S O S = Save Our Ships john.denham Total Views: 73 November 12, 2009 By John G. Denham No matter what is preserved or kept safe, it costs money! In my past life I shared my useful abilities with the U.S. Merchant Marine and the U.S. Navy. I shipped in 12 merchant ships and served in 7 navy ships, commanding 3. In each I came away with lessons that today I share in VOX OCEANUS articles, a dozen published pieces and three novels. What little wealth I acquired is from my retirement from the Navy, the California Maritime Academy, employment as a pilot, consulting, and wise investments thereafter. So, I ask myself, who do I owe? Recently I joined the Navy League, Merchant Marine Chapter; became a life member of the Tin Can Sailor Inc., and the Military Officers’ Association for reasons I do not recall. Any writing I do is gratis; I get pittance from my books, but my personal communications has increased; some is favorable. But mostly I am targeted to help support worthy causes, and, there are many of them. The dilemma faced is which ones and how much? Locally, in the San Francisco area including the popular river ports of Sacramento, Stockton, Benicia, Martinez, Vallejo and bay ports of Richmond, Oakland, Alameda and Redwood City there is an abundance of memorial maritime artifacts to which I owe allegiance. Proudly they host a navy aircraft carrier, a submarine, a maritime museum, a liberty ship, a victory ship, a presidential yacht, and I believe in the Reserve Fleet we have a USCG light ship and a battleship seeking a home. At one time or another I served with or had a relationship with these vessels or their enshrined kin. I enjoy their sight, smell and feel. Memories abound when I step aboard. As a mate, I recall the vertical ladders in cargo holds, the hours in pilot houses standing watches, thinking, checking the magnetic compass, winding the chronometers, the morning coffee, the call to Fore & Aft, and landing cumbersome gangways. I often wake at 0330 for wat