This has popped into my head a few times recently, time to share it perhaps?
I graduated from a Merchant Marine acedmy in the mid 70's, although it was/is an accreditted 4yr college, the reality is it was a trade school that did a wonderful job of training us for a career at sea. It was a military enviorment, Coast Guard boot camp was a walk in the park in comparison. Enrollment was around 500, I started in a class of about 180 souls and graduated w/about 85. By and large we were there to get a USCG License as either an engineering or deck officer aboard ship.
One of the phys ed instructors was tough as nails, also was the football coach. In addition to a masters degree in phys ed he had some form of military background, his commands and orders rivalled any drill instructor. My interaction was minimal w/him, a couple freshman PE classes, until my senior year. I had an easy schedule so signed up for SCUBA class.
Coach was the instructor, he was tough, beat the living #$!* out of us in the pool twice a wk for the semester. Example, a student sat on the bottom of the pool w/gear on, the Coach and several assistants turned to on him turning off the regulator, ripping it from mouth, tying it in a knot, face mask off …… In the end student ends up w/tank off, regulator disconnected, suckling from the cracked valve on the tank. We knew our gear when the course was over. Quals were 4 open water dives in March, there was still some ice.
Over the years I did small diving jobs in the local harbors for fishermen and the harbormasters, nothing heavy duty. Several times I got into minor "situations", once got tangled up in monofiliment gill net. A bit frightening initially as it's invisable and I found myself restricted in movement. Anyway, the training was there, had plenty of air, just deal w/situation. Always thinking back to the Coach and thanking him for his work.
About 5yrs after graduation I was on the same little freighter w/a classmate, Dale. We were down in Brazil stopping in little hole in the wall ports, it was heaven. Dale and I were at a beach one day, very few people, it was beautiful National Geographic like. We were BS'ing when 3 little girls in the water caught our attention. They were caught in an undertow. We responded, oldest was about 8yrs could fend for herself so Dale grabbed the middle one and I got the youngest and got them ashore. A couple people came out in the shallows to help, there was a language barrier so lots of smiling, hand shaking and waving. Dale had had the Coach's class also, we both agreed that his training made the difference.
I do apologize for this being long winded.
I retired a few years back after 35yrs on ships. A couple years ago my alumni news had an obituary for the Coach's wife. She was a nice lady, ran the chorus. On impulse I got the Coach's phone #, still lived in the same place, and called him. He's probably in his mid 80's.
I introduced myself and explained our connection, he didn't remember of course. He'd trained hundreds. I expressed my sympathy for his loss, we chatted a bit then the conversation was winding down. I just kind of blurted out "You need to know there are 3 little girls in Brazil that lived because of you."
Natuarally he hadn't a clue so I explained what went on and that both Dale and I agreed his training allowed us to deal w/the situation. He did remember Dale, he'd been a star football player.
We chatted a bit more, I was a bit misty, he was too. He thanked me for giving him a wonderful gift at a tough time in his life. I'm the one who got the gift. Thanks Coach, Kevin
I graduated from a Merchant Marine acedmy in the mid 70's, although it was/is an accreditted 4yr college, the reality is it was a trade school that did a wonderful job of training us for a career at sea. It was a military enviorment, Coast Guard boot camp was a walk in the park in comparison. Enrollment was around 500, I started in a class of about 180 souls and graduated w/about 85. By and large we were there to get a USCG License as either an engineering or deck officer aboard ship.
One of the phys ed instructors was tough as nails, also was the football coach. In addition to a masters degree in phys ed he had some form of military background, his commands and orders rivalled any drill instructor. My interaction was minimal w/him, a couple freshman PE classes, until my senior year. I had an easy schedule so signed up for SCUBA class.
Coach was the instructor, he was tough, beat the living #$!* out of us in the pool twice a wk for the semester. Example, a student sat on the bottom of the pool w/gear on, the Coach and several assistants turned to on him turning off the regulator, ripping it from mouth, tying it in a knot, face mask off …… In the end student ends up w/tank off, regulator disconnected, suckling from the cracked valve on the tank. We knew our gear when the course was over. Quals were 4 open water dives in March, there was still some ice.
Over the years I did small diving jobs in the local harbors for fishermen and the harbormasters, nothing heavy duty. Several times I got into minor "situations", once got tangled up in monofiliment gill net. A bit frightening initially as it's invisable and I found myself restricted in movement. Anyway, the training was there, had plenty of air, just deal w/situation. Always thinking back to the Coach and thanking him for his work.
About 5yrs after graduation I was on the same little freighter w/a classmate, Dale. We were down in Brazil stopping in little hole in the wall ports, it was heaven. Dale and I were at a beach one day, very few people, it was beautiful National Geographic like. We were BS'ing when 3 little girls in the water caught our attention. They were caught in an undertow. We responded, oldest was about 8yrs could fend for herself so Dale grabbed the middle one and I got the youngest and got them ashore. A couple people came out in the shallows to help, there was a language barrier so lots of smiling, hand shaking and waving. Dale had had the Coach's class also, we both agreed that his training made the difference.
I do apologize for this being long winded.
I retired a few years back after 35yrs on ships. A couple years ago my alumni news had an obituary for the Coach's wife. She was a nice lady, ran the chorus. On impulse I got the Coach's phone #, still lived in the same place, and called him. He's probably in his mid 80's.
I introduced myself and explained our connection, he didn't remember of course. He'd trained hundreds. I expressed my sympathy for his loss, we chatted a bit then the conversation was winding down. I just kind of blurted out "You need to know there are 3 little girls in Brazil that lived because of you."
Natuarally he hadn't a clue so I explained what went on and that both Dale and I agreed his training allowed us to deal w/the situation. He did remember Dale, he'd been a star football player.
We chatted a bit more, I was a bit misty, he was too. He thanked me for giving him a wonderful gift at a tough time in his life. I'm the one who got the gift. Thanks Coach, Kevin
