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"They were just government pens, you know; Pen, Ink, Ball Point, Black, 1 ea., NSN 7530-00-222-2735 (or something like that! Used to pick them up by the dozen at Servmart. And actually, if you took the silver cap off the clicker, there were colored…"
"Roger, I'm putting together a book of stories and sea stories and could use some of yours if you like. Let me know. Thanks"
"Funny how things come back around sometimes.
I was active '75 - '95, and have a good friend who was a cannoncocker and the ships armorer. We did a lot of shooting together. He taught me a lot of stuff, small arms related, that paid off in the later…"
I was active '75 - '95, and have a good friend who was a cannoncocker and the ships armorer. We did a lot of shooting together. He taught me a lot of stuff, small arms related, that paid off in the later…"
"Yup, DURHAM, LKA-114, Additionally served in MT. VERNON, LSD-39, also armed (at the time I was there) with four twin 3"/50's. Shortly after, they started pulling one forward and one aft mount off most of the Gators. I'm guessing NGFS was not so big…"
"I went to bootcamp in '75. it was 12 weeks. Then later some high ranking moron decided that bootcamp should be fun. For the next couple of years we had a rash of major disciplinary problems Navy wide and they wondered why. Gee ya think it might have…"
"Served on McKee (IMA component) from Oct. 92 to Oct. 95, as a Diver, working in Planning & Estimating and in the Dive Locker. She was my last command before retiring. "
"I was in Mount Vernon from Aug. 76 to Oct. 78, working in the aft engine room the whole time. Brought her out of the yards in Portland, Ore. and did a short NorPac and a WestPac cruise on her."
"I was in the Valve Shop (31-D) Oct 82 - Sep 83, and on the SIMA Rifle and Pistol Team. I was the guy who created the logo for 31-D when the CO wanted logo's for all the shops back in 83."
"Yeah, looking for stories /sea stories for a book I'm writing. I already have one book out and am working on two others. First book; IN REPOSE, about diving on the USS Arizona, Second book; HOO YAH DEEP SEA, expected out this year, and third book;…"
"Served in Durham from Aug. 81 to Sep. 82, having cross-decked from USS Jason. I ran the Auxiliary Machinery Division and was the Winch Gang Supervisor. Also played MAA on my duty days."
"Back in the day when you had to have a rating first, and then got your specialty, Diver, in my case, I was a snipe. I've worked main space, auxiliary space, and fresh air. Did that stuff for eight years, then went Diver. Served in Constellation,…"
"Served in Constellation for a whopping 5 months while waiting for a school. Worked in 1 AMR and 4MMR for GQ. running the SSTG's. Met her in the yards in Bremerton and brought her south to San Diego, going through OPPE and carrier quals."
"Met my second ship in Portland, going through an overhaul at Swan Island and Willamette Iron & Steel. The moved around a bunch and came back at the ripe old age of 57. I'm here to stay. Was a Machinist's Mate and a Navy Diver and did 20 years of…"
"Published (Self Published) my first book in 2016. IN REPOSE - Diving on the USS Arizona with the National Park Service. It's about my time as a Navy diver and NPS volunteer diver/researcher.
My second and third books are anthologies of Navy stories…"
My second and third books are anthologies of Navy stories…"
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Location
Powell Butte, OR
Birthday:
March 16
Rank
Petty Officer First Class
Enlisted Rating
Machinist's Mate
Where were you or your family stationed?
West Coast / Hawaii
Veteran of Foreign War
The Cold War, Iran
Current Status with the US Navy
Retired
Start date of your service
October 16, 1975
End date of your service
October 31, 1995
Comments
Hey Brian, I really don't have many stories that would mean much to anyone but me.. only one "there I was, thought I was gonna die" story. Got lots of shooting stories. From 45 pistol to the 3"50, my favorite. Boom M_____F____ Boom! LOL! Up front 90% of my service time was boring or BS. But the 10% was exhilarating, magical abosolutely priceless. If you get hard up I can help you out. But my stories will probably be pretty ordinary. Looking back on some of it, man this farm boy was stupid. Good luck with the book
I got off active in Nov of '76 and at that time scuttlebutt was saying that El Paso was going back into the yards (she came out of a refit in '74) to have the aft mounts replaced with BPDMS, but at the same time scuttlebutt was also saying she was going on a North Atlantic cruise, which is what actually happened. She went in the yards after that and a forward and aft CIWS added but kept the forward mounts. I believe one of the aft mounts was eventually demiled and put aboard the Intrepid museum ship in NYC. When I was in NYC with my wife in '08 we went aboard and I swear the 3"/50 on display but roped off was my old mount 34 because of some distinctive marks on it. We had a recoil spring shatter in '75 while doing NGFS training with our Marines and it left a gouge in the steel of the barrel. Not enough to warrant replacing the barrel but enough to be noticed from a distance. I'm almost certain I saw that gouge on the Intrepid mount but couldn't get close enough to be sure.
Looks like you served on one of the sister ships to the gator I served on, USS El Paso LKA-117
Thanks for the reply Brian. I'm looking forward to reading your second book when it comes out. Memories from the days in blue are what I like.
Welcome aboard Brian. Glad to have you along. It looks like you've got a good start on sharing. Keep posting, we like that.
Welcome aboard Brian!