Blog 73 posting

Liberty, besides being his ships’ name, was Navy parlance for temporary time off in port to blow off steam. Don’t I need to do that occasionally? What is an Irishman to do, sit onboard and play poker?

The recon aircraft circled the ship several times just below the clouds, which extended all the way to the shore of Israel. This diversion, all that changed the dull routine of steaming to this part of the Med, was the most exciting part of Tooley’s otherwise boring watch. Today was a hot Mediterranean day underway off Israel, but he sensed a difference in the expressions of fellow bridge watch standers. They were far more apprehensive than during those days of steaming.