Suez Canal Veterans

For all who have sailed thru the Suez canal

100 Members

Join Us!

You need to be a member of Navy Veterans to add comments!

Join Navy Veterans

Comments are closed.

Comments

Jim Gabrielson April 1, 2019 at 9:50pm

I transited the “Ditch” onboard USS Mount Hood AE-29 during our around the world cruise of 1986-87. Just after we entered the Med we received a message that the USS Stark was hit, and for an hour or so we were ordered towards Israel, but then ordered back on original course. We made a stop in Taormina, Sicily before steaming through the Med and into the Atlantic. I will always remember that cruise.
William Lee Bragg November 12, 2014 at 4:37pm

After flying as an aircrewman in Viet Nam with HM12 , I was sent with my squadron from Norfolk to Egypt in 74 during Operation Nimbus Star and the following year 75 during Operation Nimbus Moon. I remember Manning the Rails as we approached Alexandria, Egypt aboard the Iwo Jima. Also flying into Port Said and Ismalia to pick up crewmen or gear for operations to sweep for mines. I was discharged just afterwards in November of 75.
WILLIAM F. CAMPBELL September 3, 2013 at 2:30pm

WENT THUR THE DITCH ON BOARD USS JOHNSTON DD-821 1966
Lindsey E. Ford HMC (SW) March 26, 2013 at 10:32am

I went through the "ditch" on the USS Truxtun CGN-35 in early 86. We were with the Enterprise Battle Group, when Kadafi made his threats - Enterprise, Arkansas and Truxtun went to the Med, as soon as we hit the Med Kadafi shut up. We got two good ports out of that detour, Toulon and Naples. We left the Med via Gibralter, so we served under all four fleets on one deployment. On the way home we had like three days in Perth.
steven richmond February 25, 2013 at 6:32pm

Mark, we all make mistakes. I accept your apology, and thanks, I thought I had lost my mind. LOL.
Mark Chambers February 25, 2013 at 4:45pm

I may have (inadvertently) figured out a way to delete the offending comment. I hope I did. Either way, my apology still stands.
Mark Chambers February 25, 2013 at 4:42pm

@steven richmond

Upon further research, I would remove my comment if I knew how...and I do indeed offer my sincere apologies to you for my misstatement.

HM-12 was with us in Vietnam and I was certain it was the Inchon at Port Said. I flew out there from Ismailia many times dealing with administrative issues ranging from personnel to payroll.

Apparently it was the Iwo Jima, but in all honesty I don't remember the Iwo Jima in any dispatches, correspondence or messages...and I had as high a security clearance as possible at that time.

Again, my apologies. You are correct. I am most definitely wrong. I hope anyone who reads my previous comment will skip to this one immediately afterwards.

And if you know of a way that I can remove one of my own comments, please let me know because it would only be right to do so.
steven richmond February 25, 2013 at 4:19pm
- 1973- Received the Arleigh Burke Trophy as the most improved ship in the Atlantic Fleet.
- 1973-1974- Operations Nimbus Star and Nimbus Moon involved the clearance of mines and other unexploded ordnance from the Suez Canal and its approaches by US and allied forces during the 1973 Arab-Israeli conflict. In reaction to the Middle East crisis between Israel and Egypt in October 1973, USS Iwo Jima (LPH-2) deployed fully loaded, more than a month early, and with only five days notice. While deployed, she participated in Task Force 65 NIMBUS STAR / NIMBUS MOON, an operation to clear mines from the Suez Canal. In May 1974 a twelve-unit detachment of RH-53D Sea Stallions from NAS Norfolk's Helicopter Mine Countermeasures Squadron TWELVE [HM-12] began minesweeping the Suez Canal as part of Project NIMBUS STAR.
steven richmond February 25, 2013 at 12:39am

I was on the USS IWO JIMA LPH 2 in 1973-74 during the YOM KIPPUR war between Egypt and Israel. Israel had mined the Suez so Egypt could not get revenue from it's use. The Iwo de-mined the canal and then we were the first Americans allowed to tour parts of Egypt in 27 years as I recall.
Robert John Friedhaber August 18, 2012 at 7:15am

I 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.I REMEMBER HAVING TO ACT AS AMBASSADOR MYERS AIDE WHILE VISITING NINE DIFFERENT PORTS IN IRAN SPENDING MY DAYS WITH HIM AND HIS STAFF AND THEN SPENDING THE NIGHTS TO ARRIVE 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.I WAS WARNED BY THE STATE DEPARTMENT, I SHOULD SAY ADVISED,SO I HAD TO IMPROVISE, REMEMBER BINGO ON THE FANTAIL,I HAVE SOME OLD PICTURE SOME WHERE,BUT WHERE,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.
Capt. John Piatek