One Tough Torpedoman

Since 07-01-04

From Submarine Humor http://www.geocities.com/Pentagon/3392/humor.html

Stories about the level torpedoman's smarts are common, also a shared trait for stoicism.

We were on an op when one of the forward  torpedo room types came up with an abcessed front tooth. With in a couple of hours his head blew up like a pumpkin, eyes swollen almost shut.

Doc said he had to lance his tooth below the gum line, and as the infection was above he neck, he could not use any of the pain killers aboard.

After sterilizing a quarter inch bit, Doc had the kid hold his upper lip open, while two of us held the TM3's arms and shoulders. Doc drilled until a gusher of pus blew out of his front gum.

The torpedoman never flinched. Some of us onlookers didn't feel so hot tho.