ZERO, COXSWAIN, USNR

If you should happen to be standing on topside and see a flash of white go by, that is Zero, ship's mascot, in his never-ending chase of spray. If you should stand there a while longer and suddenly feel a hearty tugging at your trouser leg, that is Zero again, engaging in his second favorite sport.

Zero reported aboard for duty on June 20, 1943, tucked away in the jumper of his "sea daddy", Boyd Smith, Boatswains Mate 2c 1st division. He must have lied about his age to the recruiting officer for at that time he was only one month old and weighed the grand total of three pounds. Zero immediately adopted the forecastle as his domain and has been reigning there ever since, even though it was several weeks before he could manage to scramble over the anchor chain unaided.

Zero is not only the favorite of all hands, but is a full-fledged member of the crew. He has his own lifejacket, uniform, and battle-station. In the Executive Officer office he has a complete service record, including a mast report for which he received as punishment, five days confinement on bread and water with a bone every third day. In his record, Zero gives his citizenship as "Kanaka" and his language qualifications as "dog". He lists as his beneficiary, James Peadrick, Seaman 1c, 1st. division, who in return sees that Zero receives the best of food and frequent baths. After having had National service life Insurance explained to him, Zero declared that he did not desire any. Zero's biggest and most recent accomplishment however, was his advancement to the petty officer rating of Coxswain on 1 May 1945. Now he proudly wears his own lanyard and boatswain's pipe.