THE OLD SCHOOL RADIOMAN
I just got here to relieve the watch,
nothing is happening, at least not
much.
The man at the desk passed me the
word, so listen my friends, here's
what I heard:
"The broadcast is good, all circuits
are up, the coffee is fresh, pour
yourself a cup.
All traffic is out, there's nothing to
send, we've got the beach fivers; got
a cigarette to lend?
Your freqs are all solid, no gear has
gone sour, we haven't changed
anything for over an hour.
The Bridge has been quiet, and
COMBAT is asleep, the phones
have been silent, nary a peep.
The log's up to date, the filing is
done, so I'll see you later, and hope
you have fun"
And with those fine words he did
depart, leaving the watch with a
very good start.
A few minutes have passed, or so it
seems, When in walks the OPS boss
with my first two routines.
"They have to go quick, I drafted
them late, so treat them as Oboe's,
they just can't wait.
Yes sir, I replied, we'll get right on
them, I don't believe we'll have any
problem.
I logged them in and said to the tape
man, do a good job; go as fast as
you can.
He said that he would and as I
flicked an ash, the broadcast
operator yelled "here comes a
FLASH!"
Route it to COMBAT, the Bridge
and to OPS, and hurry back, make
no other stops.
He grabbed it and ran, wasting no
time, and then the phone rang, it
was the XO on the line.
"Got another down here, can you
come get it?" Yes sir I replied, be
there in a minute.
To the wardroom I went for an
Oboe no doubt, and when I
returned the broadcast was out.
Proofed all the outgoings, and got
them released, XO had another, it
was really a beast.
Twenty addee's; can't find half the
routers, then in walks the SUPPO
with four more outers.
"When they'll go out I can't really
tell, cause right now sir, we're busy
as hell.
Send those four out and please
make it quick, I said to the
Ship/Shore Op, who was getting sea
sick.
But he replied that there'd be a
delay, for the beach had just gone
down for New Day.
I wondered what else could possibly
go wrong, but lucky for me we
didn't wait long.
For the next event in this strange
episode, came when those glorious
"Snipes" dropped the load.
We lost a 32, a seven and a nine,
oh, why does this happen to me all
the time?
I called the ET's and let out a yelp,
“My gear's burning up; I'm going to
need help!"
The Bridge called in, said their
circuits were down, "We're doing
our best" I replied with a frown.
Them COMBAT called to tell me
the same, MY GOD! I think I'm
going insane.
We brought all circuits up, with
maximum power, OH! Just
remembered. Have not checked my
in basket in over an hour.
Phones ringing again, the XO no
doubt, he wants to know if the
traffic's gone out.
OPS boss called, he's got two more,
and some fool is banging on the
door.
Broadcast is back, but getting
tough, we just hit a storm, the seas
are getting rough.
Chief came in, wants to see the Pub
Check-off List, I told him that
during the outage twenty numbers
were missed.
Things are falling all over the floor,
and that fool is still banging on the
door.
I pleaded and begged, "Please cut
me some slack," oooh boy! I wish I
was still in my rack.
My outgoing backlog now tallies
eleven, but the tape cutter has only
done seven.
My incomings now number thirtytwo,
boy! This place is just like a
zoo.
Got six more Oboes to run around,
and the seas are really beginning to
pound.
The storm outside must really be
mean, Cause my Ship/Shore
operator is turning green.
Then all of a sudden the storm had
passed, And we got the beach on
Ship/Shore at last.
The broadcast is now holding in
tight, everything's beginning to look
al right.
Cleaned all the traffic and cleaned
up the floor, even got around to
answering the door.
Service came in with all the
numbers we missed, and I finally
signed off the Pub Check List.
Slotted all traffic and routed the
boards too, and hey! Believe it or
not we're QRU.
My relief just came in to relieve the
watch, now nothing is happening, at
least not much.
Sitting at the desk I passed him the
word, so listen now friend, here is
what he heard:
"The broadcast is good, all circuits
are up, the coffee is fresh, pour
yourself a cup.
All traffic is out, there's nothing to
send, we've got the beach fivers, got
a cigarette to lend?
Your freqs are all solid, no gear has
gone sour, we haven't changed
anything for over an hour.
The Bridge has been quiet and
COMBAT is asleep, the phones
have been silent, nary a peep.
The log's up to date, all filing is
done, so I'll see you later, and I hope
you have fun.