Comments

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  Arthur Talbert Carter July 6, 2017 at 11:45pm

  Thank you for your welcome Ron.
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  Paul Carl Bernhardt July 6, 2017 at 7:01pm

  Thank you for your warm welcome and thank you for your service.
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  Ken Folmsbee July 6, 2017 at 8:01am

  Thanks for the welcome Ron!
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  Eric Botts June 26, 2017 at 3:01pm

  Thanks. I joined this primarily to have a profile in case anybody from my unit, class, or company wanted to chew the fat about old times. My wife recently threw out a bunch of boxes in the garage and all my Navy photos, memorabilia, and keepsakes were in there. I even had my Company Flag (223) from NTC San Diego in there. What a shame. Hopefully I can hook up with a few old Navy buddies and get some pictures and other stuff from them. If not, I do have a few pictures left and stories. My boy has all my old uniforms so it's not a total loss.
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  Robert "Cookie" K VanDuren June 21, 2017 at 9:12pm

  21Jun2017 Hey Dino. You asked my age, 64 born Apr 15 1953 (a tax return baby, and, end of Korean War baby). My wife and I have been married 23 years as of Jan 1994 but we have no children (unfortunately, I always wanted children). She has 2 children from previous marriage, husband died as did he 1st born son due to diabetes). We live in Elizabeth City, NC abt 50 south of Norfolk VA.

  I double checked and my crossing the equator was Sept 1, 1979 in Atlantic (not the Indian Ocean). But my ship did not have the Poly Wog/Shellback initiation unit we got to GONZO Station (Gulf of Oman, Persian Gulf); delay do to our secret orders (to most of ship's crew) to go to GONZO Station ASAP. We did not know we would be involved in attempted rescue of the 53 American hostages in Tehran, Iran, that is, Operation Eagle Claw (Operation Evening Light). The Nimitz crossed equator 1st (of 4) time 1Sep1979 at 0.00 degrees Latitude, 3.00 degrees Longitude (3 degrees shy of Golden Shellback. The crew begged our CO Captain Batzler to go just the 3 degrees so we could be Golden Shellbacks, but, again, we did not know we were under secret orders to get to GONZO Station ASAP. Oh, I didn't know exact date of equator crossing since I've misplaced my Shellback Certificate and card. I'm going to get them replaced since I just found original company in Norfolk VA that can reissue them to me for abt $27.00.

  Well, gotta go. I'm ill right now with fever so going back to bed. I feel miserable. 

  Bye bye for now Dino.

  :-) Cookie. P.S. Yes, I found out how to find the new members here on NavyVets. Thanx for the info you gave me. :-)
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  Robert "Cookie" K VanDuren June 21, 2017 at 12:56am

  Wednesday 21Jun2017, Ron, I don't think my first message went through. It was sent via a Friend Request. Also, I was thanking you for welcoming me aboard NavyVets. Lastly, I asked you how I can find out who the new members are to NavyVets so I too can welcome them aboard? Hope you'all are having a good day. :-) Cookie.
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  Robert "Cookie" K VanDuren June 21, 2017 at 12:50am

  Wednesday, 21June2017, Ronald (or do you prefer Ron), I too was in the Navy choir, not the Blue Jacket Choir like you, but the choir onboard my ship the USS Nimitz. Also, I too was stationed on Miramar NAS. Actually, I went to the Drug and Alcohol Abuse Counselor School as a student and future counselor for the USS Nimitz. It was a 10 week course that started early January 1979. I stayed off base at a serviceman's home in Chula Vista. Again, thanx for welcoming me aboard.
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  Robert "Cookie" K VanDuren June 21, 2017 at 12:43am
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  Jason W. Sandidge June 16, 2017 at 8:35am

  Thanks, Ron. Glad to be aboard.
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  Anthony K. Flynn June 14, 2017 at 9:05pm

  Thanks, Ron. Glad to be aboard. I'm an old 'tanker sailor" and worked up in the Radio Shack. That's a rate that gone by the wayside.