The Ships Bugler.

(Or Stop The Ship Before You Disembark)

During my tour of duty, I served for a while as Signal Officer, and during this time I had a really top notch Firstclass by the name of Moe Devito, who became a good friend. God rest his sole. He lived not too far from my parents in Northern New Jersey, and frequently accompanied me home when I drove on long weekends. I remember my mother took a real liking to him. She used to say she never worried about me driving those long hours to and from NORVA when Moe was with me. I can still hear her say, now Moe, you watch out for Skip, you hear? As we left to return to the ship. He was an outstanding signalman, but he was not a bugler.

One day while at pier 5, a new man, Signalman First-class Mike Pesttorio, appeared on the signal bridge. When I first saw him, I thought some one was pulling my leg. Here was Groucho Marks, complete with wiry hair, mustache, and cigar, in a first class signalman's uniform, all tailored and ship-shape. This guy was just as funny as the real Groucho, but could he blow a bugle! Right there the recordings stopped, we had the real thing. Mike just took over the job completely! Not only that, he started a school for buglers, and had several students. One of them, a Marine Corporal, became real good, as did one of the members of the Wisconsin Band. Now we had one for each watch. Mike was much older than I was by many years. In fact, he was a Veteran of the Second World War, where he served as a Buglemaster first class, a rate that no longer existed.

Mike finally told me his story, after the war, he had left the service, and began writing songs. He was very good at it, too. His fame spread, as did his music, under the name of Grandpappy Jones. He wrote literally hundreds of country-western songs. Sung all in his twangy Groucho voice, One I remember, Started: "Send in your name, and address, and a dollar ninety eight !! "

Grandpappy Jones became a multi- millionaire, and hade a beautiful home on the ocean front, just north of Boston, where he and his wife lived. He told me when asked, that he re-enlisted to give his wife a rest. And he was really enjoying himself in his resurrection as a sailor. The Navy gave him a choice of Boson, or Signalman, and Mike figured he could do better on the Signal Bridge.

There developed a nice friendly rivalry, between the Corporal and Mike, about who was the better Bugler. They were both excellent; there were some great incidents that took place when I had the watch. The first incident was at reveille, one morning, when the Marine showed up to blow the first call. He picked up his instrument, that he had left in the after quarterdeck shack, and watching the clock, at 5 seconds to 0600, began to blow-- and there was a very perplexed expression on his face, as he tried, and failed to pucker.

Not a sound could he blow! But right at six, came the call, from Mike on the bridge 1MC. He had rubbed the Marines mouthpiece with a cut lemon, and he couldn't pucker to save his life.

The next episode took place about a week later, when I, again had the watch, and Mike was Duty Bugler, As usual, Mike was right on time, watching the clock, and taking his mouthpiece out of his pocket, wiping it off for good measure and ---his cheeks swelled up , his face turned red--- but not a sound came out! But right on time the clear call came over the 1MC, again from the bridge, followed by the almost hysterical laughter of the Marine, who only too well, what was going on at the Aft quarterdeck. He had put about 2 or 3 shots of water in Mikes bugle, and tipped it around, so that it was in the middle of the instrument. Mike just could not get up enough pressure to blow it out!

There was one other unforgettable moment that I remember, we were on the north side of pier 5, and about 0830 on a Friday morning, the New Jersey came in and tied up on the south side, Doubled up all lines, sounded Captain Departing, Followed by Liberty Call, and off came the liberty party. There was only one problem; they had forgotten to stop the ship! And she continued to creep forward, the lines tightened, and, one by one they broke, as the liberty party continued down the Gangway. They were not at all noticing what was happening. Mike Grabbed his bugle, ran to the head of our gangway, and pointing his instrument at the Jersey's Quarterdeck, blew General Quarters! Finally they noticed, but there wasn't a thing they could do but ride it out. The engines had been secured, but thanks to our bugler, there were no injuries when the gangway broke loose and fell into the water.

When all the motion and excitement stopped, the bow of the New Jersey was a full 30 feet into the parking lot at the head of the pier, and she had a 20 ft notch in her bow. I often wonder what happened to that C.O. and Bridge Crew. Please!! Always be sure to completely stop the ship before departing. Failure to do so could ruin your whole weekend.