"Joined reserves in mar 62 still in high school linden McKinley Columbus oh went to Great lakes june 62 grad 10 sept 62 went aboard USS VULCAN AR5 MARCH 63 to March65 lived in Delaware oh Newark oh now back in Columbus"
"I dont remmber the onion my first nite at the Jolly Roger got picked up by a29 yr old with 5 kids I was 18 she lived in dependant housing took me home and that changed the liberty drill forever after that the Vulcan pretty much became a job to go to…"
"Porter was real new in 62 camp moffett ww2 wood baracks real fire traps dont know about a tunnel did they still have obslete 14pound drill pices sometimes 3yr makes a difference"
"I was there june 62 to sept 10 clothes stops diddy bags working off demerits pushing the piece in the drill hall in the evening cc saying get down and give 50 lad that was old navy oh yeah getting kicked in the ass when you weren't doing the 16…"
"I was born in Columbus Ohio 1945 enlisted in the reserves well still a senior in high school graduated 62 went to Great Lakes summer 62 came home went on active duty March63 March 65 USS VULCAN AR5 Company 257"
I remember Being in Old San Juan during the Cuban Missile Crisis, there must have been another trip after I left Vulcan. Things were kind of tense there at that time. There were many Cuban nationals and Cuban sympathizers in Puerto Rico. We had many confrontations while on liberty; mostly from across the street thank heavens. The 5&2 girls were out in force then also. They put me on shore patrol in Old San Juan as an E3. I had to keep any sailor out of the shacks over the hill from Luna St. That was a nervous watch (8 to 12PM). Glad when it was over.
AAHH yes, St. Thomas. That was a great place. That's where I remember eating the banana chips. Yes, Bluebeards Castle was a good place to eat. I could not get over how beautiful the harbor was where we anchored. Clear blue water and could see the bottom and all the lobster traps. That trip was a whisky run. Remember the brig was full of booze.
Missed the NATO cruise because I was given the choice of getting out 2 weeks early or staying for the cruise. Unfortunately, I took the early out; wish I had gone on that cruise now. Sounds like Edinborough was good to you.
Do you remember going up the Western Scheldt up to Antwerp from the North Sea? If you were on deck you passed a beautiful small town in Holland called Terneuzen. I had the pleasure to live there for 6 months or so while working at Sidmar Steel now known as Arcelor Mittal. Strange how things like that work out.
I do remember the sailor getting killed when the door closed on his head. They said it was a freak wave in the harbor. I recall overhearing a conversation between a chief Hospitalman with the striker who tried to save him. The chief told him there was nothing he could have done. The striker was devastated.
I went back to Norfolk about 3 times looking for Vulcan and twice she was not at pier 5, but was deployed. The 3rd time was in 1991 and my wife and I were on a harbor cruise to NOB to look at the ships and again no Vulcan. When we turned around to return to port I saw Vulcan's silhouette coming into port. I told the cruise skipper that was Vulcan coming in and he didn't believe me. He looked into his book and looked at me and said "How do you know that is Vulcan?" I told him I lived on her for 2 years. He swung the cruise boat around and made a pass on her just as the tugs picked her up. That was an emotional time. After I got home I got word that Vulcan was being De-commissioned in July 1991. Appearantly when we saw Vulcan she was coming back from Desert Storm. I found where I could get reservations for the Vulcan De-commissioning and 1st Reunion party. Got to go aboard Vulcan for the last time and had a great party at the Virginia Beach Convention center. Got a few pics around here somewhere if you want to see them.
Comments
Did not get your reply re; The Purple Onion.
Ed
Hey Mike, Speaking about Norfolk.... You remember the Jolly Roger right? How about the "Purple Onion????
Michael,
I remember Being in Old San Juan during the Cuban Missile Crisis, there must have been another trip after I left Vulcan. Things were kind of tense there at that time. There were many Cuban nationals and Cuban sympathizers in Puerto Rico. We had many confrontations while on liberty; mostly from across the street thank heavens. The 5&2 girls were out in force then also. They put me on shore patrol in Old San Juan as an E3. I had to keep any sailor out of the shacks over the hill from Luna St. That was a nervous watch (8 to 12PM). Glad when it was over.
AAHH yes, St. Thomas. That was a great place. That's where I remember eating the banana chips. Yes, Bluebeards Castle was a good place to eat. I could not get over how beautiful the harbor was where we anchored. Clear blue water and could see the bottom and all the lobster traps. That trip was a whisky run. Remember the brig was full of booze.
Don
Michael,
Missed the NATO cruise because I was given the choice of getting out 2 weeks early or staying for the cruise. Unfortunately, I took the early out; wish I had gone on that cruise now. Sounds like Edinborough was good to you.
Do you remember going up the Western Scheldt up to Antwerp from the North Sea? If you were on deck you passed a beautiful small town in Holland called Terneuzen. I had the pleasure to live there for 6 months or so while working at Sidmar Steel now known as Arcelor Mittal. Strange how things like that work out.
I do remember the sailor getting killed when the door closed on his head. They said it was a freak wave in the harbor. I recall overhearing a conversation between a chief Hospitalman with the striker who tried to save him. The chief told him there was nothing he could have done. The striker was devastated.
I went back to Norfolk about 3 times looking for Vulcan and twice she was not at pier 5, but was deployed. The 3rd time was in 1991 and my wife and I were on a harbor cruise to NOB to look at the ships and again no Vulcan. When we turned around to return to port I saw Vulcan's silhouette coming into port. I told the cruise skipper that was Vulcan coming in and he didn't believe me. He looked into his book and looked at me and said "How do you know that is Vulcan?" I told him I lived on her for 2 years. He swung the cruise boat around and made a pass on her just as the tugs picked her up. That was an emotional time. After I got home I got word that Vulcan was being De-commissioned in July 1991. Appearantly when we saw Vulcan she was coming back from Desert Storm. I found where I could get reservations for the Vulcan De-commissioning and 1st Reunion party. Got to go aboard Vulcan for the last time and had a great party at the Virginia Beach Convention center. Got a few pics around here somewhere if you want to see them.
Regards,
Don
Welcome aboard! May you have Fair Winds and Following Seas.
Nice to see you here, welcome aboard.