The USS California was a battleship of the old school, deck force didn't have "racks" (bunks), they were issued hammocks which they strung at night (or when they weren't on shift). The other facilities were primitive, too. Most notably, the bathroom arrangement (called the "head", for some nautical reason). There were no toilets or even seats. There was a steel plate that ran the length of the room, tear drop shaped holes (toilet-esque) every three feet or so were partioned by two foot square upright panels to provide some ...what?...privacy?...anyway...under this plate was a shallow trough that had sea water constantly sluicing through it. So whatever you dropped immediately sailed under your...dumpmates?...and out into the sea. There was no EPA then.
Periodically, usually in the early morning or later evening...peak hours...prime time...one of the deck force seaman apprentices was tasked by the Bos'un to go below and fetch a pail of diesel fuel. In the old Navy, seamen went to a ship right out of boot camp and joined the deck force...all those white caps you see swarming over a ship all the time ...swabbing... chipping... painting... swabbing.... While on the deck force they could exam the different jobs that sailors could be trained to do and they could "strike for a rate" or try out for a job. At some point they would fit a job and get to go to school...or just learn the job on the ship. Part of being an apprentice on the deck force was being at the beck and call of the Bos'uns Mate...sort of the official bully of the ship. Apprentices are forever showing up in odd places looking for things the Bos'un had sent them after...a bucket of steam...or a bucket of sand...mounting holes...kanuter valves...etc. So a bucket of diesel seemed another wild goose chase...but not so, young apprentice. For this time the bucket of diesel was an important part of a cherished tradition aboard the California, the flaming of the a**holes.
Boats would take a roll of toilet paper and soak it in the diesel, light it, hold it until it was joyously aflame, then place it in the trough at the inboard end and watch all the whitecaps pop up with a shreik as the flaming toilet paper roll passed under them on its journey to the sea. Sort of an early version of the "Wave" at you favorite stadium.
The California, BB44, was the Chief's first ship. He participated in this tradion both as flamer and as a flamee. It was one of his favorite memories of the old battleship. I am smiling now thinking of how much he enjoyed telling me this story.