Senior Scribes
For My Shipmate Jim Pope
By Al Bliss

The other day, I thought of my old shipmate and friend Jim Pope and considered it only proper to share some of the unique times and experiences that we had together.

In 1951, when I reported to Fire Control Class A school in Washington D.C. at the old Anacostia Naval Base, I met this guy named Pope. He was in the class ahead of me, so we were not in class together, but he did possess the most unusual walk/stride that I had ever seen. So as a curious seventeen year old, when we were walking essentially side by side back to our barracks, I initiated a conversation with him. After only a few minutes, I asked why one foot was pigeon toed and the other was bowed out. He told me why but I promptly forgot because he was very touching about his stride and strongly suggested an act that is physically impossible. I never mentioned his stride again for the next three years.

I was selected to remain at Fire Control School to install a new MK 56 system at the Class B School. I have no idea why I was selected but I sure learned a lot about MK 56 system and at the time did not realized that the ship that I was going to be assigned to would have the first MK 56 system in the Pacific Fleet – Com Cru Des Pac.

I was shocked to learn that Jim Pope was also assigned to the Maddox DD 731. We spent nearly two years on the Maddox before both being transferred to the O’Brien DD 725. The reason for the transfer from destroyer to destroyer in Long Beach is the Fire Control Technicians were needed on the O’Brien.

As a aside, Jim Pope and I frequently had heated discussed differences in opinion. Sometimes these differences lead to physical confrontations that were limited to the Fire Control/IC plot and had only two rules: 1. The confrontation would stop if any of the fragile handles on the switchboard were broken or 2. If either of our dungaree shirts were damaged in any way. This aside is included to show the kind of friendship that we had.

On the O’Brien in transit from Long Beach to our destroyer squadron in West Pac, the ship had a two day exercise off of Kahoolawe in the Hawaii Islands. We were not anchored but were in a down time as far as the exercises were concerned and Pope and I left Fire Control Plot (our battle stations) to catch some air on the fantail. Others had gathered on the fantail for air or a cigarette when someone challenged all of us to take a quick swim. Two idiots jumped in and were just astern of the port screw guard when the ship started to get underway. I immediately grabbed the screw guard and pulled myself up but wondered where Pope was. He was immediately under me but was unable to reach the screw guard – remember the ship was starting to move forward. Only because luck was on our side, Pope was able to reach my extended hand. Pope and I weighed about the same and by swinging while holding my wrist he was able to grab the screw guard. Somehow – we both climbed back on the fantail just before our Division Officer can to find us and let us know that the Fire Control Team had done well on the last exercise. All I remember is the puzzled look on our Division Officer’s face when he noticed our wet dungaree. Nothing was ever said about this during our remaining time on the O’Brien.