Hal M. Rickert
Walter C. Medhurst III will be missed. Big Wally had a profound effect on me. He was my boss on my first submarine duty, and I admired him.
One incident involving Master Chief that I have told many times, and will tell many times more, makes me chuckle now, but not at the time! He was describing to me how tight he wanted a particular very large bolt, and he did it in graphic detail. I will substitute cuss words as he shouted at full volume and full height.
Big Wally: “SPOT TORQUE THAT SOB”
me: “What do you mean 'spot torque' Master Chief?“
Big Wally: “YOU FIND THE BIGGEST %@# WRENCH WE HAVE AND THEN FIND THE BIGGEST CHUNK OF PIPE YOU CAN FIT ON THAT WRENCH TO USE IT AS A CHEATER. YOU GRAB AHOLD OF THAT PIPE, PUT YOUR FEET AGAINST THE BULKHEAD AND YOU PULL ON THAT %$^&# UNTIL YOU SEE SPOTS!”
It impressed me! I will always remember the the term.
Fair Winds Master Chief.
H. M. Rickert former MM1(SS)