All Blog Posts (604)

Was a member of the choir while in boot camp and loved every minute of it.

;(

Any carrier-based squadron and shipmate member should consider joining Squadrons & Shipmates Inc. (google it) for excellent reunion activities. The group was originally formed for members of USS Midway and FDR carriers, but is NOW open to all carrier and ship-based squadron members.  June 2017 reunion will be held in Dayton,Ohio and 2018 reunion is scheduled to be held in Tuscon, AZ.  Great group of folks who enjoy the camaraderie of their fellow veterans.     

BREMERTON The USS Independence soon will become the third inactive aircraft carrier in 2 ½ years to be towed away and dismantled. Final preparations are being made for a mid-March departure from Puget Sound Naval Shipyard's Inactive Ship Maintenance Facility, Navy spokeswoman Colleen O'Rourke said Monday. The exact date hasn't been set. The Indy, farthest south of the ships, will follow the USS Constellation, which left in August 2014, and the USS…

The above blog or post contains my sailing, living aboard a 27' sail boat and travel adventures as well as US Navy stories including a boot camp yarn of company 256 1948.

It is with great sadness that I have just learned of the passing of yet another shipmate. PRC Kenneth Owen Getchey. Kenny stayed the 20 plus. I just learned of his passing earlier this month through the internet. Ken passed away back in 2007. Yeah, 10 years ago. How time flies. You young guys and girls in uniform will soon learn as you grow older, you lose touch as the 4 winds scatter you and your friends to all corners of the earth. You lose touch. Fortunately for me, I found my shipmates…

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Navy is scrapping its decision to eliminate dozens of enlisted sailors' job titles, including many that end in "man," after hitting an onslaught of opposition from the force.

The decision to drop long-held traditional titles and instead refer to sailors by their rank was announced in September and signaled a sharp cultural shift for the Navy. Three months later, after hearing persistent complaints and questions from sailors around the world, Navy leaders are…

I have an issue - having inertial fibrosis - scaring of the lungs from asbestos.  Served on the USS Springfield (CLG 7), two MSO's:

USS Exultant (MSO 441) and USS Dominant (MSO 440).  Any other sweep sailor dealing w/similar lung issues.

I lost touch w/my financial benefits - what would be due to my wife if I should kick off before her.  I have VGLI.  I read some where that my wife would only get 55% of my pension.  Is that true?

I am going to stayat the Wild Orchid Resort on my visit to the PI.  It should be fun.

Yeah shipmates i have been outt the loop far,far too long ..without checking anywhere beforehand i tripped to San Diego a few years ago thinking i was going to visit the Radioman A School location as a veteran and then head over to Balboa Park (my old neighborhood on 1st overlooking the harbor......what a shock.....found a pic of my old barracks Nimitz but what about that damned missle we used to polish for "character" development where did it tend up ...lol…

Glad to hear from you.  Slowly but surely we make contact with old shipmates.  I am Facebook friends with Kent Garrison from boot campo and with Elaine Carey from Corps School.  I know Ernie Goodwin is on Facebook, I have messaged him a few time with no response.

There are four Facebook pages for RTC Orlando, the largest being Naval Training Center Orlando (NTC) Boot Camp.  There are multiple HM sites and Great Lakes hospital & corps school sites also..

Also FYI, there is a…

http://blue jacket choir

I was in the Blue Jacket Choir in August-September 1967 at San Diego. What a privilege this was! It was a fun adventure and, at times, a real challenge. I also was on the whale boat who delivered Coronado to the beach of San Diego so he could "discover" California. The press was waiting for him to be delivered to the shore so the could interview him.

I believe the chief who taught us how to…

I would love to hear from members of the crew of the Pomfret or of Submarine School Class of June 1961.

Hope everyone from that crew is well. Thanks

Hello to all of my fellow shipmates!  I am in need of information, FAST!!!!  I am a veteran who served between 1988-1995 as well as a current college student.  I am writing a paper on the history of enlisted uniforms and I have some gaps of information that I am having some difficulties in finding answers to.  They all deal with the so-called 'Salt and Pepper' uniforms.  I have seen pictures of some of those uniforms on Google and Bing but there are still questions left unanswered.  The…

If there is anyone who would know how to obtain a list of the personal of a particular unit that you last served-in I would be grateful if you would respond.

The Smoky Mountain USSVI Base in Knoxville, Tn. is currently trying to build a replica submarine to be used as a float in local parades and veteran events. We hope to have it built by May 1 to be used in the Dolly Parton Sevierville, Tn. parade (yes that Dolly). We have set up a gofundme.com/smokymntbasefloat account, please consider donating. Any amount large or small will help us perpetuate the submarine service.

Back in 1978, I received a Letter from, Pa. Senator Arlene Spector, to get a Agent Orange Physical, well I did, plus four more A/O Physical, did not here from the VA, until 1983, I put Claims in for five years, and every time I was denied, so I did not stop there because that is what the VA wants for you to do, so the VA would save money, but I did not stop there, my wife, and my military friends, kept pushing me, so I kept going, always getting denied, so I wrote a letter to my Congressman…