We lost an iron man but also a saint. I cannot share my feelings about Chief right now. Thus I leave you with two short stories.
“Iron Man” We picked up many tows together on a tugboat. The weather in the fall and winter was always rough and dangerous. As I ran the after controls of the tug, Chief ran the tow machine down on deck. He was dressed in his his bibs, t-shirt, sometimes a watch cap. The deck crew, Cricket, Hugo, Dewbobb, ( yep that’s their names) had on very heavy clothes, boots and,still were freezing, shivering, shaking. As Chief was standing in knee deep wash from Lake Michigan, he would yell over to them, “ You girls gonna make it?” Then he would cut loose with one of those huge Chief Beckman laughs. You just knew everything was going to be Ok with Chief back there.
“Saint” I had finished working in the yard in Muskegon with Chief and was sent home for a week. The winter weather was typical. Terrible and lasting for 3 days. I had an old beater Chevrolet with one snow tire. The other one was bald. When I got home, the phone was ringing. It was Chief. He said, “ You make OK Paul?” I said yes. Then I told Chief, “I forgot my darn clothes though. I am so stupid.” Chief asked, “Where are they?” I said, “In the Captains room in a black garbage bag.” We didn’t use suitcases back then. Chief then said, “Yah Ok, talk to the later. I am glad you got home safely.” He hung up. About 5 hours later, my doorbell rang. I opened the door and their stood Chief and his Son Kirk. He handed me my black garbage bag with my clothes in it and said,” Here are your clothes. I don’t want you walking around naked. You scare all the woman and children.” Then, of course, another very loud Chief Beckman laugh.
Good by Chief. I will see you up there when its time.
Captain Paul Brown
