THE FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN FIGHTERPILOT
The Stowaway
“Klaus come over here. Klaus was a short, rotund and very serious ships cook. He took pride in both the quality of his presentations and the timeliness of his meals. He always had snacks available for the crew. He took pride in the organization of his ships galley as well as the cleanliness. Klaus could throw a chopping knife thirty-feet to hit his target dead center. This was a skill the ships company knew well and kept them from taking what Klaus had not offered. He had been a ship’s cook for over fifteen years and left his family ten months each year in Germany to dothat.
Look there between the potatoes and sacks of flower. I think we have a stowaway.
What is your name boyyo,” Bradenasked?
“My name is Eugene Bullardsir.”
“How old are you Mr.Bullard?”
“I turned 16 a week agosir.”
Braden quizzed Eugene as though Braden was a first officer. Braden was a cook’s helper first class and had only been sailing aboard ships for two years. He was carried as an ordinary seaman on the books but Klaus needed a cook’s helper so Braden was assigned toKlaus.
“What do you think Klaus, is he big enough to keep or should we throw himback?”
“Herr Captain, will have to decide that Braden, because you my mick friend are too addled, and we Germans are tooserious.”
The three of them left the galley stores and took the young Mr. Bullard to theCaptain.
“Captain Rogers sir,” Klaus said, “we found this young man stowed away in the galleystores.”
“You did, did you?” the Captain roared. The Captain was very hard of hearing and the crew knew just how loud to speak to the Captain. But, when the Captain spoke in his deep gravelly voice the windows vibrated and everyone took close notice. The captain was actually born on board a ship and proudly lets everyone know how it comes that he has the sea in his blood. He was a hard man to please and evoked harsh discipline for those who gave less than what he expected. He was slow to acknowledge a good job or even exceptional work. The Captain prided himself for being able to perform any job on the ship including cook if he hadto.
“Look here boy, recess is over. You eat on this ship you work on this ship. Do you understand,” the Captaingrowled?
“Yes sir,” Eugene responded without any noticeable fear or apprehension. “I am assigning you to Cookie here. You are dismissed gentlemen! Wait a minute, Braden, take him to Mr. Hodges to get his ships company paperwork filled out then return him toCookie.”
Braden escorted the boy to Mr. Hodges state room andoffice.
Braden called out, “Mr. Hodges sir,” and a more gentle invitation came fromwithin,
“Yes, comein.”
Braden spoke, “Sir, we found this stow-a-way and the Captain said to bring him to you to fill out the ships company paper work. Sir, the Captain said he will be assigned to Cookie and me as a messassistant.”
“OK Braden, I’ll get his paperwork done and I’ll send him back to thegalley.”
Mr. Hodges was the ships first officer, ships navigator, quarter master, and medical officer. He was a very senior citizen and had been sailing the world’s seas since he was nineteen. His white hair gave him a very distinguished look. His soft tone emphasized his compassionate personality. His wrinkled face, deformed ears and gnarled hands gave evidence to the hard life he hasled.
“Ok young man, let’s take care of some paperwork,” Mr. Hodges said. “I need your full name, date a