Atakapa Pigs
After we got out of the spy business and Lt. Fred Sears had relieved Lt. Cullipher, we didn't have
any diving or salvage gear as you well know, so about all we could do was to tow so they sent us
to Gitmo to tow targets. One weekend we were going to Jamaica for some well deserved liberty,
any liberty from Gitmo was well deserved. There were some divers stationed at Gitmo and they
were always looking for ways to get out so they ask us for a ride. The weekend went without
incident except that the divers had found, bought, stolen or otherwise procured two small pigs
and tried to bring them aboard for the trip back to Gitmo, but the sharp eye of Pete Boulais, the
XO, discovered the plot and no pigs were given transportation. We got back to Gitmo and no more
was said.
One afternoon the next week we decided to anchor and have a fishing party, all went well and
quite a few fish were caught and everyone had a good time until we tried to hoist anchor , it was
fouled and the windlass wouldn't pick it up, so the anchor and a shot of chain were buoyed off and
left on the bottom. We got hold of the divers and told them of our dilemma and went through the
formalities of the paperwork, but remember the above pig incident, so the divers decided on a little
revenge and leave our anchor as unsalavable, so we casreped the anchor and spent some time
with one anchor.
A couple weeks later we were again headed for Jamaica so I went over to the divers and told them
that I would get them a couple pigs for a 2500 pound anchor and a shot of chain, we agreed on the
terms, they get pigs, we get anchor. When we got to Jamaica the Chief Electrician and I got a cab
and went on a pig hunt, we found a couple and gave a farmer $5 for the two and put them in the
cab. When we got back to the ship we found one of the basket salespeople and bought a large
basket with a cover and loaded the pigs in the basket and went aboard without incident.
That night we got back to Gitmo and I called the divers to come and get their pigs before we got
caught with them, they came right away. The next day we towed targets and when we came in
there was a nicely sandblasted 2500 pound anchor and a shot of chain, as we looked at the anchor
we noticed the serial number was facing downward and not readable, but on turning it over we
found it had the same serial number as the one we lost. The anchor got a new coat of primer and
paint and a couple days later the chain was hooked up and the whole works hoisted aboard. One
problem, no one had thought to Cascor the anchor so when we got back to Little Creek another
2500 pound anchor and a shot of chain was on the pier, Things were straightened out and never a
word about the whole incident was ever spoken of again.
Some time later I was relieved as Engineering Officer and had orders to Great Lakes for shore
duty, so the going away party was held and some small gifts were given, From the Captain Sears
and his wife I received a small wicker basket containing two china pigs. I still have them as my
most prized keepsake of those days.
Tom Williams
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