The afternoon sessions were practical tests and instruction in the pool, time in the diving pressure tank, and swimming tests for strength and endurance. There were several tests to determine if a trainee had problems in confined spaces under pressure.
In one of those tests, eight men were put in a spherical diving bell. All trainees were in their underwear. It was hot and crowded, without enough space to sit down. The rounded pressure tank had thick steel walls, and there were no flat surfaces or places to sit. When someone tried to lean against the wall, he slid to the bottom, joined by several other bodies.
The test started with the closing and locking of the thick hatch door from outside. Then pressure was added to the cramped quarters. Ears began to pop with pain. A valve opened, and steam pressure and heat rushed in, increasing the pressure and heat within the sphere. This was followed by a loud sucking noise as air was taken out of the sphere. At one point, all lights went out and the tangled bodies at the bottom of the sphere were pushing each other, trying to maintain their position in the small space. Communication between recruits was chaotic with no one in charge.
Dim red lights came back on, and an instructor’s voice announced, “We are now getting ready to descend deeper to 200 ft. The pressure you are experiencing now will more than double. Is there anyone who wants to come out of the tank? Now is the time to tell me.”
Two seamen answered in slightly panicked voices that they couldn’t take it any longer. Pressure in the sphere was temporarily relieved and the hatch opened to allow the two seamen out.
An instructor leaning through the hatch said, “Anyone else, now’s your chance.” One other man said, “I need to get out.”
After the third person got out, the heavy hatch door closed, and the remaining men were subjected to pressure they had never felt before in their lives. At one point, it was so intense that several ear drums burst and started bleeding. One seaman’s ears popped and the blood shot out from his ear all over the men around him. Some of the other men’s ears popped and blood ran down the sides of their faces. One of the men, seeing the blood, panicked, and the rest of the men held him down, knowing that he could ruin the test for all of them. They would have to start the test all over again. The ear and head pain was almost unbearable.
At one point, Wade’s right ear drum popped from the pressure, and blood streamed down his face. He saw others in the same condition, and seeing them gave him more determination that he was going to finish this test. Instructors had been watching the behavior of participants with hidden cameras throughout the test. They made notes on who they thought would stay calm and who would panic in a real situation. The team was finally brought to surface pressure, very relieved this test was over. Most of the men suffered temporary hearing loss after the test.
Wade didn’t get full hearing back for two days. He had to see the base physician about his right ear, and he was told that he would have a 25 % hearing loss for the next four months, but that after that he should be fine. As basic classroom training neared the end of its testing phase, recruits spent more time in the afternoon session on actual submarines. Class members would be assigned to different submarines on that day depending on which subs were in port.
All the submarines were lined up along the long dock at the base, not far from the classrooms. It was great for Wade to see classroom material demonstrated on real submarines in these afternoon sessions. Some afternoon classes included going to sea for a few hours. Trainees got to see and feel the heartbeat of the submarine. The final practical test was a two-day training sea voyage in which the men had to perform their designated training duties over several watches and under simulated attack conditions.
Knowing the commands and their meanings from classroom instruction was one thing. It was different to hear them and feel their effect on the submarine. Boat assignments were made on a random basis.
In one afternoon training session, Wade was assigned to a nuclear submarine. He was extremely excited. He saw how the systems varied between conventional subs and nuclear boats and soon understood why a higher level of electronics and systems training was required to serve on a nuclear boat. Serving on a nuclear sub required going through nuclear power school and enlisting in the Navy for an additional three years.
Wade finally graduated from submarine school in the top ten percent of his class. He went on to quartermaster school, which included more navigation classes and classes on operation of the helm and ship control systems. He also learned lookout procedures and protocol when on the surface, as well as other systems related to undersea operations. Wade did well in these classes, and the end of summer was approaching, and his training at New London would end soon. He had run out of classes to take, but he’d really enjoyed his educational experience and the new friends he made.
Wade hadn’t thought much about New Orleans while he was away. Now it was time to return to reality and see what awaited him. He wondered if he would still be hunted by the mob after his three month departure. Upon returning to the city, he found things had not changed very much. He was disappointed to hear that Ed was still working with the mob, although in a lesser capacity. Ed’s out-of-town deal with his father’s friend hadn’t worked out, so he hadn’t left town.
Wade met Pisano for a cup of coffee at the Ole Grille. Pisano indicated that the noose around Coletta’s organization was tightening. He told Wade that various divisions were internally fighting, which meant he had them where he wanted them. Pisano said he had hoped Ed would be out of the organization by now, but that he was still hanging around, although doing very little with them. He said, “From time to time Ed calls me with information he gets, but he isn’t helping set up purchases for us any longer.” Pisano also mentioned, “Jamie has moved to another hair salon.”
Pisano updated Wade on the story. “A few weeks after the Linda incident, one of Coletta’s men came into the shop asking for Jamie by name at Linda’s regular appointment time. He came over to Jamie’s station and looked at a lady she had in her chair. Her head was covered with a towel, and he believed it might be Linda. He asked Jamie if she had seen Linda.
“Jamie was uncomfortable, but she reacted as though she was back on stage and told him, ‘Linda no longer comes to our salon. She hasn’t been coming here for a long time. I don’t know what’s happened to her, and that’s fine by me.’ The Coletta guy left and never returned.”
Pisano smiled and added, “Jamie would really make a good actress.” He answered Wade’s unasked question with, “I think she also has a new boyfriend now.”
Wade reminded Pisano he had sold his race car and equipment and was out of racing for good. He said he was back to finish school this year. Wade also told him about his Navy experience in New London. Pisano wished him well saying, “Be careful at all times.”
Wade’s mother’s decline in health had continued while he was away, and he was saddened to see how much her condition had worsened. Wade and his father had a few dinners at Monroe’s before Wade started back to school.
It was the 1962 — 1963 school year. Wade was, for some unknown reason, enjoying school more this year. He was glad to have his Navy training behind him and no undercover work on his plate.
However, things didn’t stay calm for long. In late September, 1962, Wade received a call from Lieutenant Commander Dobson from his naval reserve unit. Mr. Dobson told Wade they had received an urgent request from The Chief of Naval Operations (CNO). A serious illness had spread among the entire crew of one of the submarines operating in the Gulf, and they were coming to port to get those men to the hospital. They needed a replacement crew. Dobson continued, “We are the closest submarine unit near the ship. They need good, experienced men, and I have been going over our roster list with the Commander. The Commander definitely wants you to be part of the replacement crew. We’re preparing orders now. This will be an active duty call. I just wanted to give you a heads up. I know you’re in school now, and this may be difficult. Everyone has a reason and excuse why they can’t make it. This is an emergency, and it just has to be this way.”