A while back, I was on Facebook and called someone a shipmate.

Well, to me, the name shipmate is one of honor. But to the person who I was communicating with, it seemed to have had a less than positive meaning. Almost to the point where the name had become an insult. I’m not sure which of the alphabet generations this guy belonged to (X, Y Z or whatever phyco-babble title they have now), but he really got offended. I think I finally blocked him. Life is too short to play with fools.

A shipmate has always meant someone who is there for you in good times and bad.

They are the ones that make sure you get back to the ship. They are the ones who make sure you get the support on the ship or boat to have as good a ride as possible. I mean, think about it. Whether you are on a submarine or a ship, life is not always easy. As a junior person or a newby, you get the worst jobs. It’s a rite of passage for all who go to sea. But it’s not long before you know who you can really count on. The ones who might rib the hell out of you one moment but in the next, they are right belong side of you fighting off a fire or flooding or just karma.

I’ve been blessed through the years to have some great ones. But recently, I have had my faith restored in the whole concept.

We recently had our gathering of the saints in Charleston, SC. It was a remarkable time in so many ways.

But I did not do as good a job in my hotel selection.

Maybe I’m getting old. To be honest, being service-connected disabled combined with my slowly failing health and age, I probably missed a few steps along the way.  So, getting home and having a surprise fee of nearly $6000.00 on my credit card from the North Charleston Marriott was a real shock. They never told us they were charging us the additional fees while we were still there. In fact, the event coordinator had told me a few weeks before that there was no danger of it happening. We fell short of the number of rooms we had originally contracted for and there was no way I could make it up in time. She seemed to not remember saying that when I wrote to her after we got the credit card bill. I suppose the real lesson learned includes the following:

First, I would never use the North Charleston Marriott for any future military reunion. They were the least military friendly hotel I have ever worked with in the twenty years I have been doing reunions and business gatherings. The hotel really was not up to the standards we had come to expect which was also pretty disappointing.

https://theleansubmariner.com/2024/05/03/a-great-reunion-well-mostly-great/

Second, read the contracts more closely. If there is no grace period, move to another choice for hotels. Every hotel we have used in the past has been flexible. But maybe the game is changing now.

I sent an email out to the folks who attended and have been overwhelmed with the response. This is the part where I tell you about what true shipmates are.

When a shipmate sees you in trouble, they help.

I can’t tell you how humble I have been to receive calls, texts and emails from my shipmates. All have expressed words of thanks for taking on the burden of planning and executing the gatherings we have had. Most people don’t realize that it takes hundreds of hours of planning and dozens of phone calls. And you do that without any expectation of rewards other than the thanks of the participants if all goes well.

One of the best things was that Mike Sharp, a former skipper of the boat, went online and asked for people to help.

Mike and I never served together but he has been one of the most supportive (and generous) men that has routinely attended our gatherings.

I am exceptionally grateful to him and others who have stepped up to help Debbie and me. 

In the past few days, people like Dick Crowe, Gale Brown, Al Columbus and so many others have joined Mike in helping us meet the unexpected financial burden we have.

You can’t understand how much this has meant to us. Last year I had to do my third retirement because I am no longer able to work. So, this help has been beyond incredible.

That is what being a shipmate is all about.

Mister Mac