CH 221
"Two dads where are you going, this isn't the way to the rest home"
"I know, we going to the RSL"
"what why there"
"More room, it seams that word got around the RSL about you and you visiting the rest home, so when RSL members started showing up at the rest home there was no room so they decided to hold today event at the RSL. You got quiet a fan club bird"
"Very funny two dads" then she turn to Ryan
"what am I going to say"
"Be your self, I'll be with you" Ryan said holding onto her hand
"i know"
when they reach the RSL and two dads park the van they all got out and follow two dads in side when an elderly man walk over to them
"Able seamen bird, I'm John Hook president of the RSL, it an honor to meet you"
"you to sir" they shook hands
"Mr Hooks this is my fiancee midshipmen Ryan white, leader Robert Dixon...RO we call him we serve together on Hammersley, his fiancee able seamen Amy Thorpe and there daughter Grace. Able seamen Billy Webb...spider formal crew member of Hammersley, his fiancee Terri white who is also Ryan twin sister and there twins William and Sarah"
"It nice to meet you all" he said as he shook there hands.
"Mr Hook do you remember Donald Murphy?"
"Yes I do remember him, in fact follow me since we still got a few minutes"
They walk to double doors and through them which lead them into a bar restaurant area then they follow My hooks to a wall where it got photos of all the presidents of the RSL and how long they serve as presidents. Jess walk along till she saw the photo of Donald Murphy and the date on how long he was the president for.
"twenty five years" Ryan said
"Yes he was the longest serving president in RSL history, how do you know him ma'am" Mr hooks asked bird.
She turn to him "He my great grand father sir" Mr hooks look at bird in shock
"your great grand father"
"Yes sir, my mother maiden name is Murphy sir"
"Well I be dam. You are a true hero just like Donald"
"thank you sir"
"He would be very proud of you"
"Yes sir I know" He look at his watch
"come on it time, I hope your not nervous"
"I am, but with Ryan with me, I'll be fine"
they walk out the way they came then down to another room where they could here voices coming from the other side of the double doors.
"Ladies would you kindly follow this gentlemen in, there are seats reserve for you"
"thank you sir" Amy said then Amy and Terri follow the main into the room since they got the strollers with them.
Then they waited for a minute then they walk into the room they were shock to see the whole Hammersley crew there in there uniform Mike wiggle his finger at them so they walk over to him
"sir what going on" Bird said
"We are here to support you, get in formation, Ryan you behind the X" They they move to where they suppose to be like when they are on docks.
"Ladies and gentle men" Mr Hook said in the microphone which cause every one to go quiet
"thank you for coming here this afternoon. Today it an honor to have with us... late Donald Murphy great grand daughter Able seamen Jessica bird and the crew and formal crew members of the HMAS Hammersley. They are here to share some adventurers stories including taking down a boat load of toxin water and the disabling of the dirty bomb off Cairns last year which result four arms forces personal receiving the second highest metal the cross of valour. Three of those hero's are here today. Ladies and gentlemen I present you the crew of the HMAS Hammersley" then he gave the nod just as every one clap.
"Hammersley up" every on turn to see the crew in there uniforms
"About face" they turn till they were turning one way
"Match" Mike said
They all heard then every one watch as the Hammersley crew mach down the middle of the isle then they split apart to go to the steps to the stage. Then they march up the stage from both sides and along the stage where the seats were set up till they stop
"Hammersley about face" They all turn facing every one
"Hammersley at easy" Mike said.
Then they all turn to pick up there microphones before sitting down as they took there hats off, except for mike
"Ladies and gentlemen it is an honor being here today. I'm commander Mike Flynn, formal captain of the HMAS Hammersley and now second in commander at Cairns NAVCOM. My crew will interduce them selves" then he sat down and took his hat off just as Kate stood up
"I'm lieutenant commander Kate McGregor, captain Of HMAS Hammersley and wife of commander Flynn"
Then she sat down then the XO stood up and interduce him self then the next then the next. When every one interduce them selves mike stood up once again.
"In this box is questions that you all ask to write down, we hope we can answer them for you." then he put his hand in the box and pull out a folded piece of paper, he unfolded it
"It a question for bird" he turn to her
"what is it like severing on Hammersley and what are the crew like" Bird smile as mike sat down
"what is it like for me serving on Hammersley, I love it. I love the closeness that the crew have got for each other, the friendliness, the loyalty, the trust we have for each other knowing that if we on shore leave in a foreign port or boarding a FFV or attending a may day, we always there to back each other up...and we sport each other when one or two are going through a ruff time, they know that the crew are there for them an ear to listen to or a shoulder to cry on. We more than crew members, we are a family" the crew nodded in agreement
"As for the second question about what the crew are like, well I did answer that question we are a family" She said smiling. Then mike pull out second piece of paper
"Bird has any one play any jokes on you" the crew laugh including bird
"Yes...two dads" she said looking at him then back to every one
"First day I step on Hammersley, I was nervous and happy at the same time. Captain show me to my cabin where I was getting my bags sorted out and getting change when I notice some thing in my bed, I pull back the covers to see a snake... rubber snake in my bed. So I took it out and put it in my draw till I can find it owner. When I found out that night it was two dads, I had to give it back to him. And I did... on new years eve" the crew trying not to laugh
"Two dads and I were on the night shift. I left to bridge for go to use the head... loo. Then after wards I went and got the snake and return back to the bridge when two dads got on the PA system to wake every one up to let them know it was few seconds to midnight. When he counted down... he never reach one cause at the time I drop the snake over his shoulder and onto his lap. He scream as he drop his drink on to his lap as he jump out of the captain chair. When he turn around to me I had the microphone in my hand and said...Happy new year every one as for two dads he gone to change his pants since it looks like he wet him self when he spill last of his coffee down his front, night all" Every one laugh
"As for the rubber snake it was frozen, cause it put it in the freezer the day before hand" then she share couple more jokes which had every one laughing.
Over the next two and a half hours bird and some of the crew share different stories which had every on laughing. They talk about the toxin water, the dirty bomb, the crates of weapons that was stolen from the army.
"As Captain Steve Marshall say to me and my crew... that navy... naming Hammersley crew... have save the army bacon once again" Mike said Every one laugh
"the reason why he said that cause Hammersley crew has found and recovered the stolen army weapons..." he turn to Kate
"Eight times in five year" Kate said
"the army feels embarrass that the navy has found and recovered there stolen weapons" Mike said
They talk for a few more minutes when Mr Hook walk up on stage. "I know you all want to hear more from the Hammersley crew. But you can talk to them while enjoying a cup of tea or coffee in the next room, plus refreshments have also been provided. Before you leave" he turn to the crew
"I would like the thank the Hammersley crew including formal crew members who were able to make it here today. Thank you for sharing your adventures on Hammersley. Most of them was very entertaining. Able seamen bird any thing you want to share before leaving"
"Yes sir there is" He gave her a nod.
Then mike got her attention so she stood up and walk over to him they talk for a few seconds then return back to her seat.
"First of all thank you every one for being here. I know that most of you serve in the arms forces when you were my age. I know you all got a story or two to share with all of us... Commander Flynn just shared with me some information which I already knew about...sorry sir" mike gave her a nod
"that is in the past forty five years the HMAS Hammersley hasn't lost one crew member while serving on the old and new ship to date. Cause Hammersley crew are the best in the navy and we know that Hammersley icon... Thor is protecting us where ever we go and... I know most of you know my family and have met them. As most of you know that my...parents, brothers and sister thinks that the personal in the arms forces are losers, that I'm a loser... That was until two dads came up with a plan and with the rest of the crew and the navy cadets at the academy help. They say that the arms forces especially the navy are losers and that we just sit on our back side all day and do nothing. It not only hurt me with with they were saying but to every personal in the arms forces past members like you all and the ones today... Two dads got the cadets to give my parents, brothers and sister a free shower. Over four hundred cadets throw buckets of bubble bath water over them and fifty throw cold water of them cause of there bad body odder. It didn't work, but two dads handed me sissies... I fort each of my family one by one. I decided to teach them a lesson that I and personal in the arms forces aren't losers... every time they swear at me I cut a chunk of there hair. They didn't like it at all but I did it for the personal in the arms forces as well for my self. I told them that they are the losers, I know I shouldn't but I was giving them a taste of there own medicine so they would know what it like being the loser. I told them to clean up there act and get a job since my father been on a benefit for over two years and the rest of the family since they left school. One of the reasons why I join the navy cause of the stories my late great grand father use to tell me when ever I visit him and the stories and the others shared it was amazing and seeing the ships in port, it me it sounds like adventure, meeting new people, helping them, making friends with crew. It was some thing that was missing in my life...friends... family and Hammersley crew is that. More than my own parents, brothers and sister will ever be. If you got young grand children, great grand children, share your stories with them... if and when they ask you one day like I did...grand dad what is it like being in the navy... or air force or army... share with them knowing that one day they might join them like I join the navy. And if you can tell they are having problems at home or at school talk to them and give them the best advice as you can and give them some thing to think about. On behalf of the Hammersley crew thank you for listening to our adventures, jokes, pranks that happens while on board and while on shore leave. Thank you" Bird said
"Ah I got some thing to share" Two dads said as he stood up
"This would take a few minutes and it already set up. These are photos that was taken from Hammersley crew over the past few years"
two dads gave a nod then he sat down just the curtians closed and lights turn off as the first picture appeared on the screen it was photo of the old Hammersley. Then it show some of the crew members and what happen to them. When Hammersley crew member saw some of the photos they laugh then there was one photo of ET holding a fish close to buffer face
"Oh buffer kiss me" ET said
"ET I got stranded" buffer said making every one laugh.
Then there was other photos which some of the crew said some thing about it. There there was two in one of ET and spider with red hair
"May day, may day, may day this is red velvet" RO said making every one laugh.
Then there was one where Danielle pinch two dads check and next photo of them kissing. The crew sang first part of Daniel song. Which made every one laugh. They saw number of different funny photos taken from different crew members and the comments from different crew members about the photos including photos of bird family when they showed up out side the academy.
Every one could see there greasy hair and the way Cheryl was dress. Then it show the cadets throwing buckets of water on them and the shock look on the family faces. Then he show bird on top of Fred cutting his hair, then it show the back of his head when he got up. Then it show what happen to each of the family members hair.
Then when it stop it show recording of Jessica fighting all of her family at once and what she said to them and what the cadet said to bird and the Hammersley crew. Then it show Bird and Ryan kissing then it stop and the light turn back on.
"Two dads thank you for share with every one photos and recording on what happen to Jessica Bird family." Mr Hook Said then he turn to Jessica
"Jessica thank you for giving every one here advice, I'm sure they will take it to heart and what you share with us today about your family, that took a lot of courage and I can tell you got crew members, your friends and fiancee support" Bird smile and nodded the he gave mike a nod Mike stood up and put the microphone on his seat then the others did as well
"Hammersley up" mike said They stood at attention then they all saluted every one there.
"About face" they turn so they saw the person in front of them there back
"Match" then they march off the stage as every one stood up and clap as Hammersley match down the isle and out the double doors. Then they stop
"about face" they turn one direction.
"Diss miss" mike said then they relax as people walk out of the room and over to them.
They crew and every one manage to walk into the next room where they help them selves to a drink and some thing to eat while talking to some of the people there.