Sailors just don’t seem to change

Sailors just don’t seem to change
Sorry this isn't a Sea story. It is a true account of one of the week end duties that I pulled during the overhaul and refueling of the... well, I'll let the name go for now. 
It was in the summer of 1981 in Newport News Dry Dock and Ship building Company facilities, dry dock #3. 
We were onboard the usual temporary quarters, what we figured was a WWII era barge. In what could be considered atrocious condition. (after only a solid year of field days to get her to that high quality sheen,too)
It was Friday, I was the duty section leader and the rest of the crew was on liberty until Monday morning quarters at 0600 (or maybe it was 0700) It was a typical steamy Virginia summer day. My roomie and I had brought our charcoal hibachi, some steaks and he brought his fishing pole and some shorts. For some after duty hours recreational activity on the O2 level of the spacious facilities. 
Saturday duty came and went leaving time for sunbathing and fishing for my roomie.
Being the section leader I had a steady diet of low level disasters to attend to most of the day. 
But on one trip back to the barge from the dry dock I saw my buddy up on top fishing and decided to go up to see how the fish were biting.
As I climbed the final step to the top of the barge I watched a Seagull fly up from between the barge and the pier. 
Bob, my roomie was laughing hysterically. I walked over and inquired; 'what's so funny?' He held up his fishing pole and the bail was open and line was paying out at a double quick rate. 
I quickly looked over the rail but saw nothing. With a puzzled look on my face I again asked about his laughter. He pointed to the sky and the now distant Seagull barely a speck flying toward the draw bridge just slightly up river from the shipyard. 
"Watch me make him do a loop-dee-loop". With that he applied a rapid hook set motion and some serious reel action while I kept my eye on the spot in the sky.
Sure enough the bird did a backward flip in mid air! Easily three hundred yards out, he proceeded to reel his 'catch' in. As he worked the big bird back to the barge I asked how he had caught the damn seagull. 
He was fishing, he said, using cheeto's as bait on a very small hook. When all of a sudden the seagull swooped down and grabbed the 'bait' from the waters surface. 
Shortly he took off for what we figured appeared to be Richmond. 
That was about the time I saw him. 
He finally landed what by now was a thoroughly pissed off and very large seagull on the top of the barge. He had the hook caught in his tongue and was showing it to us and his snapping beak in an aggressive display of fearlessness and anger. 
Other than that he appeared unhurt. Now, trying to figure out what to do, we decided to attempt to get the hook out of his chops. Hopefully, without getting chopped ourselves. Bob's tee shirt was thrown over the birds head and worked to calm him a small amount. 
Unfortunately, getting the hook out of his tongue was not as easy. But once we got the hook out of his mouth we were worried about him. The wound was bleeding, as mouth wounds will do. Bob figured a day or so of observation was required. But no where on board was there a room with a door except the CO and XO's staterooms. Hmmmmm we figured the XO for a animal rights whacko soooo...
The XO's stateroom was closed and the port hole was open. In went the bird and closed went the port hole. 
Bob figured by early Monday morning he would know if the bird was alright and he could open the port hole and set him free. 
He provided some more cheeto's and water and we left him alone. 
The XO was a running man. He ran to work and home nearly every day. So, his uniform was in his stateroom. Among other things. 
As the weekend progressed we forgot about the bird and on Monday morning the XO and the COB showed up early. The best laid plans... as the saying goes. 
As he opened his stateroom door he was taken by surprise by what was now not just a wounded and severely pissed off Seagull but one with one hell of an appetite and somewhat frightened!
The XO let out a scream as the bird attempted to defend itself and maybe get a bite in too. "COBBBBB!!" We all heard it and we ran to offer some explanation. I arrived just after the COB and the XO was about as angry as I had ever seen someone. As we surveyed the destruction in the confusion of the moment the XO offered an explanation that seemed to be suitable, if he was willing to accept it.. who am I to argue? 
"COB, this seagull must have flown in through the port hole and knocked it closed accidentally locking himself in here over the weekend". 
His uniform was covered in blood (the birds)a half consumed cup of good ol' Navy coffee was now well soaked up in what appeared to be about two weeks of overdue paperwork now scattered and splashed with bird shit and in various stages of destruction itself. 
Next, the XO demonstrated his love of wildlife by gladly freeing the animal. As we all watched it disappear I slowly came to realize I was laughing pretty hard and had the focused attention of the COB and XO. 
I took the opportunity to report the status of the weekend shipyard work and excused myself as best I could. 
As far as I know this is the first time this story has ever been told in the public domain. I can only hope that those survivors of the ordeal are either dead or have lost their memories. Or can no longer see to read.
In any event, everyone lived with little more than a hook wound and some extra work. Which never hurt an officer.
much