A Gentleman in White
Up to Table of Contents

A Gentleman in White

While we were on NATO Maneuvers, our boat got a new Commanding Officer. We were in Spain at the time, and it was another four months before we returned to the U.S., at which time we were all expected to exchange calls with the new skipper and his wife. At that point I was the most junior of eight officers, so I did not get to call on the skipper until the six officers whose seniority was between mine and the skipper's had paid their calls. By then I had gotten new cards printed up, which said

Frank Gregory Charlton, III
Lieutenant (Junior Grade), United States Navy

Also, by that time we were home-ported in Key West, Florida, so the uniforms were different. After work I changed from my Tropical Khaki (Long) uniform into my Service Dress White uniform. We paid a call on my new skipper and his wife, and we left three cards. The following week they called on us.

The sport of exchanging calling cards was a most popular pastime among the officers (and their wives) in the Submarine Force in those days. We heard rumors that it was also popular among officers of other types of ships, as well. When I had gotten married, the Navy sent my new wife a book on How To Be A Navy Wife. The instructions regarding calls were simple, straightforward, and rigid. No one ever got it wrong.

It was The Thing To Do.

Up to Table of Contents