Many enlisted thought most officers were wrapped too tight, missed social behavior classes or ate lead-based paint chips as a toddler. But the Nukes had some excellent people who happened to be officers. The one I will speak of in this memory also became the CO of the Beach years later. I first met Lt. Commander Burns on a mid watch in #2 Engine Room. I was the Electrician monitoring the Aft SS Control panel. Gordi Krogh was the senior Mechanic and was easily considered the ring-leader of all pranks and jokes. I don't remember the other two mechanics names but they were full participates in what I am about to describe.

We had been at sea for a week or more. I think we were headed out on WestPac. About 1 am, we feel the door leading to the engine room pop open, similar to popping your ears on an air flight. All four of us were in the Control Room and waiting to see who just entered our "domain". In pops Lt. Commander Burns seeking to get some practical factors signed off for his qualifications. Allow me to say, 1 am is not the time to bug people for PracFacts. I could hear the OHHHH from Gordi behind me. But Grodi sees the opportunity and replies that the only evolution being run that night would be starting the hydrogenator. The hydrogenator???, comes from Burns. Gordi goes oh yeah, let me see your qual book. So Grodi thumbs to a page on Fresh Water quals and replies that Commander Burns has an outdated qual sheet. So Grodi pulls out one from the desk he is at and sure enough there is the qual to start and stop the hydrogenator at the bottom of the other Fresh Water quals.

NOTE: the hydrogenator involved opening or closing valves that did nothing, but it allowed Grodi and the other mechanic time to position a large trash can over an opening and get it filled with fresh water.

I don't believe for a moment that Commander Burns didn't know this was some kind of gag but he went along with it. He may have thought that no one would run a prank on a Lt. Commander, certainly a newly arrived one that may not have a sense of humor. Well Commander Burns didn't know Grodi.

So the one mechanic spends 20 minutes chasing Burns around the engine room doing little of nothing, when the trash can is full, Grodi announces on the engine room speakers that he is ready to start the hydrogenator as soon as the other mechanic and Burns finish the valve lineups. That is the signal to the other mechanic to have Burns operate valves by standing on a ladder which is located below the trash can. Commander Burns gets douched with about 40 gallons of water. The mechanic says he's never seen that happen before and hands Burns a shop towel.

The 3 of us are in the Control Room thinking Commander Burns would be immediately departing the Engine Room. Instead the door pops open and in walks Commander Burns with his khaki shirt pulled out which exposed the only dry area of clothing on him. Burns gets his qual book and says something about working with Petty Officer Krogh in the future on PracFacts. Then walks out shaking his head.

So Commander Burn was a good guy who happened to be a senior naval officer. I'm confident those who served under him as their CO thought likewise.