Posted by Dan Brown on January 19, 2009 at 10:58pm
I was on the Jason from 56 to 59, and I wonder if any of the old crew is still upright and taking nourishment. Charlie was on her with me, as was Dick Denbow, both of whom have gone on to the BIG foundry. Roy Thornley was there, and as for the rest of the guys, I'll have to break out the cruise book (if I can find it).
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I rode the "Jolly J" or as she was known in Japan, Baka Hachi Maru, twice. She was my first ship in San Diego, Aug '73 to April,'76, and again in Pearl Harbor June '82 to June '84. She was a great ship. When I first got on her our berthing was in the Foundry itself. It was great as we also had an old wringer washing machine in the shop. MLC Norman Thompson was my first LPO (he was ML1 at the time) and he taught me so much. Would like to have the opportunity to thank him for his influence in my career and my life. MLC Terry Harris was my LCPO in Pearl Harbor. He and I spent many hours together Scuba Diving in Hawaii and San Diego. Last I heard he had gone back to Scotland. Would love to hear from anyone else who was on her.
Dan Brown > John R Sellars MLC USN RETFebruary 13, 2009 at 2:55am
What you was smellin' was residue from the backed up scuppers on the HECTOR, but you'll
never admit it.
No...The Jason had its own particular stink. Ajax had another smell to it, but it has no description. We knew we were getting close to either one of them and were still miles away....
DAN, GLAD TO SEE ANOTHER MOLDER ON BOARD. MY FIRST SHIP WAS THE USS ORION AS-18, HOME PORTED IN CHARLESTON. ONE OF MY PETTY OFFICERS, ML2 WES CORLEY WAS TELLING ME ABOUT THIS BAD ASS ML1 THAT WAS CHECKING ABOARD. WES HAD ALL OF US FIREMEN QUAKING IN OUR MOLDER BOOTS.........THAT BAD ASS WAS NONE OTHER THAN ML1 ROY CALVIN THORNLEY. HE WAS MY LPO FOR THE NEXT TWO YEARS, ONE HELL OF A MOLDER AND SOME ONE I WAS PROUD TO CALL MY SHIPMATE. ROY RETIRED IN 76 I BELIEVE. LATER IN MY TRAVELS I WAS STATIONED IN SAN DIEGO AT PM/ML SCHOOL AND HE CALLED ME. EVEN THOUGH IT HAD BEEN 14 YEARS SINCE I SAW HIM, I RECOGNISED THAT TEXAS TWANG RIGHT AWAY. I CREDIT ROY WITH STARTING ME ON THE PATH TO A GREAT CAREER. WELL ENOUGH FOR NOW. CATCH YOU LATER. JIM COWAN MLC USN RET.
Oh yes Jim, Roy Calvin was a bad ass alright. But, he WAS one hell of a molder. I believe that he came to the shop on the on the Jason from the deck force,but I could be wrong.I know he went to A school, but that was later. He was like a Jack Russel terrier, the little bastard was. He bounced from bulkhead to bulkhead like a rubber ball. He delighted in terrorizing Charley every chance he got, and damn near caused a fight between Charlie and me a couple of times, and if he could get some shit started of ANY kind, he was happy as a pig in a puddle.
I love him like a brother, and this summer I hope to drive down to Ladson SC to see him. He used to babysit for my first wife and me, and she and my daughter adore him to this day. I've got a couple of pictures that I want to upload of him and Tammy (daughter) when I can find 'em. Catch you later,
Replies
never admit it.
Dan'l
No...The Jason had its own particular stink. Ajax had another smell to it, but it has no description. We knew we were getting close to either one of them and were still miles away....
I love him like a brother, and this summer I hope to drive down to Ladson SC to see him. He used to babysit for my first wife and me, and she and my daughter adore him to this day. I've got a couple of pictures that I want to upload of him and Tammy (daughter) when I can find 'em. Catch you later,
Dan