I was stationed at Chelsea as my first duty station right out of A School. I was assigned to Ward A by Chief Labeda and was later transferred to x-ray and worked for Chief Pontbriand. Both of these individuals had a deep impact on my life and they both helped me to mature.
I was at Chelsea for the bridge collapse, the fire in which 20 city blocks Chelsea burned and her de-commissioning. I transferred to SERE School after the de-commissioning.
Chelsea washy best duty station in 20 years of Naval and Coast Guard Career.
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There is an active page for Chelsea there. Maybe you and Bob remember Chief Wentzel. He's on there along with Chief Overly.
Now that is awesome Craig. I was also there during the fire and decommissoning. Chief Screws was the lead CPO during those last few months. I have pictures of him standing outside the old supply building. I remember he caught myself and a young lady in the overnight office the next morning. His exact words after me telling him that I had a lady in there was "you are going to be a lifer"....lmao.
I spent 23 years in Navy and retired as a senior chief.... guess he was right. Chelsea was the coolest duty station. I can remember often times going into the Officer's quarters in the evening hours and hanging out with the nurses. I actaully ran into one of them years later at Balboa NH... Birdie Price. She was working in the ED there (a Commander then).
I left Chelsea and went to Rota Spain... and then many other duty stations, inlcuding two different ships.
After retiring from the Navy (I was able to get a Masters in Social Work before retiring) I worked for 15 years as a manager in a large hospital (case management). I now run a very large homeless shelter.
Take care shipmate.
Bob