" which was well received. However, the downside was when the movie petty officer once decided to chuck the multi-reeled technical movie "The Robe" behind a billboard in Norfolk before taking unauthorized leave. I sweated that one out for six weeks before someone finally found that film. Of all the good people I served with over the years, I can still remember the name of that movie petty officer. Oh, he wasnt a petty officer at the time, and I know he didnt make it while I was aboard.

    One other event that stands out in my mind was when Cecil got propositioned underway. I was standing one of my first OOD mid-watches by myself and a merchantman came within flashing light distance. Of course, I challanged the merchantman to identify himself by sending AA on the light. He finally did so properly, but I then asked him what cargo he was carrying.

    He responed that he had all ore. A few minutes later he came back on the light saying "I have 50 women aboard, would you like one?" I carried this on by more exchanges on the light and heading the ship in his general direction. I had the message exchange written up by the signalman and sent in to the Captain in the morning. The Captain took the matter all in good humor (good for me) by forwarding the message traffic on to ComDesFlot 4 in Norfolk with the comment that we were the only ship to be propositioned underway during WexVal 58 in the Virginia Capes operating area.