The weekend of October 24-25 2003, 22 NJROTC cadets departed on a field trip to the USS Yorktown for a weekend of community service aboard ship. Little did they know what would take place there. As one of the conditions for staing aboard free, the cadets were required to do a fire watch that night on the ship. The following are actual excerpts from the male watchbook. This is what happens when Naval Cadets are asked to defend a ship against any activity that may occur. God Bless the corps! Uh-Rah!!.
0226-Cadet/Lieutenant Shneider reports large rat.
0227-C/LT Shneider takes it upon him self to chase rat.
0228-C/LT is seriously wounded when he runs into low hanging pipe chasing rat. The rat escapes...for the moment.
0229-C/LT Marcell revives LT Shneider.
0230-C/LT Marcell reports same rat has come back to taunt cadets.
0232-C/Master Chief Petty Officer Anderson zaps rat with magically produced ray gun.
0232-C/Chief Petty Officer Walters eats rat, remarks that it needs bar-b-q sauce.
0233-0300-C/LT Shneider reports no activity.
0300-C/Lieutenant Junior Grade Roberts takes over as watch commander.
0301-C/LT Shneider is relieved of duty as watch commander.
0302-0345-C/LTjg Roberts reports no activity.
0346-C/LTjg Roberts reports seeing extreamly large rat in sight of watch Command Post. Rat exclaims that he is the son of the rat that the MCPO murdered, and is there for revenge......All Cadets sit in astonishment because rat is speaking to them.
0347- Vicious onslaught of rat hordes commences against the small force of the watch bill.
0348- With mounting viciousness the rat hordes launches an incredible offensive against the watch desk.
0359- After a long and arduous battle against the rat fiends, the homefront pushes them back.
0400-In the abscence of his assistant watchmen, C/LTjg Roberts is the only cadet there to defend the desk as another wave of rats attack. He is slightly wounded but manages to repeal the offensive. (note** he is later awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for his heroic deeds**)
0430-C/LTjg Roberts begins second tour of duty despite wounds suffered in action.
0430-0440-C/LTjg Roberts nothing. monotany sets in.
0441-C/LTjg Roberts in a dillusional state from lack of combat and infection from his wounds, fires on his on assistant watchmen. None are injured.
0447-C/LTjg Roberts observes rat scout leaving ship with leader of rat army. It is this officer's personal opinion that due to the courageousness of the ships enlisted and officer personale that the USS Yorktown was not overrun.
0450-C/LTjg Roberts reports: an unnerving calm has settled over the battlefield....I mean hangar deck. No sign of anymore rat scouts. This is something in our favor. Ammunition-low, Supplies-Low, Morale....questionable. Possible that some of the crew may have sided with enemy rat army. This officer requests further inspection into the matter, and court martials and executions are recommnded for those found guilty.
0459-C/LTjg Roberts is relieved of duty as watch commander.
0500-C/Lieutenant Commander Lee assumes command of watch.
0800-Cadet Tribunal is held, C/LTjg Roberts is discharged from the cadet corps on a medical discharge. Section 8.
(Note** no government property or naval cadets were harmed in the making of this watch bill**)
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