CGC Chase and CGC Hamilton

When they decommission the ships you served in are you getting old?

Yes,  All three of the ships I served on were decommissioned; two for Midlife Maintenance Activity (MMA).  My first ship, Columbia River Lightship (WLV 604) is now a museum ship.  I have fond memories of riding 44' MLB's between Station Cape Disappointment and the lightship - now the 44's are all gone.   I served on CONFIDENCE (WMEC 619) for two years in Alaska, after MMA she went to Port Canaveral.  I served almost two years on VIGOROUS (WMEC 627) in New London; after MMA she went to Cape May.  A couple of other places I've been stationed are long gone as well: Recruit Training Center Alameda and Governors Island NY.

At my retirement ceremony from the world's largest Coast Guard,  the air station Commanding Officer told all  personnel present that  six of the seven Coast Guard ships I was a crewman on were decommissioned. Man did that make me feel old!  Three of the cutters were steam powered(Secretary Class a la Revell's USCGC CAMPBELL/TANEY model).  Duty on the NANTUCKET lightship caused me to rethink my decision to join the USCG and wishing I had joined the Army .

 Yes, the 378's were quite a ship, it's  revolutionary machinery plant was the first jet turbine ever installed on a US warship and paved the way for what is now standard propulsion system on many Naval ships around the world.  They served the country well from duty in Vietnam to the Med, to the Caribbean. The HAMILTON class sleek lines and 44 year old design make it's replacement cutter class look like a slug in my opinion. Eventually these beautiful ships are scheduled to be "reassigned" to other countries navies as a good will gesture. To borrow a quote from Neil Young..."long may you run,  long may you run, you know these changes had to come..."

Gee guys, what's a "lightship"?  Just kidding.

I took Duane to Europe on a cadet cruise.  We had Ingham and Chase with us.  Hit a major storm that the 327s rode through fairly well.  Chase looked like a cork.

I was on Alert when she was in Cape May - now in Oregon someplace.  I was also on  Dallas in GINY (which, as you said, is gone).  Dallas is on the chopping block.  They decomed my loran station (Enewetak) and now the whole loran system is gone.

And you are correct, the "National Security Cutters" (they don't even call them by their length anymore) don't hold a candle to the 378s.

But my son followed me - he is DWO on Midgett out in Seattle.  Been on 2 south trips and is doing an ALPAT in July.  His brother enlisted in the Reserves (ET2).

Semper Paratus!