Comments

• 

  Ray J Elliott June 22, 2013 at 7:09pm

  Was on the JFK 3yrs.
• 

  Ray J Elliott June 22, 2013 at 7:08pm

  Lots of old times being talked the last few days.I did Great Lakes in Aug.74.Wish I could do it all over again,but didn't think that then.Would do 20yrs this time.
• 

  James Franklin Benson June 22, 2013 at 6:54pm

  After  reporting for duty aboard the USS BASILONE  DD 824  my younger brother came out of boot camp from Great Lakes,and reported aboard for duty with me as a damage controlman,and about a year later an older brother ( gmg 2) came aboard as well,so there were three of us aboard that tin can,all were in the CUBAN MISSILE CRISIS down in BEAUTIFUL GITMO, which was about as  friendly a place as Norfolk was.We always referred to Norfolk as...S@#T  CITY!!
• 

  michael kerkes June 22, 2013 at 6:04pm

  I know what you mean by 50yr hard to beleive I was on the vulcan 63-65 saw a lot of rankin patches along with a lot of other old time ships most are now razor blades now
• 

  Mick Dousman June 22, 2013 at 5:57pm

  Right out of boot camp, I was sent to USS Rankin AKA103 in Norfolk for a few months to wait for an opening in FT school.  We made one cruise to Gitmo and Caribbean and did a few Condition 1-A's  That's unloading the marine vehicles onto mike boats for their ride to the landing beach.  On the way down we shared our compartment with marines. Boy, did they have a different view of life.  I was only on the Rankin for 5 months but I have more rewarding memories than nearly 3 years on a tin can. Finally I got sent to Bainbridge for A school.  About three months later the cuban missle crisis started, we were put on 24hr notice. Can't believe its been over 50 years now.
• 

  James Franklin Benson June 22, 2013 at 5:39pm

  Hi Mick,while on my first ship,uss kyes,dd 787,out of long beach,cal.i made several 6 month WestPac Cruises and worked in the torpedo gang dropping depth charges on the bad guys down below,as well as launching old air-steam mk.15 torpedoes.That was a HOOT!Then was transferred to the East Coast to another tin-can,uss Basilone DD 824,became a GUNNERS MATE,got my crow and became MOUNT CAPTAIN on a 3" .50 Cal. twin AA gun.Man that was one hell of a ride!! I loved that duty.Then I found myself in the middle of the Cuban Missile Crisis...Glad to hear the Navy still has gunners mates,and wish your nephew well with his choice.My advice to him would be to learn every aspect of his job,and then just a little bit more.

  http://choice.My/
• 

  Mick Dousman June 22, 2013 at 5:04pm

  Hi James,  My nephew is a gunners mate just turned 21 last month also got his GM3 crow on the USS Decauter.  He already did a 8 mo  cruise to the Persian gulf.  Glad he is out of there for a while, that place is about to explode.

  He did GL boot camp 2 years ago, said it was easy.  Things have changed.
• 

  James Franklin Benson June 22, 2013 at 1:41pm

  Michael,to answer your question about finding your clothes on the ground,etc....I would have to say:...Finding them with ground-in mud on them with the company commander's footprints all over them.Boot camp really made men out of boys,for sure.SO glad that's all over with.

  

  Sure

  Support all Armenian charities through one platform
• 

  michael kerkes June 22, 2013 at 11:42am

  whats as bad as sleet is going down to the clothes line and finding you clean laundry on the ground because your clothes stops wernt tied the way uyour company commander wanted
• 

  James Franklin Benson June 22, 2013 at 10:04am

  Hey Dick, you might have washed out of radio and sonar but you say you went into fire-control for the gunners mates,but i was a gunners mate,and the fire control techs were our best friend.We couldn't do much without their help,that's for sure,so give yourself a big pat on your back.