Читать книгу Adventures In Navyland - Joe Psy.D. Callihan - Страница 7

First up was the experience of having to go through a simulated compartment filled with smoke. This consisted of a metal building, about 100 feet long, having a narrow path and raised area with railing on each side, where smoldering, burning rubber tires were used to created plumes of dark black smoke. We had been given goulashes and fireman’s coats to wear. We were instructed to hold on to the coat tail of the person in front of us, to keep from getting lost in the dense smoke. The hatch (doorways) both front and back required turning a round metal wheel, then levering the door open.

We had been warned not to panic or shout, both of which would cause us to inhale large quantities of smoke. I thought this was a wise move, so I listened to the advice. However a piece of advice I believed to be unwise was, don’t risk getting caught taking a deep breath. That did not make sense to me at all, so I chose to disobey that one. Was I glad I did!

I had been actively involved in skin diving, and not being a smoker, had very good lungs. So right before we were to go inside, I took three deep breaths, holding the last one just before entering the hatch. Had I been caught, I would have been in serious trouble. But I took the chance, because I thought it was worth the try.

I was probably the fifth guy entering on the right side. We went in by columns of two, but had to exit the narrower hatch door at the other end individually. I held on to the coat tail of the guy in front of me. It was pitch dark in there. Yet you could see the red burning embers of the tires, and the curling dark smoke.

The guys at the front, arriving at the exit hatch door, had to feel around in the dark to find the wheel, turn a lever, release and open the door so we could get out. Naturally, this took some time. While those in front were trying to get the hatch door open, tempers began to flare. The group of around twenty guys came to an abrupt stop. Some began to yell at the top of their voice, “Get that damn door open!”

The longer it took the louder, more frantic and frequent the demands became. Holding my breath, I resisted joining in the chorus. But inside I was thinking, Get that damn door open! Finally the door came open, and people began to file out. Here is where I encountered a situation of people lacking in good manners. I believe it is called PANIC.

What happened was the guy on my left, instead of allowing me to take my turn getting out, poked me in the ribs with his elbow, so he could jump ahead of me. Those behind me, began trying to push their way forward. When I got elbowed the second time, I could see my only choice if I was ever to get out, would be to elbow the next guy on the left side, before being pushed down to the floor by those impatiently waiting behind me. I did, and escaped through the hatch.

Looking around, I could hear and see those who had been shouting so loudly and repeatedly for the hatch door to open. They were all lying on the grass, coughing their lungs out. I on the other hand, was breathing nicely, having let out the last of my air as I was going through the exit hatch.

Then there was the poor “mama’s boy.” What a sad sight to see. Fortunately he was in another company. In all, I believe they had around ten different companies present for fire fighting training that day. It took at least four hours for the training session to end. After each company had completed the smoke filled room, and then put out the oil fires, they were permitted to sit on the grass and watch, as one by one the other companies did the same. Our company finished early, so the rest of our time was spent watching the other companies.

This is how I am able to tell you about the “mama’s boy.” He was reluctant to enter the smoke filled room. He had been the last in line. But when it became his turn to go inside, he ran away, and had to be tackled. The Chief in charge of his company came to him and asked what was wrong. “I don’t want to go inside of there, I’m afraid,” was his answer.

The Chief said, “No you’re not!” Then yanking him by the arm, he had someone open the door as he physically threw the boy inside. Quickly they closed the door and turned the wheel, then waited. We all could hear his screams for help. “Mama Help me! Mama, PLEASE HELP ME! MAMA MAMA! OH MAMA PLEASE HELP ME!” This was his frantic plea, as he stood there pounding on the door. Minutes went by, and his voice became weaker and weaker, then the pounding stopped.

Opening the hatch door, his almost unconscious body lay at the floor. The Chief reached in and pulled him out. He was coughing heavily from having inhaled so much smoke. Patting him on the back the Chief said, “What’s the matter son, rough in there?” To which he shook his head in agreement. “Well that’s O.K; you don’t have to go in there now. You just rest and clear your lungs. I hope you get to feeling better. You just sit here and watch, as the others go inside, O.K.?” Again shaking his head in agreement, believing the worst was over for him. Was he ever wrong!

First, the Chief had left him sitting by the entry to the hatch. So every guy entering the hatch, looked down at him and mockingly called him, “Mama’s boy!” Secondly, it took about ninety minutes for the rest of the companies to go through that hatch door, and exit from the other end. Then in around another ninety minutes, all of the fires had been put out.

At this point all of the companies gathered at the smoke house, where “Mama’s Boy” was still sitting comfortably on the grass by the entrance hatch. The Chief in charge of his company then came up to him and asked most sincerely, “Are you alright now son? Are your lungs clear?” To which the boy answered in the affirmative. “You can breathe O.K. now?” the Chief asked, just to make sure. “Yes sir, I can breathe just fine now,” was his reply.

Yanking him up by the arm, the Chief then said, “Good, because you’re going back in, and this time you are going through to the other end and out the hatch!” “No, No, Oh Please No!” the boy pleaded. “YES, YES! And OH YES YOU ARE!” the Chief mockingly replied. “OH MAMA! The boy began. The Chief said,