The Dead Cow Story

Eight months is a long time to be on deployment. 

And I thought I had seen, and heard, everything during that voyage until that day. Camels riding off with their unwitting charges in the Eyptian desert as their scamming owners screamed in their wake “Hey Joe! Twenty Bucks!”. Prostitutes in every low grade port looking for some sex-starved sailors company. The threat of pier bombings where our ship was anchored, and drive-by kidnappings by Palestinian militants in Haifa (or so our superiors said) looking for some easy Americans to pick off.

But that day really took the cake. Really.

...“Helm, all foward one third. Pull up slowly alongside that thing. Senior Chief, get a crew member to man the starboard 30 cal. We’re going to have some target practice today.”

...I looked over at Reese. 

“Did he just order to shoot the cow?” 

He looked back with a puzzled look on his face. “I think so.”

...That clown had some bloodlust in him. He was enjoying this!

I doubt anyone has a better sea story than that that they can tell.