Shipmates if this Story isn't one for the Serendipity Pages, I don't know of one!! 
As I had stated on the Serendipity Intro Page, we who served in the USS Hancock brought with us all our many different facets of who we were before we enlisted. Lifestyles, thoughts, actions, some good, some not-so-good.
Music was often heard in the compartments after work hours, or when they secured from Flight Quarters. All kinds of music, from someone listening to the Pop music of the time on a record player carried aboard, or on a tape recorder. I, myself had purchased quite an elaborate Tape recorder in the Base PX at Yokosuka, Japan in 1963. An Akai 4 Track Stereo, the 'cutting edge' of audio equipment of the time, and that same machine lasted me over 30 years! So much for Japanese technology!
Other sounds echoed down the passageways; even a 4 part Quartet could be heard in the Ship's Library, where the Chaplain had his office. From Religious music to secular; The TV could be heard in the Crew's Lounge...
But in all my days, and probably your's as well, except, for the Photo Lab, you would never hear the haunting melodies that came from the Bag Pipes. Here is proof that even at least one of us could blow out a Scottish Tune on the Pipes..
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You can see Jerald White here, with his Bag Pipes. The guys here are smiling, not only because they were getting their picture taken, which we wanted to share with the world (thanks Rich!
Now, I for one, love the haunting sounds of the Ancient Bag Pipes, but I am also quite sure that most others find the sound very annoying. The Jury is out... how do you feel about them? Anyway... the fact that at least one lonely sailor had the guts to bring the Bag Pipes aboard, shows all of the rest of us, how deep the bravery and intrepidity runs in all Hancock Shipmates!!!
Do I have any one here, who would disagree with me on that one? Send Jake and Rich Email if you do or do not.
Thanks Rich for sending in this photo, and mostly, the Thanks go out to Jerald White for being so Brave... Ah, yes... Scotland the Brave and her Brave Sons!
I wonder if you ended up with many pals or were a loner on ship?
Now you know why 'Old Salts' wish you "Fair Winds" because a good Piper has to have lots of Wind, and they be 'Fair, matie!"
Fair Winds and Following Seas, to you, Jerald White and Rich Kirsch, for sharing this bit of Hancock Serendipity with the rest of us!!!
Visit Rich Kirsch's Extended Middle Years Gallery for more great photos by him and his Photo Crew Pals.
Submitted Tuesday, May 7, 2002, 6:27:54
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