Page 91 - The Jazzsipper Novel

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THE JAZZ SIPPER

be brought aboard which gave them much better quality than in the enlisted
mess or even the officer’s mess? Chiefs aboard ship always said their mess
was probably equal to the Flag mess for the Admiral. Enlisted E-1 through E-
6 ate in the enlisted mess halls; there were two, one forward and one aft of
the ship. E-1 through E-5 was "condemned" to the general mess hall while E-
6's could eat in the "Acey-Deucy Lounge". E-6 Petty Officer First Classes were
the only juror personal to enjoy "head of the line privileges". An aircraft carrier
operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week. On a carrier there are people
who pilot the planes round the clock, people who fuel them, maintain them,
arm them, direct them around the flight deck, help them take off and land. In
addition, you also have the people who actually ran the ship: from the mess
hall crews, to the laundry staff, to the people who maintain the ship itself and
people who handle every other task from running the barbershops, post office
and everything else. An Aircraft carrier Vance thought was like a small city
and big airport all rolled into one. It took a lot of people to keep it running 24/7,
three shifts of people working around the clock.