Life on a Mine sweeper-Living in fear. [View All]

[oneighty]

Oh if only I could go back to spring of 1952 in the mined waters of North Korea. This time I would not live in fear of every unusual noise. I would not huddle in life jacket and battle helmet on the deck of the minesweeper as we entered mined waters in the dark of night so that watchers on the shore could not see us, could not fire on us with their big guns.

And further north near the Russian border we are informed an attack from Russian Migs is a seven minute round trip from Russia. So we watch for mines we watch for flashing lights from the big guns ashore and now we watch for Migs.

The older men aboard the mine sweeper have experience from WW2 and they try to give their courage to we young sailors. I am seventeen years old and scared shit-less.

Later anchored up in the safety of Sasebo Harbor in Japan we are reminded of Russia's Atomic bombs so even in the safe harbor we are frightened. Not everybody I suppose. But I was.

As I grew older and entered into the field of deep sea diving and explosive ordnance explosive disposal I learned that fear is a state of mind and that attention to the duty at hand conquers the fear.

I have learned that every day is a new challenge one to be lived free of false fears, a day to be enjoyed.

I will not allow fear to rule my life.

And I hope DUers do not either.

So screw you Bush you and your fear mongering.

180