Very little is know about Ensign Edmund Tweed's, Master Chief Petty Officer Billy "Goat" Bones' and Seaman "Simple" Sailor's life prior to their enlistment in the U.S. Navy.
It was rumored that Ensign Tweed ran away from home as an 8 year old
child and joined the circus.
Photo believed to be of Ensign Edmund Tweed while on duty as Oficer of the Deck in Tela, Honduras
The scuttlebutt about Master Chief Bones was that he was found abandoned as a baby in an rest stop by a passing "band of gypsies" going "down the highway." Many believe that for this reason the Commanding Officer of the USS Billy Badass, Captain Humphrey Caine, deferred to Master Chief Bones and allowed him to pick the ship's "breakaway" song, "On the Road Again." Well, that, and his towering bulk.
Seaman Sailor declined to talk about his life prior to enlistment, but I have been able to piece together the following story: his parents told him he was hatched from an egg and, despondent, he subsequently dropped out of high school, went to work at a local hatchery, and joined the Navy as soon as he turned 18.
The boys met in basic training, after they were mustered into Recruit Training Company 7809 at the U.S. Naval Recruit Training Center in Orlando, Florida. From that moment on they became inseparable "sea buddies" although they would meet different levels of success, as far as rank was concerned, in their respective naval careers. Company 7809 was commanded by Senior Chief Petty Officer Marlon Hooerhaus and Senior Chief Petty Officer Gilly Gulledge. The high-spirited boys love of hi-jinks and shenanigans is amply demonstrated by an apocryphal tale that took place during their time at RTC.
The only time the recruits were allowed to walk was after meals. At any other time, they had to double-time it or run to their destination. One morning, walking back from the mess hall to their barracks after breakfast, then Seaman Recruit Tweed was about ten steps ahead of Seaman Recruits Sailor and Bones. Chief Buster, the CO of their sister training company was walking in the opposite direction. Tweed was skylarking and failed to notice the approaching Chief and neglected to salute him. Chief Buster wheeled about and yelled at Tweed: "RECRUIT, WHO IS YOUR COMPANY COMMANDER?" Tweed screeched to a halt, pivoted to face the angry Chief, and said: "Wha...?" Sailor swears that Chief Buster's jaw actually dropped to the ground and steam shot out of his ears. "WHAT DID YOU SAY?" screamed Chief Buster. "Senior Chief Whorehouse, Sir!" quickly replied Tweed. "CHIEF WHOREHOUSE?" he asked, incredulous and with eyes bulging, "DROP DOWN AND GIVE ME TWENTY, RECRUIT!" Sailor and Bones had pulled up short behind Chief Buster, and could not stop themselves from snickering. Chief Buster turned on them and yelled: "YOU BOYS THINK THIS IS SOME KIND OF JOKE? DROP AND GIVE ME TWENTY! WHEN YOU'RE DONE, I WANT TO SEE YOUR WORTHLESS RECRUIT ASSES DOUBLE-TIMING IT TO YOUR BARRACKS, AND PUT YOUR WORTHLESS SELVES ON REPORT!" He caught his breath and continued: "YOU WORMS ARE GOING GET YOUR ASSES RECYCLED AND YOU ARE GOING TO BE DOING PT UNTIL THE NEXT TRAINING CYCLE STARTS! NOW GET OUTTA MY SIGHT!"
Luckily, Company 7809 was both Senior Chiefs last training company before retirement, so they went easy on the boys, and did not recycle them. The boys got away with a week's worth of extra PT in the morning and extra drilling in the afternoon, and a couple of weekends raking the obstacle course during scheduled "Coke and Smoke" time, which wasn't a bad deal, 'cause they got to spend the time working outdoors, flirting with the female recruits using the "O" course during that time.
After Recruit Training, the boys went to their respective "A" schools, where they were trained in different specialties. Then they were assigned to the pre-commissioning crew for the USS Billy Badass where they were reunited, and they continued their friendship, previously forged in the fires of Recruit Training Company 7809, under the tutelage of Senior Chiefs Hooerhaus and Gulledge.
Photo believed to be of Seaman "Simple" Sailor (L) and Master Chief Petty Officer Billy "Goat" Bones up aloft on the mast of the USS Billy Badass.
Photo believed to be of Seaman "Simple" Sailor after being rescued in the Florida Straighrs by Cuban fisherman Usmail de las Gracias.
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