As Captain's Yeoman, I often had to seek this Signature.
I hadn't seen this signature in over 36 years until my shipmate, QM3 Dennis Milliken sent me a copy of his
Advancement in Rate Certificate, on which was this familiar signature.. and it brought back an instant rush of
emotions!
I actually admired Capt. Harris' signature, and tried to make
my own appear as good. Capt. Harris had unusually fine penmanship, and, as you see here, a fine hand with the pen.
Hannah's Commanding Officers
This old Hancock Sailor still hears calls over the old familiar
1MC...
"Liberty call, Liberty
call..."
"Taps, taps now lights
out. Maintain silence about the decks. The smoking lamp is out. Now taps."
"Now reveille, reveille.
All hands heave out and thrice up. The smoking lamp is lit in all berthing spaces. Now Reveille, Reveille!"
"Sweepers man your
brooms; clean sweep down, fore and aft.. take all trash and garbage to the fantail..."
"Now hear this, now
hear this... all hands muster for Quarters on the Hangar Deck!"
"Now set the Special
Sea and Anchor Detail..the Officer of the Deck has changed his watch from the hanger bay to the Bridge...prepare
for getting underway...
"Single up all lines... Haze Gray and Underway... nite lads!"
"Now relieve the watch..."
"General Quarters,
General Quarters, all hands man your battle stations... now set condition Zebra!"
"Now Flight Quarters,
Flight Quarters, all hands man your Flight Quarters Stations.. now set Condition Red, Darken Ship, Darken Ship..."
"Now hear this, now
here this, secure from General Quarters... now set condition Yoke...
"... man overboard,
man overboard! This is not a drill!"
"Now hear this, now
hear this, all hands stand clear of all weather decks, hatchways and catwalks due to high winds and heavy seas..."
"Now lay before the
mast..all 8 o'clock reports".