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 HARDLY SLEPT LAST NIGHT THINKING AND AT TIMES DREAMING OF THE TOUR IN THE USS NORRIS OUR SPLIT TOUR OF THE MED AND GULF.THE TRANSIT OF THE CANAL,THE INTERCEPTION AND TEMPORARY ENCOUNTER IN THE STRAITS OF HORMUZ, RECENTLY REPEATED TO TWO DESTROYERS,WAITING FOR THE TIDE TO COME IN SO THAT WE COULD CROSS THE BAR INTO THE TIGRESS AND EUPHRATES RIVERS TO PICK UP THE AMBASSADOR TO IRAN AND 9 MEMBERS OF HIS STAFF.THE YELLOW SNAKES OF THE GULF, WHEN WE BROKE OUT THE RIFLES FROM THE ARMORY AND HAD SMALL ARM PRACTICE SHOOTING AT THEM,MAN THAT WAS SOME FORTY THREE YEAR AGO.AT ANOTHER PORT TO VISIT USING CHART THAT WERE MARKED WITH A WARNING THAT THE NAVIGATIONAL AIDS WERE LACKING AND THAT THE COAST LINE CAN BE THREE MILES IN ERROR.I REMEMBER USING THE MOTOR WHALE BOAT TO TAKE SOUNDINGS WITH A LEAD LINE TO GET THE SHIP AS CLOSE TO LAND AS POSSIBLE,USING RADAR RANGES AND BEARINGS ON A FLASHING RED LIGHT THAT TURNED OUT TO BE A TEMPORARY WARNING LIGHT FOR A OBSTRUCTION IN THE ROAD ASHORE.LIBERTY WAS SCARCE AND THE TRIP WAS LONG AND SLOW TO CONSERVE FUEL.IT WAS HOT AND WE USED THE FIRE HOSE TO COOL THE STEAMING HOT STEEL DECKS. REMEMBER BINGO ON THE FANTAIL,REMEMBER GOING FISHING IN THE MOTOR WHALE BOAT WITH TWO BEERS PER MAN.WE BROKE NO RULES OR REGULATIONS WE JUST BENT THEM. UNIFORM WAS CUT AWAY DUNGAREES TEE SHIRT AND BALL CAP.SAVED A LOT OF FRESH WATER IN THE LAUNDRY.