By CW4 Michael Carr “Find the feet first,” I kept saying to myself. “Feet first, not the head.” I did not want to find the head. I had to find the body. There was no-one else in the small fishing village of Cordova AK who had SCUBA gear. The fisherman had fallen from the Cordova fishing pier, falling 20 feet into freezing Alaskan waters. I wanted to find the fisherman’s feet … [Read more...]
Carr: Foam Lance Under the Ice
By Michael Carr - I worked at bracing myself under the ship, trying to steady my body against the hull while inserting the foam lance’s fabric-covered tip into the icebreaker’s sea chest. Adding air to my Unisuit pressed me against the hull. I held the 5 ft long foam lance with both hands, with legs spread and finally found a stable position. Now I could “pull the trigger” … [Read more...]
Carr: Fog, Fog, Fog…and Fatigue
By Michael Carr - Standing was the only option, but I was now falling asleep standing up. I would drift off, my knees would buckle, and I would suddenly wake up as I collapsed in my sailboat’s cockpit. Staying awake for more than 20 minutes at a time was becoming more and more difficult. The fog was thick and unrelenting. There was no wind, just fog, which condensed on my … [Read more...]
Carr: Pride of Baltimore
By Michael Carr - We all respected Jan Miles, captain of the schooner Pride of Baltimore. His vessel was faster, sleeker, bigger, and better funded than the rest of us who sailed schooners. He most likely had the best coffee too. He and “Pride” won every schooner race and Pride was the star attraction at “Schooner Fests”, as well as other tall ship events. We were the … [Read more...]
A Sea of Sand: Like a Kingfisher Flashing Across the Pool
By Michael Carr - Joint Base Balad Iraq is surrounded by sand. When you drive out its gates, all you see is sand. Sand blows onto the road, it consumes your horizon in all directions, it fills your nose, ears, and mouth. It jams your weapons. Sand reflects the bright sun, making the wearing of sunglasses a constant necessity. So necessary everyone carries spares. It occurred … [Read more...]