Warrior

How do you envision a person with the title of warrior?  Perhaps you think of the stereotypes seen on television’s make-believe programs whose fantasy-like exploits hold viewers spellbound with their life defying deeds.  But you would be wrong in this case.
Today this ‘normal’ everyday senior citizen neighbor would most likely fit the description of a retired grandfather whose day is filled with more mundane activities rather than the make believe kinds usually associated with the word warrior.  He is most likely to be playing with his puppies, enjoying the antics of his great grandson and watching as his extended family members go about the routine of daily living: working in the garden checking on the chickens and collecting the eggs, maintaining the home site to impeccable perfection.  But there was another earlier life potentially far more exciting, one that had the possibility of actually changing world history if certain conditions came about.
A generation ago, Charleston, SC was the home base for a fleet of nuclear submarines, some suggest the most lethal weapons of war known to man.  It has been said that a single one of these doomsday underwater nuclear deterrents had as much potential destructive power as all the bombs dropped on the enemy during WWII meaning too awesome to contemplate. The Captain with the authority to instigate an attack using these modern U boats would indeed be literally the most powerful man on earth and also the most destructive.  With a turn of the key, civilization would be changed forever.
But these machines of war had to be maintained so that every part worked perfectly.  If one critical part failed to perform, what would be the consequences other than a big disappointment for the Captain and relief for the enemy?
Although the crew of the submarine actually operated this technological wonder, many of the maintenance details performed by subcontractor civilians when the sub was at its home base.  There were myriads of details to check, each one important indeed some absolutely essential.
While there is no such thing as a warranty on a submarine, still the manufacturer certainly does have a responsibility to see that the product operates an advertised.  The company built the weapon and surely would know its most intimate mechanical details.  This is where the ‘warrior’ comes in.
He was a civilian technician who specialized on certain systems that had to be frequently checked and upgraded if necessary.  It was his job to see that when he signed off on a work order, it worked perfectly.  And in order to be absolutely sure that these systems worked, there was a sea (trial) test run made by the crew along with the technicians lasting for several days.  And one of the unofficial crew was our warrior friend.  Failure on his part was not an option.  And he was aware of this great responsibility and indeed proud of his role as an unseen warrior.
Who would have thought that this unassuming Dillon County resident now nearing 90 once had such an important role in making our world safe?
*
Bill Lee, PO Box 128,
Hamer, SC 29547

Print Friendly, PDF & Email