Sea Cadet Field Day

Members of the Baton Rouge Division of U.S. Naval Sea Cadets chip paint from the decks of the USS

KIDD's fantail during a field day event on February 26, 2011.  Photo by Tim NesSmith.

Dateline:  February 26, 2011 — The Baton Rouge Division Sea Cadets reported aboard KIDD for their third Field Day in the past six months with a crew of twelve, plus four adult officers.  Original plans called for Instructor Norman Soran and two cadets to conduct a class in stitching canvas; specifically, the herringbone stitch.  This stitch is used to secure lacquered canvas sheathing on the ladder chains throughout the ship.  The sheathing is both functional (in that it avoids pinching hazards) and decorative.  In conducting the class, the cadets would learn a useful skill while simultaneously providing the KIDD with replacements for frayed or worn canvas.  Mr. Paul Fontenot of Boy Scout Troop 136 was slated to secure the ends of the sheaths with coxcoaming—decorative knotwork.  An added bonus was the planned participation of World War II destroyer veteran Garrett C. Lynch, who served as a boatswain's mate while in the Navy.

Unfortunately, the shipment of sewing supplies needed to outfit each cadet did not arrive in time for the event and the time available for the exercise also shortened unexpectedly.  Therefore, the stitching exercise was tabled for a future date and the cadets lent the shipboard staff some aid in the form of sanitizing the bunks in the enlisted quarters.  This involved wiping down both sides of the mattress covers of all 160 enlisted bunks in five berthing compartments, cleaning out any trash found beneath the mattress, wiping down the mailing frames of the bunks, cleaning the metal I-beams found in the overheads and on the bulkheads, and cleaning the grills to all of the ventilation ducts found in each compartment.  This work must be done routinely as the KIDD hosts over 5,000 Overnight campers each year in these spaces.

While outlining the work detail and distributing supplies, two cadets had a special request for Ship's Superintendent Tim NesSmith.  "Mr. Tim," one cadet asked when recognized, "Do you have something a little harder?"  The group was gathered on the ship's fantail which has been undergoing deck restoration since October of 2010, a painfully slow and back-breaking process involving chipping hammers, chisels, scrappers, needleguns, and deck crawlers at various points in the process.  "You can chip paint if you want to," NesSmith offered.  The two cadets were quick to respond:  "Yes, sir.  We'll do that, sir."  So while the rest of the work detail focused on cleaning the KIDD's interior, an eventual crew of three cadets worked to scale her exterior down to bare metal for repainting.  Afterward, they asked if they could come back for more.

Cadets wiped down and sanitized 160 bunks in the ship's

enlisted berthing quarters.  Photo by Tim NesSmith.

Following their work detail aboard the KIDD, the cadets prepared to march in the Krewe of Orion parade, part of Baton Rouge's annual Mardi Gras festivities.

Members of the Baton Rouge Division of U.S. Naval Sea Cadets scrub the splinter shields

of the KIDD's port side midships 20mm guns on September 11, 2010.

Photo by Wendy Ingram; courtesy of USNSCC Baton Rouge Division.  Used by permission.

Dateline:  November 13, 2010 — Five members of the Baton Rouge Sea Cadets returned for a field day aboard USS KIDD (DD-661) today along with two adult officers.  The cadets continued a washdown of the main deck, this time focusing on the starboard side of the aft deckhouse.  This included the deckhouse bulkheads, life raft racks, K-gun depth charge projectors, spare depth charge racks, and depth charges.  The cadets also washed down 5"/38-cal. Gun Mount 55 in its entirety along with the entire fantail:  the 20mm anti-aircraft guns and shields, gun tubs, depth charge tracks and spare tracks, and depth charges.  As a result, the KIDD now presented a starboard side appearance almost completely devoid of the two years' worth of soot and grime build-up that had plagued her Measure 22 camouflage.

Dateline:  September 11, 2010 — Twelve cadets from the Baton Rouge division of the U.S. Navy Sea Cadet Corps recently journeyed to the downtown riverfront to help remember those lost in the 2001 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City and the Pentagon in Washington, D.C.  Arriving at 7:00 a.m., the cadets assisted the USS KIDD staff in erecting eighty-four U.S. flags on the walkway between the ship and the museum.  Additionally, they provided a color guard for the memorial observance that kicked off the annual Freedom Walk.  Following the conclusion of the Walk, the division reported aboard ship where they conducted a field day.

Original plans called for paintwork in the bilges and on the exterior decks.  However, staffing issues resulted in the cadets assisting the shipboard staff in a washdown on the main deck instead.  The shipboard staff treated the hull with a chemical solvent, followed minutes later with a rinsing by a cadet manning a water hose.  Afterward, the bulk of the cadets tackled the treated area with brushes and buckets of soapy water.  This was followed once again by a water hose rinse and repeated as needed.  In the space of four (4) hours, the cadets cleaned all of the bulkheads and equipment on the KIDD's middle deckhouse, including the twin 20mm guns and the gunwales and davits (approximately 350-400 feet of total wall space).  Two years' worth of build-up of soot and grime from passing trains, ships, and automobiles and nearby petro-chemical plants had left the KIDD's haze gray camouflage streaked and dirty.  Combined with the cleaning previously done by the staff on the Bridge and 01 Levels, the ship now looked almost as if she had received a fresh paint job.

After the washdown, the cadets moved to the gangway to lower and disassemble all eighty-four flagpoles and fold the accompanying flags.  The division later spent the night aboard ship as part of the museum's Overnight Camping Program, learning the history of the KIDD and her crew.

The cadets provided a color guard for the

Freedom Walk and Patriot Day observances

on the morning of September 11, 2010.

Photo by Monica Dugas.  Used by permission.

The Baton Rouge division is currently one of five U.S. Naval Sea Cadet Corps divisions found in the State of Louisiana.  Designed for young Americans ages 11 to 17, the program aims to teach leadership abilities and broaden horizons in an alcohol and drug free environment.

The cadets scrub and wash down the base of the

torpedo loading crane and the 5-inch practice mount.

Photo by Wendy Ingram; courtesy of USNSCC

Baton Rouge Division.  Used by permission.

At day's end, the cadets help lower and store

eighty-four U.S. flags flown from the museum's walkway.

Photo by Wendy Ingram; courtesy of USNSCC

Baton Rouge Division.  Used by permission.

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