Wardroom v. Mess Deck

[Subdeacon Joe]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[watab kid]

im sure my departed FIL would relate , but not being navy i cant , i do have all of his stuff tho and im learning a little , my father was army air corp - i learned a bit about that , ive compiled a file to preserve it , im now doing the same for my FIL with very little help i might add - seems navy brats have very little sympathy to ,my causer , and there were five of them including my wife [born at pearl harbor in the year of statehood] so a labor of love 

[Forty Rod SASS 3935]

This demonstrates the old saying "rank has its privileges."

[Dapper Dave]

I mess cranked in the Wardroom twice WAAAAY back in the day. There absolutely is a HUGE difference.  

Funny story time;

We were heading out on WestPac, 1988, and one of the LTs demanded I bring his HUGE jar of Grey Poupon to the table, as he had enough to last the whole voyage, bragging about it to the other officers.

I tripped and dropped it, shattering on the deck. At this time we hadn't even gone out of sight of the Golden Gate. The LT wanted to keelhaul me on the spot but the captain had seen the whole thing and let me off with, "Be more careful", mostly because of the bragging the other guy had done. I felt bad...but not much, the guy was a blowhard.

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Same Captain, who commented that his officers were getting portly, and we needed to cut the chocolate cake, (not kidding), chunks in half. OK, I do what I'm told, and when the officers complained, I explained what I had been told. The Captain stepped up behind them and exclaimed, "Someone is taking the Captains name in vain, I never said that!" Oh, GQ Jimmy, I coulda cut you off at your fat knees for that one!

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Crew mess was a cafeteria "dining" style, stand in line and put your tray out for whatever the mess cooks slop on them. One time it was "Salisbury steak", (sliders with extra grease and leftover veggies), and they ran out of one tray on the steam line at the guy in front of me. They brought another steam try out and the MS3 poured the glop from the first tray all over the second one. The guy in front of me started heaving. I had a salad. 

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Ever had milk that needs no refrigeration? It tastes just fine, but the after effects are...shall we say, a bit "stoppering"...

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When I joined they explained that during peacetime we were guaranteed two hot meals a day. I quickly discovered that while hot was no problem, being edible was NOT guaranteed. Ever had pizza with rice and American cheese?

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There was a very small hatch out to the weather deck right behind the officers galley, and we'd step outside to smoke. At that time we were in port and the seagulls were driving us nuts. We threw a bunch of bread out that we soaked in hot sauce, and very soon the ocean was covered in seagulls frantically drinking seawater. Flying rats.

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Right before I got out, I got in trouble, (go figure), and as part of my punishment I ended up back mess cranking in the Wardroom. However, we were in a berthing barge as female berthing was being put on the ship, in drydock. The Wardroom was on the top level of the berthing barge. Now the biggest problem was that the AC on this thing worked poorly, at best, so we'd leave the hatches open at the end of the berthing runs. I was right at the end next to the hatch, and had my rack on one side of the hatch, and my locker on the other side. I was due to go on duty soon, so I went to shower. I came back to my rack, dropped my towel and walked across the deck to my locker, only to find a female LT staring in abject shock as she was going up the outer ladder, which of course had a landing at each level. I just said "Good morning, Ma'am", and continued on my way.

At chow time I was in the Wardroom setting up the silverware when that same female LT walked in the compartment, saw me, blushed the brightest fire engine red I have ever seen, and bolted out of the room. I literally never saw her again, as I mustered out a week later. Oops. 

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Everyone involved in these escapades is long out of uniform and my ship was turned into high quality razor blades in 2012. Neener. 

[Pat Riot]

Both videos are inaccurate in the Navy of the late 70’s to early 80’s. 
Officers and enlisted technically eat the same food at sea but not cooked or prepared the same. 
Food in the Wardroom is prepared by dedicated more talented cooks and only squared away Seamen as mess cranks.

Food on the mess deck is prepared by  trained, but perhaps talented cooks and your more average E-1s through E-3s.

Wardroom - 2 cooks and 4 mess cranks to 30 officers. 
Mess Deck - 10 or 12 cooks and 20 mess cranks to 300-400 enlisted.

The officers do eat on better tableware or dinnerware, but rarely on finer china type tableware unless in port and for special occasions. 
 

A perfect analogy to Officers vs Enlisted food preparation is the episode from MASH where Hawkeye becomes the KP officer for the camp. 
 

EDIT:

I can’t believe I found it. 
 

 

Edited March 3 by Pat Riot

[Dubious Don #56333]

SO..... how come the tables in Navy Messes have edges?

LOL

Sorry to hear about all your troubles with "integrated" berthing spaces.

 

That would never happen in the Army.....ROTFL

 

In the Army, we had Barracks. Barracks for the Men, Barracks for the women in some places. Mostly, it was the same building, different floors or, THIS hallway was for the guys. THAT hallway was for the women. And don't you be caught being in the wrong one!! lol

 

As far as eating goes, we had a Mess Hall. In my time, every unit of Company size or larger had their own Mess Hall, Sergeant and staff. Nowadays they do it differently I hear. I did visit places that had combined messes, made up of several unit's worth of cooks & bakers but overseas, every unit I was stationed with was self-sufficient down to the motor pool and supply, whether you were garrisoned at a Post or out in the field.

 

Officers ate the same chow. Same serving lines, mostly. Separate seating areas. In the field, there was no separate LOL. Since some units worked shift work 24/7, most had "Midnight Chow" At one unit, the night staff was only one or two people and they cooked to order because the numbers were small, less than 15 or so. One night the "new" private wanted to serve us leftover rollers & sliders. A counseling session ensued, and the feller somehow ended up locked in the reefer, found hours later by the CQ LOL. Don't know what happened.

[Dapper Dave]

We had separate areas because, unlike the Army, we took our beds to war with us.  While we were sinking 3/4 of the Iranian navy in 1988 we got cold sandwiches delivered to the gun mounts and the holds, where I was doing 96 hour evolutions rearming warships who put a bunch of Iranian metal on the ocean floor. 😎

Pat Riot, I can say no, squared away mess cranks were not the norm in our wardroom - they took whoever did whatever, and I got tagged twice for that duty. I was NOT a good sailor, unfortunately. I grew up after I got out, which is unfortunate, as it would have been a nice retirement. Oh well. 

BTW, thinking quickly, I think we had maybe 20 officers on board. Might have been less - that was a LONG time ago. I will say we did have some very cool officers - one LT was a mustang, who once in a while wanted to hide, so he'd throw on a set of coveralls. When the collars were flipped down, they had his LT tracks, but when they were flipped up, they sported 2nd Class Crows. He'd grab a needle gun and come chip paint with us, and when another officer would come looking for him, we'd just shrug, no clue sir, sorry. 

 

Edit for a clarification - I never served aboard a ship with integrated berthing, considered it a very bad idea. I remember hearing about when they put 6 females abord the Enterprise as a test - 3 months into the cruise all of them were flown off pregnant, IIRC. The "integrated" berthing I referred to is a berthing barge, basically a floating apartment building that was not built with integrated berthing whatsoever, and in fact, the female officers and ratings were not sleeping on the barge, just showing up for work. I have absolutely zero idea where they were staying, probably someplace on Eddy Street, knowing the cheapness of the Navy.  And this was before San Fran turned into one giant outdoor toilet!

Edited March 3 by Dapper Dave

[Barry Sloe]

I've eaten in the mess decks, Chief's mess, and ward room. Of the three I'd pick the Chief's mess every time. 

Did you know that officers had to pay for their meals (I believe it was at sea only). And you paid whether you ate or not. 

Never did have to do the mess crank gig. Was always in a billet that was too important to be pulled from. 

Good memories and bad.

 

BS

Edited March 4 by Barry Sloe
Fix spelling

[Subdeacon Joe]

Great stories!  Thank you. 

[Trailrider #896]

While on maintenance dispatches to the Minuteman I missile sites, back in the mid-'60's, we usually stopped at the truck stops for lunch. After that, we usually had drawn "In-flight" boxed meals to take with us in the truck. (If you wanted to heat up the can of whatever, you just raised the hood of the truck and set the opened can on the exhaust manifold.)  If we ran out of that, and were close to one of the Launch Control Facility (now Missile Alert Facilities), and could ask the cook in the topside kitchen to fix us something. 

 

That was acceptable...if we got there during the early evening or later morning hours. Chow was same regardless whether you were an officer or EM.  EXCEPT...one night we hit Mike-One at about 0230, having had a long delay on the LF that we were working to get the missile to StratAlert.  Hadn't eaten in about 10 hours. Asked the NCOIC if we could get something to eat. "Sorry, sir, the cook is asleep, and we aren't supposed to wake him, per our C.O."  Well, could we get some in-flight boxes that we could heat up ourselves?  Oh, no, not supposed to issue those except in an emergency. 

 

Needless to say, I was tired and "irrigated"!  I picked up the phone in the dayroom (connected to the base net), and called the Deputy Commander for Maintenance (DCM), a full-bull. I apologized for waking him, but explained the problem. He told me, "Don't worry about it, lieutenant." I think he called the colonel, the boss of the service troops.  About five minutes later, the cook was asking how we liked our bacon and eggs! And after that, whenever a maintenance team arrived at an LCF, they got served meals no matter what time it was!

[Pat Riot]

5 hours ago, Barry Sloe said:

I've eaten in the mess decks, Chief's mess, and ward room. Of the three I'd pick the Chief's mess every time. 

Did you know that officers had to pay for their meals (I believe it was at sea only). And you paid whether you ate or not. 

Never did have to do the mess crank gig. Was always in a billet that was too important to be pulled from. 

Good memories and bad.

 

BS

In port the officers had to pay for their food. At sea it was on the Navy. 

[Barry Sloe]

1 minute ago, Pat Riot said:

In port the officers had to pay for their food. At sea it was on the Navy. 

I knew it was one or the other. Ya gotta give me a little break, I retired 31 years ago. 

 

Boy am I getting old, 

BS

[Pat Riot]

Just now, Barry Sloe said:

I knew it was one or the other. Ya gotta give me a little break, I retired 31 years ago. 

 

Boy am I getting old, 

BS

In port, in Norfolk, VA, I was mess cranking. In the Wardroom. For dinners I would make the salads. On Sundays the officers on duty would invite their wives or girlfriends aboard for dinner.

All of us on the Wardroom mess crew would go out of our way to make sure the meals with the Ladies aboard were a little extra special. 
I always made the salads especially good with a variety of vegetables. 
One Monday after one of these “special” dinners a Lieutenant comes into the Mess and wants to know who made the salads for the dinner the night before. We all thought by his demeanor that he was there to compliment our efforts. 
I stepped forward and said “I make the salads, Sir” and the cooks and mess cranks all nodded in agreement. 
This Lt. proceeds to berate me up one side and down the other for wasting food that he has to pay for and being single he shouldn’t have to pay for me to impress the other officer’s wives. 
The Ladies did love my salads and I was complimented a number of times in this regard. 
I responded “With all due respect, Sir, you are the first to complain or instruct me that my salad preparation is wasteful. I do not report to you and I will promptly inform the Supply Officer of your concerns.” I wanted to say so much more but decided I liked the ability to go on Liberty occasionally. 
The 2nd class Petty Officer that we reported to stepped up and told the Lt that he would insure the Supply Officer was made aware as soon as he spoke to the Sr. Chief about this. 
At this point the Lieutenant appeared uneasy but maintained his composure as he exited the Mess area. 
My 2nd class then informed me that most officers hated dealing with the Supply Officer,  a Commander, because he was obtuse and unforgiving. Also, the Sr. Chief was one vindictive SOB and no one messed with his cooks or mess cranks. 
The Lieutenant apparently got a serious butt chewing by the Supply Officer and as luck would have it the Lt had weekend duty that upcoming weekend. 
On Friday the Supply Officer himself pulled me to the side and told me that I was to make individual salads and not do the salad bar set up that I normally did and if the Lieutenant requested a salad he was to get a salad reflective of his concerns for his own budget and the paying of his meals.

Saturday at dinner that Lt got a shredded lettuce salad. Everyone else got a very nice personal salad. 
At the end of dinner he appeared at the galley window and threw his salad at me. 
I grinned. 
Sunday at dinner he verbally requested a salad at the galley window and said “It better be better than last nights.”

It was. I added a chunk of carrot and a slice of tomato. I also didn’t shred the leaves of lettuce as he stated he hated shredded lettuce. 
Luckily this was an officers only dinner. No wives aboard. 
Upon my serving of the Lieutenant his salad he flipped out. He stood up and threw a tantrum like a bratty little kid. Then stormed out of the Wardroom. 
The next day I was called into the Executive Officer’s Stateroom. My Petty Officer said “It’s been nice working with you.” When I left the Mess. At the time I didn’t know he was messing with me. 
I quickly ran to my berthing and changed into my dress uniform and then reported to the XO’s quarters. 
I knocked 3 times and was told to come in. 
I entered and it looked like a tribunal. I just knew I was screwed. The XO was there as was the Supply Officer, the Weapons Officer (my boss’ boss’ boss) my Division Officer, the MS Sr Chief and the dreaded Lieutenant. 
I stood at attention in front of the XO’s desk. 
He immediately told me to stand at ease and then said “Gunners Mate Seaman (my last name) Lieutenant (so and so) has something he would like to say to you.”

With this the Lieutenant approached and I turned to face him. 
His face was a bit red. He straightened and looked very serious and he called me by my last name and then said “Please accept my sincerest apology for the way I have recently treated you.”

I smiled and said “I accept your apology, Sir and I apologize for my substandard salads this past weekend.”
At this everyone laughed and that was the end of The Salad Drama.  

Afterwards the XO told me to continue doing my usual good job and that was that. 
 

That Lieutenant never complained again as long as I was on mess duty - the longest 90 days of my life. 
 

[Dapper Dave]

12 hours ago, Barry Sloe said:

I've eaten in the mess decks, Chief's mess, and ward room. Of the three I'd pick the Chief's mess every time. 

Did you know that officers had to pay for their meals (I believe it was at sea only). And you paid whether you ate or not. 

Never did have to do the mess crank gig. Was always in a billet that was too important to be pulled from. 

Good memories and bad.

 

BS

I remember going to the Goat Locker once and they had some REALLY weird movies playing in there. Not sure if they did it just to mess with us or if they really enjoyed Life On The Farm...I never saw an officer pay for a meal at sea or in port, must have been an automatic deduction. We did have one officer, LT Deal, IIRC, who had really bad sea sickness, and he would eat once a day, if that. Weird choice of a career with that weak of a tummy. 

[Dapper Dave]

6 hours ago, Pat Riot said:

In port, in Norfolk, VA, I was mess cranking. In the Wardroom. For dinners I would make the salads. On Sundays the officers on duty would invite their wives or girlfriends aboard for dinner.

All of us on the Wardroom mess crew would go out of our way to make sure the meals with the Ladies aboard were a little extra special. 
I always made the salads especially good with a variety of vegetables. 
One Monday after one of these “special” dinners a Lieutenant comes into the Mess and wants to know who made the salads for the dinner the night before. We all thought by his demeanor that he was there to compliment our efforts. 
I stepped forward and said “I make the salads, Sir” and the cooks and mess cranks all nodded in agreement. 
This Lt. proceeds to berate me up one side and down the other for wasting food that he has to pay for and being single he shouldn’t have to pay for me to impress the other officer’s wives. 
The Ladies did love my salads and I was complimented a number of times in this regard. 
I responded “With all due respect, Sir, you are the first to complain or instruct me that my salad preparation is wasteful. I do not report to you and I will promptly inform the Supply Officer of your concerns.” I wanted to say so much more but decided I liked the ability to go on Liberty occasionally. 
The 2nd class Petty Officer that we reported to stepped up and told the Lt that he would insure the Supply Officer was made aware as soon as he spoke to the Sr. Chief about this. 
At this point the Lieutenant appeared uneasy but maintained his composure as he exited the Mess area. 
My 2nd class then informed me that most officers hated dealing with the Supply Officer,  a Commander, because he was obtuse and unforgiving. Also, the Sr. Chief was one vindictive SOB and no one messed with his cooks or mess cranks. 
The Lieutenant apparently got a serious butt chewing by the Supply Officer and as luck would have it the Lt had weekend duty that upcoming weekend. 
On Friday the Supply Officer himself pulled me to the side and told me that I was to make individual salads and not do the salad bar set up that I normally did and if the Lieutenant requested a salad he was to get a salad reflective of his concerns for his own budget and the paying of his meals.

Saturday at dinner that Lt got a shredded lettuce salad. Everyone else got a very nice personal salad. 
At the end of dinner he appeared at the galley window and threw his salad at me. 
I grinned. 
Sunday at dinner he verbally requested a salad at the galley window and said “It better be better than last nights.”

It was. I added a chunk of carrot and a slice of tomato. I also didn’t shred the leaves of lettuce as he stated he hated shredded lettuce. 
Luckily this was an officers only dinner. No wives aboard. 
Upon my serving of the Lieutenant his salad he flipped out. He stood up and threw a tantrum like a bratty little kid. Then stormed out of the Wardroom. 
The next day I was called into the Executive Officer’s Stateroom. My Petty Officer said “It’s been nice working with you.” When I left the Mess. At the time I didn’t know he was messing with me. 
I quickly ran to my berthing and changed into my dress uniform and then reported to the XO’s quarters. 
I knocked 3 times and was told to come in. 
I entered and it looked like a tribunal. I just knew I was screwed. The XO was there as was the Supply Officer, the Weapons Officer (my boss’ boss’ boss) my Division Officer, the MS Sr Chief and the dreaded Lieutenant. 
I stood at attention in front of the XO’s desk. 
He immediately told me to stand at ease and then said “Gunners Mate Seaman (my last name) Lieutenant (so and so) has something he would like to say to you.”

With this the Lieutenant approached and I turned to face him. 
His face was a bit red. He straightened and looked very serious and he called me by my last name and then said “Please accept my sincerest apology for the way I have recently treated you.”

I smiled and said “I accept your apology, Sir and I apologize for my substandard salads this past weekend.”
At this everyone laughed and that was the end of The Salad Drama.  

Afterwards the XO told me to continue doing my usual good job and that was that. 
 

That Lieutenant never complained again as long as I was on mess duty - the longest 90 days of my life. 
 

Aha, another Gunner's Mate! How DID we always end up in the Wardroom? Since we owned about 70% of the ship, we had waaaay too much stuff to do to mess around in the galley.
The Captain's cook, MS-3 Meyers, usually made some nice stuff, but for the life of me I don't remember a single salad. 
That LT that gave me garbage never apologized, but we did have one LT on board who was ex-Merchant Marine, and he and I got along famously, right up to when he got so blotto at my 21st birthday party in Port Townsend that he decked an RM-1, and tried to take on four Chiefs. I had to testify at his Mast...THAT sucked. 

[Pat Riot]

On 3/4/2025 at 9:05 PM, Dapper Dave said:

Aha, another Gunner's Mate! How DID we always end up in the Wardroom? Since we owned about 70% of the ship, we had waaaay too much stuff to do to mess around in the galley.
The Captain's cook, MS-3 Meyers, usually made some nice stuff, but for the life of me I don't remember a single salad. 
That LT that gave me garbage never apologized, but we did have one LT on board who was ex-Merchant Marine, and he and I got along famously, right up to when he got so blotto at my 21st birthday party in Port Townsend that he decked an RM-1, and tried to take on four Chiefs. I had to testify at his Mast...THAT sucked. 

I was the only GM that got Wardroom duty out of the ones I knew. Everyone else got the Mess Decks. One of my buddies ticked off the Chief and he got 90 days of deep sink duty. 
Mess duty was long hours and no days off. I recall many days of doing breakfast, lunch, dinner and Mid-Rats when we were short handed. Hit the rack around 01:30 then back at it again at 04:00. Good Times 

[Dapper Dave]

Only time I ticked off the Chief I got to clean cargo holds for many hours...and we had five cargo holds.

[Subdeacon Joe]