Chapter Three - Michaels Becomes an Expert

(DRAFT VERSION STILL UNDER CONSTRUCTION)

© Copyright by John M. Olney, November 21, 1996. All Rights Reserved
Correspondence: 1325 Imola West, #409, Napa, CA 94559 E-mail: thewinecntryclb2@aol.com

First Duty Station
The flight to Adak Island aboard Aleutian Airlines on September 14, 1965 was an almost unbearable three hour flight for Deb. The plane was an older DC-6 and she swore she could see the rivets in the wings bouncing ever so slightly, The roar of the engine pistons driving the high speed propellers hurt her sensitive ears. Michaels was totally unaware of her discomfort as he sat with his eyes closed trying his hardest to see into his future and where this journey would fit into his ultimate career goals.

***

The Michaels landed in a driving rain storm and dashed down the ramp steps to board a small shuttle bus that would take them to a very small terminal building. As then exited the bus they saw five couples standing on the other side of the baggage claim barrier with a big hand painted sign saying ”Welcome newlyweds - The Michaels”

“Oh honey, it‘s so nice all these people came out to greet us!” exclaimed Deb.

The couple grabbed their luggage and passed through the low rise barrier as the greeting group walked towards them. The party included Lieutenant (LT.). Tubbs, the XO and his wife, The XO was the first to speak, “Welcome Kip and Deborah. I’m the XO, LT. Larry Tubbs, and this my wife, Grace. We are so pleased you have arrived at our command and are joining our little family.”

Michaels had already begun his salute as the XO spoke and continued to hold it waiting for a return salute. Finally the XO quickly saluted and Michael spoke, “Thank you Sir, here are my orders, and other appropriate documents, Sir!’ and he dropped his salute. My wife, Deborah, Sir, ma’am.”

“No go ahead and keep the paperwork. We’ll get to that tomorrow afternoon after you all have had a chance to adjust to your new home and the travel time impacts.” He pushed the papers back at Michaels. “Now let me introduce the others here, this is LT. Donald “Cliff” Clifford, the Operations Officer - your immediate boss - and his wife, Peggy Sue. Here we have LCDR. ______, the Supply Officer and wife Maggie, and these three couples are the off-duty Watch Section Officers and their mates. You’ll be meeting them at our home before we take you to yours new home. OT3 Glick here will take your baggage and place it in your home but for now we’ll take this bus here and enjoy a cocktail party and bit to eat.”

Michaels was assigned to watch standing duties within a couple days of his arrival. It was October 3, 1965, 7:45 am and Michaels was getting a watch change briefing from Ensign Bobby Van Fleet, the Mid Watch Officer

LT. Clifford left his office and walked over to the two officers to participate in the briefing session so he could update the Commanding Officer (CO) and XO when they arrived about 8:30 am.

“Good morning, gentleman,” the Ops Officer said as he approached.

“Good morning, Sir, responded Michaels.

“Good morning, Cliff. I‘m just about to brief Ensign Michaels. Care to listen in?”

“Sure would. Proceed.”

”Well, over here…,” he started walking the two officers towards the plotting table and continued on, “….just south of Petro is a diesel-electric boat. It’s just been milling around in this area all night, alternating almost hourly between snorkeling and diesel direct modes. Probably some sort of pre-deployment trails. What do you think, Cliff?”

“Yeah, could be.”

“And over here in the vicinity of Petro Harbor there has been intermittent detection of a nuc but she hasn’t been giving any evidence of her intentions. Operating in close proximity are a couple of destroyer types. Our Watch Section is guessing some sort of ASW exercise.”

“Yep, that’s what they’re doing,” Cliff commented.

Michaels just listened. He was very enthusiastic about this whole ASW operation and just wanted to be sure he learned everything he could as fast as he could.

Moving the two men to a plotting table showing the full Pacific from the west coast of the USA to the Russian-Japanese coastline to the east and he continued his briefing. “Off of the west coast we’re getting detection of what we think is a nuc Hotel class ballistic missile sub operating normally in the Soviet patrol area. She’s operating at low speed so we only see her when she dives following communications breaks matching the Vlad and Moscow assignment times. Once she back at her normal operating depth, the west coast Navfac are only detecting her main coolant pump but they have been maintaining near continuous contact on it. And………”

Cliff interrupted him, “Have you seen any evidence that one of our fast attacks has established trail on the Ivan?”

“Yep, the west coast arrays reported a very brief U.S. blade detection, for seven minutes just after Ivan dove from her Moscow comms.”

“Very good. New subject, any P-3 flights this morning?”

“In the Lima Three area to south of our arrays, where we last had detection of the diesel-electric sub that headed out of Petro four days ago.”

“Yeah, she’s probably going down to the holding station of Hawaii. Keep me posted on that particular boat, Kip, we want to be sure that we can put the VP boys down on the deck when she comes up for comms and we can get the specific class of diesel that she is.”

“Will do Sir.”

“Kip, we’re not that formal around here. You’ve been here long enough now, call me Cliff, ok?

“Yes Sir…..I mean, Cliff.”

“Anything else I should know about, Bobby before I have to brief the ole man?“

“Nope, all the rest of detections are the usual fishing boats and occasional merchant passing in close proximity to the arrays.” responded Van Fleet.

“Oh, then, I’ll be in my office if you need me, Kip. Bobby, have a good sleep and see ya tomorrow morning.”

“Sorry, Cliff, but that was my third Mid, so I’ll be off for a couple days. Michaels here will be doubling back and you’ll get your morning brief from him.”

“Damn, that was a fast three days!” said Cliff.

“Actually, Cliff, nothing is fast here in Adak, the armpit of the world.”

Both Michaels and Cliff laughed while agreeing with Van Fleet. Cliff left for his office.

“Ok, Bobby, I’ve got it.” said Michaels. “ Have as good a time as you can during your off time.”
“Well, if you call going to the O club and being drunk for the next two days ‘a good time’ then fine, but you guys got wives to go play with. I just have those ugly, homely contract teachers to talk to at the Club and all they want is for me to buy their drinks and dinner. Oh well, I’ve only got two more months and a wake up before I transfer to Navfac Centerville Beach. See ya!’

***

It was three hours into his watch when the Sup called Michaels over to the consoles aimed at the Kuril Islands. “What is it Toms?” he said as he approached.

“Sir, it looks like we have a nuc coming out from Vlad. She’s doing 17 knots so I suspect she’s coming all the way out into the Pacific. I’ve got Holt looking through the intell to see if we have any carrier group movements going to the South China Sea that she might want try to stalk.”

“Very good job, Toms. I’ll start drafting the message report and go brief Ops. Keep me posted please.” said Michaels

“You’ve got it boss.”

Michaels sat down at the Watch Officer’s desk and drafted the following message to get approved by Clifford.

FLASH, FLASH, FLASH
GET WAY TO WRITE JULIAN TIME AS USED FOR MESSAGES October 3 1968
TOP SECRET
TO: COMOCEANSYSPAC
FROM: NAVFAC ADAK
INFO TO:
COMSUBPAC
COMNAVAIRPAC
COMASWFORPAC
CINCPACFLT
CNO
SUBMARINE ALERT -- SUBMARINE ALERT

New target designated Xray 63: Soviet Nuc sub detected 1117Z passing through Kuril Islands into Pacific. Specific class undetermined ATT but suspect November class fast attack originating from Vlad based on fast sustained operating speed of 17 knots. UNODIR reporting will be made at four hour intervals due to distance from continental USA and lack of confirming evidence sub will actually transit to open Pacific Ocean transit.

Michaels looked his draft over one more time then walked to the Ops Office for review and approval by Cliff. He knocked on the door and was waved to enter. “Hey Cliff, looks like we got a new nuc entering into the Pacific from the Kurils. Here is the draft message to COSP.”

Cliff took a quite read and said, “Why don’t you walk up to the old man for his final approval?”

“Me?”

“Yes, you, Kip. You might as well take full responsibility from the get-go cause if you’re going be any good, you’ll soon be doing it all the time.”

“Thanks for the confidence, Cliff.”

“Go get’em, sailor.”

With that Michaels walked up to his watch sup and told he was taking the draft up to the CO. The sup smiled, then looked over at Cliff through his office window and saw that Cliff was smiling too. The sup said to himself, Little does this Ensign know that he’s about to go through a buzz saw.

Michaels walked the long cold but covered corrugated metal tunnel like walkway from the secure TE Building to the unsecure Administrative Building which was not a secure facility. This building held all the support personnel required to maintain a facility with spare parts, support personnel, administrative records and other non direct operation unclassified documentation. He entered the warm building and briskly walked up to the XO‘s door adjacent to the CO’s door. He saw that the XO was not in so he turned to the CO’s office door and knocked three times as trained back at Officers Candidate School.

“Enter.” came back the voice of the CO, LCDR. Marc Singly.

Michaels entered, walked in military manner straight up to Singly’s desk and stood at attention waiting for the CO to acknowledge him.

Singly looked up from his paper work, studied Michaels face, and then asked, “Who are you, Ensign and where is the XO?”

“Captain, I’m Ensign Kip Michaels and I’m new to your operations division under LT. Clifford. I tried to contact the XO but he wasn’t in his office so I took the liberty to come directly to you, Sir.” Holding out the secure folder, he said, “We have a new situation requiring us to report to higher authority, Sir.”

Singly stood up, taking the folder and walking over towards his window he stated reading the message draft. He then looked back at Michaels and asked, “How long have you been aboard and how come I haven’t seen you before?”

“Well Sir, when I arrived on Adak two weeks ago, you were off traveling to San Francisco to visit COSP. Then I’ve been on Watch Section rotation, Sir, so I guess we have just past in times that prevented our meeting. The XO has my wife and I scheduled to formerly meet you and your wife this coming weekend, Sir.”

“Very well. Who drafted this message?”

“I did, Sir?”

“Why didn’t LT. Clifford?”

“I’m sorry, Sir, but the LT. instructed me to it and to bring the draft up to you so you would know about the situation and could approve it for transmission.”

“He did, did he? Well I’ll talk to him later about that. It looks ok to me, and by the way how many situations do have running now?”

“Four by just us and five throughout the system, Sir.”

“Very well. Let Cliff know I’ll back later to see what we’re doing. Here’s your message.” he said handing back the folder.

“Excuse me, Sir, but with all due respect, Sir, I do need you to initial your assigned check-off block on the draft in order to have comm go ahead and send it, Sir?

“Oh yes, you’re correct,” the CO said as he took back the folder opened it and made his mark. Here’s your approved message. I’ll see you and your wife this weekend, then.”

“Thank you, Sir,” Michaels responded as he completed a perfect military about-face and started walking to the door.

“By the way, Ensign, loosen up! We’re mostly informal around here,” called out the CO as Michaels was closing the door behind him.

***

The weekend came and the Michaels attended the social that the Singly’s threw to formerly welcome the Michaels. Present were all the senior officers of the other military commands located on Adak plus all the Navfac officers and their wives not standing watch. Kip Michaels had to leave the party early as he was due to stand the Mid Watch cycle again. He asked the XO to ensure that his wife got home safely.

Michaels arrived at ______ , so he could look over the situation before officially being briefed and taking over the watch. It has been three days since he last stood watch. He was particularly interested in seeing what the diesel-electric sub apparently heading for patrol off Hawaii and the nuc fast attack sub were up to.

Good evening LT., I’m ready to take over ,” Michaels declared,

“Great,. man, I’m really tired and bored tonight.” He went on as he walked Michaels over to the plotting tables, “ That diesel continues towards the Hawaii patrol station area and that nuc your guys first saw? Well, it’s been continuing out to open ocean but we can’t figure out where its going yet! Maybe your watch can. We got the usual local operating diesel sub just outside Petro and about five fishing boats working pretty close to the array. Outside of that, Cliff’s over at the O Club, we don’t know where the XO is but my guess is chasing that school teacher around her BOQ studio again - what a hound dog he is - and the Old Man is home.”

“Ok, Jim, I’ve got it! See you tomorrow night, now get out of her.

With that the LT. departed along with his watch section. Michaels turned to his sup and said, “Toms, see if your gang can figure out what the heck that nuc Ivan is up to, will ya?”

“Yes Sir, Mr. Michaels, we’ll try our best.”

“That’s all I can ask. I’m going to the vault and read the intell message traffic. Yell if anything good happens, OK Toms?”

“You got it, Sir!”

***

Five days later and Michaels and his section were on the Mid watch discussing the Sov nuc sub that came through the Kurils was continuing to transit out into the open Pacific ocean. She was doing 17 knots thus able to cover about 400nm per 24 hour day. She was now about 2400 nm miles east of the Kurils and on course line that appeared like she was going to going to the north coast of the USA.

“So Toms, she changed course a few days ago, huh?”

“Yes, Sir, Mr. M, sure looks like it.”

“Well, that’s interesting. I haven’t seen such a track before have you?”

“Nope”

“Hmmmmm, wonder where she’s headed? Let’s go look at the USA chart, sup.”

They walked over to the plotting table and were looking down at the Pacific coast shore line.
“You know, Mr. M., she could be going towards the Juan de Fuccua Straights, Sir.”

“Yeah Toms, you could be right. We’ve not known of a missile boat holding station there have we?”

“No Sir, not seen ‘em hold there for missile launching potential.”

“Let’s assume that she is not a missile boat and therefore she is a fast attack. If that’s the case, what we need to do is see what U.S. man of war surface ship or submarine is coming out. I’m going to the vault and see what’s being talked about in the intell message updates. Maybe we’ll get a clue there.”

“Yes, Sir, I think that’s a great idea. Shall I start drafting your message explaining all this?”

“Yes, definitely.”

NEED TO TRACK THIS GUY to have go to trail either new nuc aircraft or sub coming out to go on first deploy

NOVEMBER


DECEMBER

Second Array is Coming
A It was January 5, 1966 when the CO called for an 8:30 am all-operations officer meeting in the TE-Building. Michaels had just gotten off the Mid-watch and gone to the officers restroom to freshen up. Clifford came into the restroom as Michaels was drying off his freshly rinsed face. “Good morning Kip, had a long night?’

Yeah, pretty slow but at least we got some local area experience tracking a nuc down the coast of Kamchatka and back to Petro .”

“That’s good. Oh, by the way, I received word that I’m being transferred to COSP headquarters in a few months and I’ll become the System Operations Officer. So, I want to you quickly learn everything you can about the system. You’ve got the best Chief and section sup so be like a sponge and absorb all you can.”

“You can count on that, Cliff. Sure going to miss you when you go. Say, what’s this meeting all about that the Old Man called?”

“We’re getting a second array. It’s going south of our existing one and the WECO crews are starting to arrive this week to expand all the electronics to handle the signal processing for this new array.”

“Jesus, how come I didn’t know anything about that before this?”

“Sorry Kip. I thought you knew the new array was laid just before you arrived. The cable ship has been stinging the 500 plus miles of connecting cable along the north side of the Aleutians since you’ve been here and they are nearing the bay just outside our TE-Building; probably about five days out.”

Michaels spent the next six months following the dictates of his mentor LT. Clifford. He learned all the signatures for all the Soviet submarines related to propulsion as well as auxiliary equipment. He studied all of the backroom intelligence message traffic learning in depth how the Soviet Naval Officers operated in general and how specifically they deployed their submarine resources. He signed up for a number of VP squadron flights where he flew with their sonar officers and enlisted tmen to learn how the P-3 squadrons operated. He flew on two sorties that were designed to descend to just a few hundred feet off the ocean surface to photograph Soviet nuc subs when they broached the surface at comm times.

Shipboard during Certification of the Second SOSUS Array
LCDR. Singly was relieved of command in mid July 1966, about two months earlier than had been projected. Most thought it had to do with his drinking problem. LCDR. Paul Rhode, who came from duty as the XO on a Destroyer Escort (DE), replaced Singly. Rhode, a short, stocky man, presented himself as a very intense 'Gung Ho, Go Navy' type of rah, rah officer. He brought news with him that Adak was getting a second array system installed and that the civilian technicians would be crawling all over the place during the next few months while expanding the signal processing equipment.

On Wednesday, August __, 1966 , LCDR. Rhode called Michaels to his office. As Michaels walked to the Capt.‘s office, he thought to himself about how much he did not like nor get along with this new CO. He thought LCDR. Rhode was a pompous ass and an outright mean and nasty man. Michaels thought of him as commanding through fear tactics; leading by threats versus persuasion and thus unable to earn the respect of his men. He felt that LCDR. Rhode thought of his men more like 'subjects' than as his workers.

Michaels knocked on the door. He heard the LCDR. say, "Enter." He went straight to the desk and stood in front of the CO without saying a word.

LCDR. Rhode looked up at Michaels, held up a form and said, "Do you know what I'm holding here, Lieutenant?"

"No Sir, can't say that I do!"

"It's your fitness report, Mister. You know, the REAL Navy isn't shore duty. It's sea duty, pal and guess what? I have a hell of an offer for you. The USS Bowman, a DE, is here to conduct certification of our new array. She is going out on a five day cruise that will run her out about 100 nm off Attu where the new second array had been laid. I want you to go on this trip and experience the Real Navy, Mister!"

"Ah, Capt., I'm really not interested, but thank you for considering me. You see Sir, I'm just a Reserve Officer, on three years active duty and then I'm gone! I only have about 22 more months to go."

"No. You don't seem to understand. I'm ordering you to volunteer to go to sea on this DE."
"But Capt. you can't order me to 'volunteer' to do anything, with all due respect, Sir!"

"Well, let me put it this way. Ensign, if you don't volunteer, I send this write-up." he said while holding up his left hand with a fitness report in it. "However, if you do go, then I will send in this report," he said while dropping his left hand and lifting the right.

"Capt., I formally protest. I would like the XO present to hear my protest."

"I don't care what you would like, Ensign. You're going to sea one way or another, Mister. We can do it pleasantly or I will make your life so miserable, you will have wished you never met me! Which way do you want it?"

"Capt., I have never liked you. Now I know why! I'll go, but its under protest."

***

A week later, Michaels went to sea. Michaels did not enjoy his sea experience. Upon his return, he went straight to the Capt.'s office.

"Sir, you can have your damn sea duty. We hit Sea State three and it was so rough even the commanding offer got sea sick and claimed that was his first time!. Look at the flying bridge," he said pointing out the window to the ship, "its caved into the side of the ship. If that's what you like, you go for it. But, its not for me! Now I want to see my fitness report, Sir! It better be good."

Michaels Home
The XO had gone to the BOQ to be with his lover, a female contract school teacher. He got there before the Condition Alpha restrictions were set. They spent a few hours together and he departed just after the traffic restrictions were lifted. He went to his office but did not announce his arrival to the TE Building.

At about 6:30 a.m., __________ while Ensign Michaels was on Watch Duty, his wife was experiencing problems with the television. Knowing no one else to call, she thought of the XO as a possible source to find somebody to come over to repair her TV. So she took a chance that he was already in his office and called him. Why she did not call her husband is not well understood, but probably stems from the fact that she knew he would have considered it too unimportant to worry about at the moment. Some think that Deborah just craved attention and the TV problem finally gave her a chance to have a little excitement enter into her dull, overcast life on Adak.
LT. Tubbs, who had successfully entered undetected into the Admin building and his office, picked up the phone. He was excited to hear Deborah’s voice and promised he would be right over to assist her.

Deborah heard a knock and got up to open the door.

The LT. stepped into the home with a slight smirk on his face and spoke first, "Hi Deborah. So what's wrong with the TV? You sure are up early in the morning!"

Deborah was dressed in a white chemise that barely covered the powder blue nightie

underneath. Both gowns just reached below her buttocks. She looked the XO right in the eyes and said, "Well, it just keeps fading in and out. The picture is just fine and then it starts to fade until it goes all the way off. I've heard a sizzling sound too, and caught the odor of smoke once."

"Sounds like you're losing the picture tube, Deborah. You don't mind if I call you Deborah, do you?"

"No, of course not LT. Tubbs. Do you think it can be fixed? I really hate to miss my morning shows."

"Sure, but first, do you have any coffee, Deborah?" Tubbs watched her as she quickly turned and walked away towards the kitchen.

She delighted in the fact that she gave him a good glimpse of her behind as she turned.

He felt a stirring in his groan as he allowed his thoughts to wander about how she would feel if he was to make love to her.

Deborah returned with his coffee and slowly reached out her hands that were cradling the mug.

Tubbs put his hands under hers and brushed against them ever so lightly, almost caressing her hands. "Thanks," he spoke, as he finally took the mug from her. He continued to look directly in her eyes looking for a sign that she wanted him to go on with the gentle touch.

My God, he's good looking. Do I dare do it? I want to be held and loved so much. I hate this damn island, the Navy and the fact that I'm stuck here. The hell with it! "You're welcome," she said as she slowly stepped back from Tubbs. and returned to the sofa to sit down. "Come on, sit for a minute and enjoy your coffee."

The XO knew this was going to be his morning. He looked at his watch and noted it was 7:00 a.m. and that her husband was still on watch and wouldn't get relieved until 8:00 a.m. He had about another hour and a half before Michaels would be leaving the OU to come home. "I'll do that," he said.

Deborah sat with her legs crossed which drew her nightie and robe way up her thigh.

LT. Tubbs couldn't keep his eyes off her young taunt thighs. He wondered if she knew what was happening between his legs at that moment.

Deborah first looked into the XO's eyes and then slowly her gazes travel the length of his torso until she was staring directly at his crotch with it's now very visible bulge. She liked what she could do to a man. "Why Larry, you don't mind if I call you Larry do you?"

The XO nodded his head in agreement.

"You seem to have a little problem," she said as she slowly started uncrossing her legs giving him a better view up her creamy thighs.

"Well, I ugh .... well .... you are a very.... ugh .... I .... ummm," Tubbs stuttered trying to find the words. He wasn't ready for her to take such an aggressive lead in their teasing.

"You what, Larry?" as she continued uncrossing her legs. "Don't like working on TV's or looking up my legs?" Deborah couldn't believe that she was actually taking the lead and was seducing this man. She had a sudden thought about his wife and their two children who lived only about two blocks away. Should I really be doing this - messing around with a married man?

Interestingly, she never gave thought to fact that she was about to be unfaithful to her husband.
Tubbs. was beside himself with the strong sexual desires he was feeling. He looked at Deborah's legs once more and gave into his urge. He leaned towards her and ran his hand up her leg until he felt her heat and moistness. He had to have her right there, on the sofa, on the floor, wherever, but right then.

Deborah responded to his touch by opening her legs even more, giving him not only more access to her love center, but also a view of her wetness.

The XO was feverishly pulling at her robe and finally got it off her. Next, he pushed her nighty up and over her breasts. He then buried his face in her breasts and began licking first one nipple then the other. His hands had returned between her legs and he was manipulating her to great excitement.

They played with each other for half an hour.

"Larry put it in now!"

He stopped, stood up and removed his starch Navy khaki shirt so as not to show the tell tale signs of lovemaking. Next he dropped his pants and underwear. He then mounted her and started heaving in hard thrusts.

Deborah matched each deep penetration. "Oh yes ..... deeper ...... harder, yes ..... come in me .... yes come in me now!" Then she started feeling her own orgasm develop.

With that command from her, the XO let go his semen just as she screamed out. "I'm coming .... oh yes .... I'm coming!"

Last R&R Flight to Japan
In September 1966, The Navy announced that it was streamlining the administrative and operational commands in the Pacific theater. As part of that restructuring Commander Alaskan Sea Frontier, Anchorage, Alaska, would be dismantled and merged into Commander Western Sea Frontier, Treasure Island. However, before the reduction occurred there remained a previously scheduled R&R trip that included 20 seats dedicated to personnel stationed on Adak. The Michaels were winners in draw of names that be able to fly to Yokuoska, Japan to enjoy a seven day break from the barren Adak Island landscape and get some shopping and vacation time in. They would be flying in the Admiral’s plane, a “Super Connie” which stood for Super Constellation, the most advance propeller driven aircraft of the period which was being overtaken by the introduction of jet aircraft.

Kip was so happy. He could finally give his wife some relief from the harsh conditions of Adak Island. They would be staying in Air Force housing units that had been reconditioned for use as officer hotel-like conditions. The couple spent their day time traveling and shopping. He bought hi fi equipment, binoculars and cameras all the toys that men typically desired, and she bought china, silverware, linens, silk screen etc, all the stuff that women wanted to own.

At night, back in their room, Michael would talk softly to Deb and describe what he was hoping they would find when then transferred out of Adak and went to their next duty station. Meanwhile, Deb felt her guilt for having an affair with his XO but she just couldn’t bring herself to tell Michael about and how sorry she was for having the illicit relationship.

The Captain’s Office
The Capt. was staring coldly at his XO. He suddenly spoke, "And where the hell have you been the last 24 hours? "

The XO just looked at the Old Man. Where the hells were you? Then he realized this probably was not a good moment to say that. Instead, Tubbs answered with his usual statement. "I was busy working on our paper work which is almost two months behind, Sir!" The XO wasn't ready for the response he got from the Capt.

"XO, I know how much time you've spent with that school teacher friend of yours in her room. I'm ashamed of you, a Naval Officer, with a wife and two lovely children!"

The XO was in shock. But then he thought for a moment and realized that the Old Man didn't know anything about his time with Deborah Michaels. Whew, I'm safe there!

The Capt. continued, "You knock off seeing that school teacher or I'll give you a fitness report that will end our career right here and now, Mister! you got my message?"

"Yes Sir, Capt. Loud and clear!"

"Good. Then that's settled. Now, get back to work and don't miss another day. You're excused, now get out of my sight!" he said in a disgusted manner and tone.

Tubbs just took it and left while muttering to himself. You little shit. Just wait, your day is coming!

“Oh yeah XO,” the CO called out to Tubbs, “Tell Ensign Michaels he has been selected for promotion to JG.”

Ensign Michaels received the word he was selected to the rank of Lieutenant Junior Grade (LTJG.) and could put on his new collar device in May 1967. He and Deborah went to the Officers Club that night to celebrate. When they got home, they made love like they had enjoyed when they were down in Key West, Florida.

Michaels Outraged
Deborah and the XO were to have one more encounter which occurred in December 1966, but this time Michaels surprised them by coming home early. There was a terrible verbal battle between Tubbs and Michaels as he ordered the XO out of the home.

Michaels confronted his wife. "How long has this affair been going on?"

"Just a couple of months and only because you're never here. I told you I hate this place!"

"Well, you won't have to worry about Adak anymore. I've heard from my Detailers in Washington, D.C. I'm being transferred to Command Staff located on Treasure Island." Michaels then went over to the telephone. He dialed the home of the Tubbs.

"Hi Grace. This is Kip Michaels........ Well, thanks, but I'm not fine. I just caught my wife and your husband in bed together in my home. He should be heading your way right now. "

Grace Tubbs broke into tears as she continued listening to Michaels.

"Oh ... I see, Grace ... he's already there. I'm shipping Deb off this rock as soon as possible. I hope you will be all right."

Grace answered through her tears, "I'm so sorry for this. I should have known. I'll be leaving him immediately. Good luck, Kip!"

"Same to you Grace! Good bye."

Michaels sat down with his wife, "Let's talk!"

Deborah went through her whole thing about being left alone and how one thing lead to another almost as if it was an accident.

Michaels couldn't quite believe it. "Accident, my ass, Deb! How the hell can penetration be an accident? All you had to do was say 'No.' You could have called me or the CO and told him what was happening. No! You wanted it. So what are we to do about this marriage?"

Deborah assured him that she didn't love the XO. If he would just let her get off Adak she would handle all the household duties getting set up for their new beginning. She promised him that she really wanted to make the marriage work. Michaels decided to give it a second chance. He made the arrangements to have her leave early before Christmas.

Michaels moved into the BOQ where he would stay until his transfer in February 1967.