The Ditch
The
various canals around the world are known as “The Ditch.” The one I am talking
about is the Suez. This one really is a ditch since it was dug at sea level.
When USS Scott left on its Med Cruise, Med 1-92, initially we were to operate
in the western Med. But that changed. On December 18, 1991, we arrived in Port
Said.
I’m
not sure when we began our trip south, but I was standing oil king watch. Since
there were two of us qualified, we were on 12 on 12 off rotation. I had the
midnight to noon watch. I did go outside as we traveled through Port Said
heading south. It was a rather chilly early morning too. Odd to think that area
of the world is cold. But it was cold outside at 2 or 3 AM.
I
must have been outside when we first started heading south since we were in the
middle of a city. As we passed a mosque, I heard the Muslim call to prayer for
the first time. That was a strange
feeling to be honest. It’s hard to explain why I felt that way. I guess it is
one of those things you had heard about or even heard on a newscast but just never
expected to hear in person. The minarets around the building were a dead giveaway.
After
the sun came up, I went outside and primed the JP5 piping in the refueling
stations. Does anyone remember that yellow primer we used?
It
was pretty interesting to be out there painting while we were passing through
the desert. To the west was Africa and to the East was Asia. Nearly the entire
trip heading south, there was nothing but desert on the canal’s east bank. Both
banks did have a large berm on them. The western side also had a road on top of
the berm. For as long as I was outside, Egyptian military trucks drove on the
berm, following the ships down the canal.
There
were three or four Egyptians on board to act as pilots. Several of them were in
the crew rec room selling trinkets they brought on board. They also were
allowed to use the enlisted mess facilities. They ate like crazy.
The
convoy must stop on the Great Bitters Lake to allow the North Bound convoy to
pass on the southbound trip. Several of the crew took the time to fish. Some
even caught something. I know this was after I was officially off watch at
noontime. I stayed up a few more hours watching the trip but finally hit my
rack to get some sleep. By the time I woke up, we were in the Red Sea and
heading toward the Gulf of Aqaba.
It
was an interesting event to be part of. It is one of those places you might
read about or even watch a documentary about and never imagine you will ever
get to be there. Growing up, I read a good deal about Eqypt and never did imagine
one day I would get to be there. I know some sailors were less than enthusiastic
about being there. But, it was part of the job. December 19, 1991, was the day
I did the ditch.
(Photo
info. That is Scott making the transit in August 1990 reporting fr duty during
Desert Shield. I was Great Lakes at the time. The picture was taken while Scott was passing a portion of the canal near Ismailia Egypt.)
