On board USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN (CVN 72)

Since 04-06-03

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/114666_wmoment28.shtml

Friday, March 28, 2003

On board USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN  with ... boatswain's mate David Slodysko

By M.L. LYKE
SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER REPORTER

Boatswain's Mate David Slodysko is the boatswain's crossed anchors and Neptune, is the honor's boatswain who piped Vice Adm. Timothy Keating aboard the Lincoln recently.
 
  Boatswain's Mate David Slodysko, 25, from Shamokin, Pa. The tradition of pipe "calls" is alive and well aboard the Lincoln.

  The tradition of pipe "calls" -- whistled orders and commands -- dates to ancient traditions of sailing. Some ships are phasing the practice out. Not the Lincoln. The calls chirp and screech through ship's speakers day and night. The boatswains blowing them still wear traditional black lanyards, handmade, and carry marlinespikes for splicing steel lines.

Slodysko, 25, from Shamokin, Pa., has a tattoo of the boatswain's crossed anchors -- along with images of a sailing ship, a sexy mermaid and Neptune.

ON THE TONES: It's just like blowing a regular whistle. You change the pitch by covering it with your hand. The three main pitches are open hand, closed hand, clenched hand. Then you can do a trill by rolling the tongue.

ON INDIVIDUAL STYLES: Everyone has to find his or her own way of blowing. If you blow too much, it can sound airy and wispy. If you blow too little, it won't be as clear as it should be.

ON HIS PIPE: It's sterling silver, about 6 inches long. It was passed down from his father, a retired senior chief boatswain's mate. He was in the Navy 22 years.

ON THE CALLS: "Attention, sweepers" (all hands get out and sweep areas). "Reveille" (the wake-up call). "Pipe secure" (to signal an operation or drill is over). "Call to mess" (chow time). "Tattoo" (five minutes before taps). "Pipe the sides" (signifies someone of importance is coming aboard or leaving the vessel).

ON THE 0600 REVEILLE: Everyone knows reveille, and everyone hates reveille. We used to have a captain here who, before you did reveille, you had to call him and wake him up first.
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Submitted,
YNCS Don Harribine, USN(Ret)
NCPOA