|
|
|
Ken Grooms's NavyA story for the USS Yancey |
|
U.S.S. YANCEY AKA-93
Ken Grooms's Navy
A story for the USS Yancey
If you don't see the Index to the Left, click here
When I was a young boy, traveling by train, I noticed the elegance of pay toilets in train stations. I couldn't help but notice the differences in what I had been used to. The marble walls, floors and the wide doors were something to behold that provided extra room, comfort and privacy. The price was only 10 cents but too expensive considering the income of my paper route.
Years went by until I was in boot camp where the toilets didn't provide the privacy, but were modern and lined up in rows. After boot camp I was transferred to the Yancey. It was there that I noticed how clever the engineering design of the enlisted men's toilets was. The designers made the maximum use of resources at hand. The essential element of these Heads (toilets) was a long trough which was sized in proportion to the number of sailors in a given compartment. In the 1st division this trough was about 10 feet long accommodating 4, maybe 5 sailors at a time.
The flushing water was controlled by a large hand operated valve on one end providing a continuous stream of fresh sea water. On the other end was a large drain at the bottom of the trough. The valve control was useful when at sea. With the pitching and rolling of the ship the ride in the first division was like being on an elevator with a rolling motion superimposed. For individual seating, two boards were installed perpendicular to the trough's longitudinal axis. They were shaped according to a Military Specification standardizing the average posterior. Basic black was the color of these hoards - they matched the spit shine of our dress shoes. The boards were held in place by pins which were welded to the trough's edges. These pins were mated to holes in the bottom of the boards. For individual safety, it was wise to find a location where the pins were not missing. The spacing of the boards was optimized to invite a conversation and exchange of ideas to he held with your stall-mate.
If the stalls were all occupied, one could wad up some tissue paper, set it on fire, toss it into the water then regulate the inlet valve to a flow rate that was sufficient in getting someone to leave his stall. Performing this operation was a matter of skill. The whole design was really an engineering marvel which probably qualified for some award. I doubt if government buildings of the time could match the thought given to the functionality of the Yancey's Head.
Once ashore in Japan, it was difficult to find restrooms except maybe in bars. When I was in Sasebo, Japan I "found the need" once. This was to be my first encounter with a Japanese style Toilet in the early 50's. It consisted of a porcelain slot in the floor, sort of like a horizontal urinal. The idea was to get in the right position (like a squat) of balance to use it, which I did. It was then I discovered that an attendant must have forgot to restock with toilet paper. Just in time inventory was not popular at that time/place. Years later I found out that Japan is a B.Y.O.T.P. country. Being resourceful, I looked into my wallet and made a quick calculation of what it would cost me if I used a 10 Yen note. At the rate of 360 Yen per dollar, this was a bargain. But since the 10 Yen note was not large in physical size, I had to dip into my wallet further. By the time I was through, I had spent 220 Yen. I could have had several beers at that price. That was about as expensive as I could afford on a seaman's pay.
It taught me a lesson! I had not made maximum use of my Boy Scout training of being prepared. I never went on another liberty after that episode without giving forethought to the potential of this happening again!
Ken Groom
Kent, WA
8/15/03
Submitted 2/10/07
To write this Shipmate, write Admin
and ask to have this person's Email.
be sent to you.
Return
