The Owl

I call this series "Just Vignettes" because that's what they are, just short snapshots of things that have happened to me or have been told to me. I can vouch the stories you read here are mostly true.

The USS San Jose had tall hydraulic rams with wheels, cable guides, and wire rope, all heavily greased with black, sticky grease. This grease could entrap unfortunate birds who come in contact with it. Steaming off the coast of Oman near Masirah Island, the stiff westerlies carried a little owl to that fate.

The sailors responsible for the rig brought me the owl to see if I could save it. I was...