Hi Gents,

The current controversy on Commencement Addresses - Condi Rice at
Rutgers and Ms. Ali at Brandeis make me think of our own graduation
ceremony. I'm sure we all know that Princeton is always wet at Reunions
and Commencement - either by rain or by sweat. At our graduation it was
the sweat, it was about 95* dgs. and we were sitting in the sun. Most of
you had gowns of light weight, but I was wearing my father's gown from
his college graduation. The problem was that he was in the first
graduating class (1918) from the University of Saskatchewan and his gown
was made of wool (slightly "greened" over the years, but still
approximately black). It was like wearing a couple of layers of sweaters
in that summer sun.

I was sitting in the middle of the crowd, fully exposed to the sun, next
to Jim Seeley. Jim looked as me and said "Murph, you are looking
purple". We decided it would be a good idea to retire to the shade of
the elms in the back, where the grandstand was for families, before I
passed out. Once we got into the shade we looked around and both came to
the same thought as we looked across Nassau Street. The Annex, air
conditioning, a beer. We slipped across the street and celebrated our
graduation in our caps and gowns over a couple of "dimeys" at the bar.
We returned in time to accept the congratulations from family and
classmates, but decidedly cooler than the rest of you. It was a fine
graduation ceremony!

Best, Jon (Murphy)

previous day. As a life long Jersey resident I don't remember there ever
being a "reported" temperature of 100, but we have had them at 105. Then
again, the actual temperature at a specific location can vary quite a
bit from the reported temperature for the area due to local conditions.
My guess of 95 was an attempt to avoid an exaggeration, Jim's sounds
more educated as to what it actually was in the sun-baked area where we
sat.

Perhaps the ambient temperature in the shaded area at the back was 95
and it was 105 in the sun, who knows. I just know that it was too damned
hot. I have played golf in NJ at 100 and not been that uncomfortable,
but then again I always took a drive cart when it got over 95.
Temperature is a relative thing. During my Navy days my ship took
cruises to the Med each summer, the Med was hot. On the first, during
the first Lebanon Crisis, we were separated from the fleet to patrol the
Red Sea, our task was to evacuate American civilians from Jedda, Saudi
Arabia, if the conflict spread. Not a very sensible thing as we were a
destroyer barely able to contain the 13 officers and 200 crew and the
Americans in Jeddah were 400 - and also our shore party was about 30
officers and men untrained in ground warfare, we had a couple of BARs
and a bunch of M1s but our only practice was firing them at a broom
towed behind the ship. Luckily the conflict didn't spread, but it was
really hot in the Red Sea.

Also a bit smelly aboard ship, the officers and men couldn't take a
shower but once every two days as the fresh water (distilled on board)
was first reserved for the boilers.

Then we were sent on solo patrol in the Persian Gulf, we had a hope that
we could avoid that as Quemoy and Matsu blew up at the time and ships
from the Sixth Fleet were sent to the Far East to cover that. Our logic
said that it would be economical for us to be sent with them and that we
be replaced by another destroyer coming at economical speed, our mission
in the Gulf was merely a presence. No such luck. We found ourselves as
station ship in Bahrein, which was then an island of mud huts and a
sheikdom (they hadn't found the oil yet). Ambient temperature of 110 to
120, and humid. The crew got some relief in the air conditioned mess
deck, as did the Chiefs in their quarters - both were below the main
weather deck. We officers also had air conditioning in the wardroom, our
dining room, but it was above the main weather deck and baked directly
by the sun. The A/C had a battle to keep it at about 105 - we often
found good reasons to inspect the mess deck and visit the Chief's
quarters - but Officer's quarters really became smelly as we couldn't
take a shower at all. There is a rule on a Naval ship, the crew has its
own privileges. The water to the crew's showers went directly from the
condensers in the after engine room, but the water for the officer's
head passed through two boiler rooms and was too hot to shower in. It
was a no-no for us to use the crew's head, it was theirs.

This is a description, not a complaint - we weren't shot at as some of
our classmates were. It is just a normal Murph Says, a pontification to
a point. Coming full circle to my comment above that temperature is a
relative thing, when we got back to the Med we rejoined the fleet and
when refueling from a carrier on a 90 dg. day found ourselves being
looked at askance by the crew of the carrier. They were sweating in
light shirts and we were wearing jackets. The human body is a very
adaptable thing.

Edit it as you will,


Best, Jon