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  “People, do exactly what Petty Officer Planck does.”

  He just stood to the side as Planck led the class. When he saw that a move needed adjusting, he walked up to Planck, raised a hand and went through the move himself, without speaking a word.

  Although dead tired, Planck continued leading the exercise, blanking his mind to his exhaustion and the heavy feeling in his arms, concentrating only on the task.

  When the class came to an end, Planck wanted to continue. His body didn’t, but his spirit did.

  Campo pulled Planck over to the side after the class.

  “You’re a leader, Petty Officer Planck. I hope you understand that.”

  Chapter 48

  “Captain, may I have a word with you?” said Karen Sobel, the Personnel Officer.

  “Come on up, Karen.”

  “You asked me to keep you up to date on something, and it’s been a few weeks. It’s about Simon Planck.”

  Oh shit, thought Ashley, he’s being bullied again. Ashley lowered her head and voice. “Tell me about it, Karen.”

  “It’s great news, Captain,” Sobel said, sensing that Ashley expected bad news. “He’s completed about fifteen of those martial arts classes, and the difference is dramatic. I swear the kid’s voice is deeper, he moves with a kind of pride, and he smiles a lot. He actually smiles. His work is perfect. His uniforms even seem to fit better.”

  Campo had told Ashley that Planck would be a different sailor in a matter of weeks, and he was right. The discipline of martial arts is a perfect tonic for this bully magnet.

  “If I may, Captain, in all my years in the Navy I’ve never seen a commanding officer take such an interest in a sailor in need. A month ago he was a sad sack. Now he’s got confidence, and it shows.”

  “Thanks, Karen. You have no idea how good that makes me feel.”

  Ashley told Sobel that she discovered something about herself in high school: she hated bullying. She had nothing but contempt for the Mean Girls, the in-crowd that rules the hallways by intimidating the girls who didn’t make the cut. One day after soccer practice, she noticed a teammate fixing a note on another girl’s locker. She looked at the note. It read, “Is ugliness and stupidity catching? If so, please stay away. Better yet, why not quit the team?” The girl whose locker the note was taped to was one of life’s wounded birds. Physically unattractive with a terrible case of teenage acne, the girl was a natural “bully magnet.” Ashley, the team captain, pulled the note off the door and ran after the girl who put it there. She considered saying, “Barbara, this really isn’t nice,” or “I really wish you wouldn’t do this.” Instead, Ashley focused her large brown eyes on Barbara the bully and said, “Precisely what the hell is this all about?” After that incident, Ashley took the wounded bird, Maureen O’Day, under her wing. She spent time helping her with her soccer plays and singled her out for praise whenever she made a good kick or pass. She then spoke to each of the Mean Girls individually and let it be known that Maureen O’Day is not to be fucked with.

  Ashley and Maureen remained friends over the years and correspond often. As Ashley’s Navy career progressed, Maureen O’Day’s career was also doing well. O’Day became a Senior Vice President at Microsoft. She also coaches girls’ soccer at her daughter’s high school.

  “She was lucky you were her team captain,” said Sobel, “and Simon Planck is lucky you’re his commanding officer.”

  Chapter 49

  It was 0800 on May 11, 1861. Lt. DeLouker addressed his team of 18 sailors who would be tasked to assemble the costume change for Operation Gray Ships. DeLouker dubbed them the Gray Ship Gang. LTJG Nancy Forsyth stood next to him. The ship was still anchored in Chesapeake Bay.

  “You guys have been busting ass for the last couple of weeks, and you’ve done a great job. That’s the good news,” DeLouker said. “The bad news is that the work isn’t over yet, but it will get easier. Lt. Forsyth here has done an amazing job of designing these structures, and part of that design makes for easy and fast assembly and break-down. Once we put together the two major fore and aft structures, the regular daily changes should be a snap. This morning we’ll assemble the two major structures. This afternoon we will go through our first time-drill on assembling the rest. Any questions?”

  The entire group of 18 began to assemble of the main “turret” towards the bow. DeLouker supervised, with Forsyth at his side for technical questions. Forsyth had labeled each piece of the structures in bright large lettering to make for quick assembly. By mid-morning the structure was complete and the water pipe “guns” were inserted into the holes provided. DeLouker was amazed at the precision that Forsyth had put into the design. The pipes slipped easily into the frame and were bolted down on the inside. The pipes were set at a 45-degree angle, mimicking the appearance of large guns. Each pipe section was 12 inches in diameter and 20 feet long. A 14-foot section of each pipe was visible beyond the structure.

  Captain Ashley looked down from the bridge, and called Nick Wartella. “Your people have done a great job, Nick. Those set designs look like the real thing even up close.”

  By 1230, the gang had completed the aft structure, along with its “guns.” DeLouker congratulated them and called a lunch break. He had prearranged with the mess hall that the Gray Ship Gang would go to the head of the line.

  After lunch, the Gray Ship Gang broke up into smaller units to work on the ship’s name plate, the changing number boards, and the banquet tables. Four sailors were assigned to the nameplate change on the stern, four to the number boards to be mounted on the superstructure, and eight were assigned to the banquet tables.

  The nameplate board was the most important. The team hoisted the first name change board into place, USS Hawaii. With two sailors holding the board with ropes, two others bolted the board in place with pneumatic drills. DeLouker had insisted on large bolts and washers to make the job easier and faster. DeLouker couldn’t believe his stop watch. The entire operation took only five minutes, and this was the first attempt.

  The change in the ship’s number took four minutes per board, including hoisting and bolting.

  All eight bright white banquet tables were lashed to the ship’s rails in six minutes.

  DeLouker assembled the entire Gray Ship Gang on deck. The time was 1415, 45 minutes after they returned from lunch. “I’m not going to bullshit you people. You did one out-fucking-standing job. Knock off for the rest of the day. Read, relax, watch movies. Whoever coined the old Navy phrase Can Do had you people in mind. Dismissed.”

  The USS Hawaii was ready for action.

  The Gray Ships Fleet was on the move.

  Chapter 50

  At 1700 the California (USS Hawaii for the time being) weighed anchor and headed for Wilmington, North Carolina. Captain Patterson had decided to begin their blockade duty there because there had been so many sightings of the Gray Ship, and now she would give the rebels a real eye-full.

  The California arrived in the waters off Wilmington at 0700 on May 12, 1861 shortly after sunrise. As if announced, they spotted a long fast-moving vessel headed toward Charleston Harbor, a classic blockade runner. The ship appeared to be unarmed or at least very light on offensive guns. She was about a half mile southeast of the California’s position, on a course that would bring her within 300 yards of the California’s bow.

  Captain Patterson ordered General Quarters. The long shrill sound of the boatswain’s pipe was followed by, “General quarters, general quarters, all hands man your battle stations.”

  As the blockade runner was about 500 yards from the California, the Captain ordered a warning shot across her bow from one of the five-inch guns. The blockade runner slowed and began to turn. Seeing the California and hearing the sound of her guns must have been terrifying, Ashley thought. They could see her name, the CSS Advance.

  The California’s Rules of Engagement were to open fire on a vessel only when threatened. The objective, in the strange rules of Operation Gray Ships, was to be see
n. Captain Patterson ordered the ship to steer a course that would take it within easy observation distance of the blockade runner. She passed within 100 yards of the vessel and then turned sharply to starboard so that her stern and the name, USS Hawaii, could be clearly visible. This maneuver would become known among the crew as the Gray Ship Moon.

  Aboard the Advance, the captain ordered anyone not otherwise engaged to write down their observations. One of his crew was a skilled artist who sketched what he saw. He had a clear view of her name, her number “78,” and her gigantic guns.

  Captain Patterson ordered the California to head in the opposite direction, contrary to the instincts of any fighting captain, but entirely in keeping with the objective of Operation Gray Ships.

  The Advance arrived in Charleston Harbor about an hour later. What her crew had seen became the talk of the waterfront.

  ***

  The headline of The Anderson Intelligencer from Anderson Court House, South Carolina shouted:

  “New Gray Ship Sighted – USS Hawaii”

  May 12, 1861, by John Fergus

  Another gigantic Gray Ship was sighted yesterday while attacking the CSS Advance. The name of the ship is the USS Hawaii, bearing the number “78” on her superstructure. It is similar in appearance to the USS California, which was seen a few weeks ago, but it had massive guns and other structures that couldn’t be identified. Large circular objects along the ship’s rails could be seen, six on each side. Their use is unknown. The Advance did not suffer any damage and the Hawaii broke off the engagement. Robert Mason, the Captain of the Advance said, “I have never seen guns so large, nor have I ever seen a ship so fast.”

  Chapter 51

  The California, under a different name every 24 hours, cruised the coast of North Carolina for the next month, punctuated by two trips back to Washington to communicate with the Union command and to take on supplies.

  Depending on the day, the ship would be known as the USS California, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.

  The ship’s actions were becoming almost routine. They would spot a Confederate vessel, fire a warning shot, and then pull a Gray Ship Moon, showing the crews of the rebel ships a new name every day. During any close encounter with a Southern ship, Captain Patterson ordered that general quarters be sounded, and all hands would man their battle station. This was standard naval doctrine: if there is a possibility of hostile action, battle stations must be manned. It also served a practical purpose: to relieve monotony and keep up morale.

  By June 1, the California had interdicted 36 blockade runners, forcing them to change course away from Wilmington. Not one vessel had fired on the California. Apparently the very sight of one of the Gray Ships was enough to convince a captain to retreat and wait for another day.

  On June 2 the California set a course for the mouth of the Potomac for a visit to Washington. The Captain ordered Campbell and Jack Thurber to visit the Navy Department. She wanted Jack Thurber to assess the results, if any, of his leaked newspaper articles.

  They arrived at the Navy Department at 1100. Campbell and Thurber didn’t expect to meet with Secretary Wells, but he ushered them in as soon as they arrived. Wells thirsted for information and also was bursting to tell them some good news.

  “Have a seat, gentlemen,” said Wells. Campbell gave Wells a summary of their encounters in the waters off Wilmington – 36 ships interdicted, 36 turned around. No hostile fire from any Confederate ship. He also discussed the daily costume and name changes, and the ship’s maneuvers to make sure the name was visible. He didn’t mention that the maneuver had become known as the Gray Ship Moon.

  “Here are the results from our intelligence reports,” said Wells. “Ship visits to Wilmington have decreased 95 percent in the last two weeks, the two weeks that the California, under her various names, has been on duty. It seems that the very threat that the Gray Ships pose has dramatically altered commerce to that one city alone. As vessels divert to other ports they are attacked by our ships. In two weeks the California has proven to be the most important part of the blockade. Operation Gray Ships is performing splendidly.”

  “Sir, have you been able to assess whether my newspaper articles have had any impact?” asked Jack.

  “Impact, my dear Lieutenant, does not accurately describe what your articles have accomplished.”

  Wells walked across the room and retrieved a bundle of newspapers from all over the South. He plopped them down on the table in front of Jack.

  “Just look at a few of these headlines.”

  “USS New Jersey is the Latest Gray Ship to Attack Southern Shipping” The Macon Telegraph

  “USS Pennsylvania Seen Cruising Near Wilmington, North Carolina” The Weekly Raleigh Register

  “USS Oregon — The Latest Gray Ship to Join the Northern Fleet” The Southern Illustrated News

  “USS Maryland Fires Guns at British Supply Ship” The Daily Richmond Examiner

  “Read some of the details, gentlemen,” Wells said. Jack read, in some cases word for word, what he had written for Northern newspapers. It seemed that he had become a one-man wire service for newspapers all over the South. “I don’t know if I should be flattered or angry that they’re stealing my words,” said Jack with a laugh.

  “Be neither flattered nor angry, Lieutenant. Be proud that your work is having an enormous impact on our war effort.”

  “I noticed one upsetting article from the Macon Telegraph,” said Campbell. “It says here that we fired on a civilian picnic, killing dozens of people. That is simply not true. We’ve never fired on the shore. We haven’t even fired directly at a ship.”

  “Commander," said Wells, "truth and war make strange bedfellows.”

  ***

  “Sir,” said Campbell, “we weren’t’ expecting to meet with you today. If we were, I’m sure Captain Patterson would have come along.”

  “Not a problem at all, Commander. I realize that I surprised you. I just wanted to hear the information myself first hand. Please convey to the captain that the California should cruise off Norfolk, Virginia for the next two weeks. It’s less than 200 miles from here, so it will be easy to return if need be.”

  “Before you leave we should discuss one more thing,” said Wells. “Let me ask you a blunt question, Commander. Do you expect hostile fire?”

  “Yes sir, I do. Captain Patterson has discussed this with all department heads as well. It’s inevitable that some overly enthusiastic ship captain, we would call him ‘trigger happy,’ will open fire on us. Whenever we engage a vessel, we are at battle stations, and all gun and missile batteries are ready to respond.”

  “When I toured the California, “said Wells, “you told me about your Harpoon Anti Ship missiles.”

  This guy’s got a great memory, Campbell thought.

  “Yes sir. Our Harpoon batteries are ready to fire on command.”

  “Don’t hesitate to use them, Commander.”

  Chapter 52

  When they returned aboard the California, Campbell and Thurber briefed the Captain on their meeting with Wells.

  “I hope he wasn’t insulted that I didn’t join you,” Ashley said.

  “Not at all, Captain. His meeting with us was a surprise.”

  “Our Rules of Engagement have been changed,” Campbell said. “Secretary Wells remembered our weapons from his tour. He said that if we’re fired upon that we shouldn’t hesitate to use our Harpoon anti-ship missiles.”

  ***

  The California steamed off Norfolk on June 3, disguised for that day as the USS Colorado. At 1100 hours the Officer of the Deck reported to Captain Patterson that a large combatant vessel was three miles off the California’s starboard side and closing on her position. Through his high powered binoculars the OOD could see that the ship carried eight large guns on each side. He estimated the ship’s length to
be 200 feet. She was under sail, but he could see that she was designed for steam as well. Also, four merchant vessels were within sight.

  The OOD contacted the Captain, who ordered him to sound General Quarters, sending the crew to their battle stations.

  Ashley put on her helmet and flak jacket and went to the bridge, her battle station.

  As the Confederate ship came within 500 yards of the California, it fired a volley of eight cannon shells. The shells hit the water 100 feet off the California’s port bow.

  Each of the California’s missile and gun batteries had a number. Battery five was the Harpoon anti-ship missile battery.

  Ashley pressed the talk button on her headset.

  “This is Captain Patterson. Battery Five fire one.” The Harpoon missile is 15 feet in length, weighs 1,140 pounds and carries a 490-pound warhead of penetrating explosives. It is guided to its target by active radar signal.

  The missile struck the Confederate warship in the middle of her hull and exploded inside the ship, sending a fist of smoke and fire 100 feet into the air. The ship visibly cracked in half as the blast lifted it out of the water. The aft section sank immediately. The bow section bobbed at the surface for 15 seconds before it sank.

  Captain Patterson ordered the California/Colorado to close on the ship’s final position to look for survivors. They found two sailors clinging to wreckage. The Captain eased the ship next to them and a ladder was lowered over the side. Neither man was seriously hurt because they were fortunate enough to be standing behind an iron bulkhead when the Harpoon hit. When asked, they said that their ship was the CSS Chattanooga. They were brought to sick bay for a medical exam and given clean fatigues to wear. They were then escorted to the Captain’s office.

  Both men were still visibly frightened. They were also amazed that the Captain of the ship was not only a woman but a colored woman. Ashley ordered coffee and sandwiches and told them to have a seat.