A collection of experiences that have washed ashore during a 40-year career in the United States Navy.
USS Seahorse left the Mediterranean for our transit back to homeport in April 1977 and we returned to Charleston, South Carolina in early May on a glorious day.
This was my first experience navigating Charleston harbor and the Cooper river up to the Naval Station (about 9 miles), so I requested a bar pilot whom we picked up before passing Fort Sumter at the entrance to Charleston harbor.
The pilot had 20 years experience in Charleston and a wealth of information which he passed on to me. Charleston has significant tides and the currents that can be very tricky to navigate, but I felt confident that I would be able to forego the services of a pilot in the future.
The best time to make a landing at the Naval Station is at high slack water when the current of the Cooper river is minimized. This requirement dictates one's arrival time at the Naval Station, which in this case was early afternoon.
The best part of this homecoming day for me was leaving the ship and coming home to our new house which Mary transformed from a sterile new construction house to a beautiful and warm family home. I was really taken with all she had accomplished. The transition from living in the cramped confines of a submarine for the last five months to finally being at home with my family was an experience that I will always cherish.
©2008 Hank McKinney
