The Quill and Lightning Bolt

A moment in time.

Our scene takes place sometime in the history of the U.S. Navy Security Group. The location is anywhere in the World or on the high seas. You're in the Communications Space of the U.S. Navy Security Group. It's the beginning of a watch. The "boot," Seaman Beaumont is entering the space for the first time. He notices his shipmate, Petty Officer Quinn is staring at the plaques on the wall and everyone is settling in for their watch. Petty Officer Vines is reviewing the prior watch's report. Force Master Chief Schick is welcoming the Seaman. Seaman Beaumont is unfamiliar with the unique protocol of his new duty station. The Master Chief says, "Nothing's wrong Seaman Beaumont. At the beginning of each watch, each of us pay our respects to our shipmates."

Marine SSgt "Rat" Riddle likes to "oversee" our spaces and for some reason enjoys climbing walls!

The story of the carving; "The Quill and Lightning Bolt"

After carving "The Ditty Chaser" (The carving prior to this piece) for my friend and fellow CT, Dean, I posted the photos on the Naval Security Group Facebook page. "The Ditty Chaser" was extremely popular and suggestions were offered to have one of my pieces submitted to the US Naval Cryptologic Veterans Association Cryptologic Command Display in Corry Station in Pensacola, Fl. I contacted Force Master Chief Bob Anderson, one of the volunteers of the CCD. After our first contact to see if the group would be interested in having a special carving in their spaces the Master Chief was interested in hearing more.  Our conversations were productive and the idea of having a uniquely different item added to the history of the Group was most welcomed.

 

Special Thanks to Force Master Chief Bob Anderson for his time and effort in making this carving a part of the proud heritage of the Naval Security Group that yours truly was a small part of. Master Chief Anderson donated the gold nameplate for "The Quill and Lightning Bolt." The Master Chief's efforts and assistance (not to mention keeping this project a secret until it is to be presented) is deeply appreciated.

"The Quill and Lightning Bolt" is the pinnacle of my carving work and the 83rd piece since 2009.

Early in the summer of 2018, all I could think about was; what would I do, it's theme, title, how big, how many objects, etc. Fortunately, we planned a few weeks away and I couldn't get to the carving bench but that gave me the time to really dig down into my imagination. I needed to develop something I'd love to carve that will be a lasting testament to the history of all Cryptologic Technicians. It would also become a "Legacy" piece for this carver.

The piece needed to be on an entirely different level from my usual "personalized, themed, single character carvings I've been doing since 2009. It had to incorporate items that would resonate with all CTs past and present. It had to be much more diverse than my time in the Navy of the late 60's, yet I wanted the nostalgia of the "old" communications spaces.

In late August the carving began in earnest. I was either at my carving bench, at work (part time), walking the dog or sleeping. I walked away from the finished piece on October 26 at 5:17p.m.

The work-up of "The Quill and Lightning Bolt."

The overall size of the piece is 30"W x 13"D x 11"H (with SSgt "Rat" Riddle hanging on the wall).

There are over 30 carved pieces. (The only piece not carved is the American flag and pole.)

All of the characters and most of the pieces are tupelo wood. There are some basswood pieces as well.

All of the pieces are carved using a rotary tool.

The rough-out stage of the four main characters: A Master Chief, 2- Petty Officers, 1-Seaman and 1-Marine. Force Master Chief Bob Anderson, Curator of the Cryptologic Command Display helped with names of the Chief and the two Petty Officers. They are well known to many of the Security Group personnel. The name of the Seaman (Beaumont) is from the movie "Hunt for Red October." The Marine's name, Ssgt "Rat" Riddle, is that of a young Marine I was in Basic classes with while stationed at Corry Station in 1968-69.

Note: The addition of a Marine came very late in the work-up of the project. To be honest,  a post from a fellow CT reminded me that Marines are a large part of the Security Group. The floor and major pieces were routed and set to the floor and once they were cemented in place I had to think "out of the box!" Since Marines do an outstanding job of "overseeing" the Navy's interests and they don't mind "climbing walls," I placed him "on the wall!"

 

Force Master Chief Bud Schick



 

 

(L to R) Seaman Beaumont, 1st Class P.O. Marie Vines, 1st Class P.O. Frank Quinn



 

 

I had intended to place a coffee cup in P.O. Vines right hand and a Mid-watch report in her left hand.

However, there wasn't enough bulk to do her right hand and

 cup any justice.

 

So, off with her hand!

 



Of course now she has a ridiculously large coffee cup!

Although, the funny part is I got a lot of comments from jealous fellow CTs saying, "dang, she's got a Chiefs cup!" 

(I later reduced it in size just a smidgen.)

 

And, SSgt "Rat" Riddle, on the wall!

The "Communications Space" is 3/4" sanded plywood. 

It seemed several weeks I was shifting/moving or fussing with the placement of the people and larger pieces.

I preferred to not have any character with their back to the front of the piece.

 

With the main characters ready for finishing, the rest of the pieces became a fun work-up.

 

Fitting and attaching the door/push bar/frame and floor to wall molding.

 

 

Carved into the center of the floor is the CT rating symbol, the Quill and Lightning Bolt.

 

Every working space in the Navy has to have a sink and coffee cabinet.

 

 

The "Memorial Wall" plaque with the six major events in our CT history.
Each plaque is the duty base, ship or plane of the event. I printed out the emblem, trimmed each one and mounted it on a piece of wood. The wood was trimmed and painted gold then mounted to the backboard.

 

 

Gotta have name tags!

A Radioman needs a receiver and typewriter. The typewriter will have a radio transcript in it.

 

 

Every Communications Center needs a bank of electronic equipment!

 

 

Every Chief needs a desk!

 



 Teletypewriters were the connection to the outside world for many years.

 

Every good veteran has to have a coffee cup!

 

 

… a waste basket and coffee pot is a must!

 

The emblems on the cups were done the same way the plaques were. The cup second from the left on the third peg is mine! It's a printed copy of the front of the actual cup with the logo of a "sleuth" character and my "nickname!" (Thankfully, you can't read it!)

 

The Chief's hat, a Burn Bag and a female cap.



 

A Marine's cap, stool and headphones.

 

 

  

The layout is finalized.

All the carvings. (not shown, the cup & hat racks, door/frame.)

 

All painted and ready for positioning.

 

Pieces were test fitted and walls put together numerous times as their permanent mounting was made ready. (For the major sized figures, I routed the wood left below their feet into the base/floor.  For smaller pieces I use 1/8" dowels.)

 

This scene (with the background covered) is explained in the first paragraph above.

"The Quill and Lightning Bolt!