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mission during the previous
combat deployment. Bob had been a special personality among the
senior department heads on Ranger, with words of encouragement, a good
natured pertinent joke or humorous comment for all occasions. He was
known for his laughter, good nature, and practical jokes, and he had been
sorely missed since retiring.
Commander Ed Graham was one of the sharpest and best Executive Officers
(referred to as “XO” by the crew) ever detailed to an Aircraft
Carrier. It took only a few minutes of contemplation for him to come
up with a plan to brand the horse, benefit the crew of the RANGER, and to
utilize the horse—although I am certain that the enlightened concept
that led to a tradition on Ranger during those years originated with Bob
Brunskill long before he departed the USS RANGER. With a big grin on
his face, a twinkle in his eye, and the puzzled Deputy Sheriff in tow, Ed
Graham headed for the stateroom office of Captain Livingston.
After a short summary of events and details of the document delivered by
the Deputy Sheriff, Ed began to lay out his plan. “We will
determine the brand through an all-hands contest, and tie in a
contribution of one dollar to the United Fund for each entry,” the XO
specified. He was relieved and pleased to find a simple and
enjoyable means to motivate contributions to the annual United Fund drive.
“We can throw in a special seventy-two hour liberty and a nice prize,
and some other appropriate benefits to the winner,” Ed continued,
“and the winning brand can be submitted to the State of Wyoming as the
proper brand for the horse.” Commander Graham went on to indicate
the details of his plan, and Captain Livingston was quick to approve the
proposal, directing that the proper office in Wyoming be contacted and
particulars be worked out on submission and approval of the brand,
satisfaction of the requirements of the legal document, and the subsequent
cancellation of the warrant. “Tag” Livingston enjoyed a
good laugh more than most, but he didn’t want any loose ends that could
possibly embarrass the navy.
A beaming Executive Officer led the Deputy Sheriff back
through the maze of passageways and compartments to the Quarterdeck and
bade the Deputy goodbye, saying “we’ve got it covered, and will take
care of this matter from here on.” As the Deputy descended the
Officers Brow, Ed Graham’s fertile mind was already planning the
contest—and the eventual dramatic use of the horse.
The next step was to track down Bob Brunskill and find out all the
particulars about the horse, the unbranded stallion legal problem and just
what was brewing in Bob’s fertile mind. Since the horse came from
Landers, Wyoming it stood to reason that Bob Brunskill now resided in
Landers. Sure enough, when the Personnel File on Commander Brunskill
was delivered by a Yeoman Third from the Administration Office, it listed
a retirement address in Landers. A telephone call soon had the
booming laughter of Bob Brunskill filling Ed Graham’s small office.
“What did you think of that Horse?” “How about that fancy
black saddle!” “I wish I could have seen the Duty Officer's
face-and yours, XO, when that Deputy presented his papers!”
Bob Brunskill finally controlled his mirth long enough to confide that he
had convinced the Landers Chamber of Commerce to join him in the venture,
and their goal was to invite the Commanding Officer of the USS RANGER to
be their guest for the annual Landers Frontier Days Rodeo, and to be the
Grand Marshal of that event and its Parade. And, also as many
Rangermen as could attend the three day event would be the welcome guests
of the city--all this as a means of showing Landers’ appreciation and
support for the USS RANGER’S combat operations.
Commander Graham explained to Bob the planning on RANGER to design an
appropriate brand, his ideas for using the horse with a “Lone Ranger”,
and said he would urge Captain Livingston to attend the Frontier Days and
Rodeo-and he would make plans to fly the RANGER’S C-1A aircraft to
Landers with a full load of Rangermen.
After finishing his telephone call with Bob Brunskill, Ed Graham’s
thoughts returned to his ideas for use of the white horse. “This
will be perfect as a morale builder, and will certainly compliment the
crews’ image of the RANGER.” Thought the XO. Just as every crew
member of the USS RANGER, since the ships commissioning in 1958, the
XO was fervently aware that the “William Tell Overture” by Rossini
was the theme and song of the USS RANGER. That great music, made
popular and known to most by the radio, television and movie programs of
the Lone Ranger was customarily played throughout the ship over the 1MC
public address system every time the USS RANGER got underway or when
separating from another ship during an at sea underway replenishment.
Now, not only would the USS RANGER have the dramatic music associated with
the Lone Ranger, Ed Graham also envisioned the USS RANGER’S own Lone
Ranger. He called up to Flight Deck Control and asked Commander
Marshall Bittick, the Flight Deck Officer, to meet him on the Hanger Deck
next to the big white horse.
Later, standing near the statue of the horse, Ed Graham queried Commander
Bittick, “Marsh, can you fix up one of your flight deck “yellow
gear” tractors with some sort of a quick disconnect arrangement by which
this horse could be safely mounted on the tractor?” “It has to
be safe enough to support the horse and a rider, and yet not tie up your
tractor for any length of time.” “Can do XO,” responded the Flight
Deck Officer, “just give me about a week”. They both walked over
to a grouping of “yellow gear" the term is used for all equipment used
to move, start, or perform special maintenance on aircraft on the Flight
Deck or Hanger Deck) and contemplated the low three foot high rectangular
vehicles used to move aircraft. Soon a tractor like this would animate and
provide the needed motion to a horse and rider.
The next day the USS RANGER ‘Plan of the Day’ announced a contest to
brand the white horse residing on the Hanger Deck, explained the origins
of the horse, and advised the crew that this would constitute the annual
United Fund Charity Drive for the ship. The fact that the winning
brand would become an official brand for the USS RANGER, and be registered
in the State of Wyoming really motivated the crew, and “branding the
horse” became the principal topic of conversation on the ship. Ten days
later, after more than seven-thousand entries had been submitted for a
brand for the USS RANGER and her great white horse, a winning brand
was selected by a special panel. It met the requirements for a brand
as prescribed by the State of Wyoming, and while simple, it made a
powerful statement. The brand was a capital “T” and capital
“G” underscored by the traditional horizontal symbol for the word
“bar”, and below the bar the........(Next Page) |
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