Navy Life

Looking at Eddie's pics of the USS Midway, and how far she rolled to one side ... it really does put the power of the sea in perspective. I mean, aircraft carriers are not small objects! My Dad said it was not uncommon for the Victory ships he served on in WWII to roll 45 degrees (or more) during the Atlantic convoy runs. How he kept from puking the entire trip, I have no idea ... I'd be lashed to the stern rail just to save me the trouble of having to stumble to the heads every 5 minutes.

Eddie,   that first shot is really neat! someone should build a diorama of that! 

   Now, by the look of the angle of roll in the other shots, I think most Destroyermen will agree, that's a calm day. Before surface warfare qualifications, Destroyermen thought they should be able to wear "half a set of dolphins", for the amount of time they spent under water.

Here's one we used to annoy the smokers.Wait till the watch change and when the quarterdeck was full pipe "no smoking, no smoking, no smoking, AVCAT recirc in progress". Hee Hee that annoyed 'em!

eddie miller wrote:

armornut wrote:  this thread has brought back so many memories i can't even count,i served in VAQ 131(1988/1991)went on two westpacs (second being DESERT STORM somewhere north of Gonzo station) aboard CV-by god 61.that was the biggest ship i'd ever seen,not to many "bird farms"on lake Coeur d' Alene,really thought they just put us to sleep and changed the scenery outside.(join the navy see the world......78% of earth is water  here's yer sign).served with alot of great people and seen alot of amazing places,wouldn't change a thing,wouldn't go back unless it was to keep some snot nosed wisenheimr from growing up way to fast and trashing the next 10years of his life,its all good now.someone posted before that they wouldn't go on a cruise ship,i might just to see what its like to float around and sleep without an airplane crashing into a tennis court 24/7/175.  college education to fly 'em   high school equivalant to fix 'em  p.s. not to be a downer for the thread but lets all remember that we swore an oath to protect this nation try to keep the info posted here to "public knowledge" keep the brave folks serving now safe. ppss thank you vets (all branches) thank a vet every chance you get. Now, ain't that a small world. I was stationed on CV" By God"-61, otherwise known as the Danger Ranger from 89-91. V-1 Crash& Salvage. Here's one of your birds and, as I am sure you remember, our homecoming back to San Diego after Desert Storm.   Eddie

oh yea i remember,the guys name on that bird died after a pft before we went on cruise, he was well loved in our squadron and it was tough to let him go,he was a plane capt. before striking for amh(haven't thought of him in years,thank you for reminding me of a really great guy)we did a hellofa job during Desert Storm thanks for being on deck for our birds and crew.good to know other Rangermen are still out there.

Eddie,

 Thanks for this pics....in the one with the big yellow ribbon...in the backround, all the whirly-birds....there's my old squadron, with white SH-3s & the beautiful, big, old CH-53Es...HC-1, 88-91.

All the Ch-46s are with HC-3 & HC-11. wonder if they still have those?

BTW, anyone familiar with the color that is seen on the 53? I've seen it on MH-53E models of HC-4, but I do not know what color it is.

Dave

 

 

This is funny cause it's probably been going on since the first two cave man armies came into existance.  The first time I ever came across anything liked it was back in the late 50s and I discovered Bill Mauldin's book Up Front.  He included an article he wrote for the Stars and Stripes in 1943 on what the folks back home could do to find out what life as an infantryman was like (and it ain't changed very much since).  If you can find a copy, it's worth reading.

armornut wrote:

this thread has brought back so many memories i can't even count,i served in VAQ 131(1988/1991)went on two westpacs (second being DESERT STORM somewhere north of Gonzo station) aboard CV-by god 61.that was the biggest ship i'd ever seen,not to many "bird farms"on lake Coeur d' Alene,really thought they just put us to sleep and changed the scenery outside.(join the navy see the world......78% of earth is water  here's yer sign).served with alot of great people and seen alot of amazing places,wouldn't change a thing,wouldn't go back unless it was to keep some snot nosed wisenheimr from growing up way to fast and trashing the next 10years of his life,its all good now.someone posted before that they wouldn't go on a cruise ship,i might just to see what its like to float around and sleep without an airplane crashing into a tennis court 24/7/175.  college education to fly 'em   high school equivalant to fix 'em  p.s. not to be a downer for the thread but lets all remember that we swore an oath to protect this nation try to keep the info posted here to "public knowledge" keep the brave folks serving now safe. ppss thank you vets (all branches) thank a vet every chance you get.

Now, ain't that a small world. I was stationed on CV" By God"-61, otherwise known as the Danger Ranger from 89-91. V-1 Crash& Salvage. Here's one of your birds and, as I am sure you remember, our homecoming back to San Diego after Desert Storm.

  Eddie

 this thread has brought back so many memories i can't even count,i served in VAQ 131(1988/1991)went on two westpacs (second being DESERT STORM somewhere north of Gonzo station) aboard CV-by god 61.that was the biggest ship i'd ever seen,not to many "bird farms"on lake Coeur d' Alene,really thought they just put us to sleep and changed the scenery outside.(join the navy see the world......78% of earth is water  here's yer sign).served with alot of great people and seen alot of amazing places,wouldn't change a thing,wouldn't go back unless it was to keep some snot nosed wisenheimr from growing up way to fast and trashing the next 10years of his life,its all good now.someone posted before that they wouldn't go on a cruise ship,i might just to see what its like to float around and sleep without an airplane crashing into a tennis court 24/7/175.

 college education to fly 'em   high school equivalant to fix 'em

 p.s. not to be a downer for the thread but lets all remember that we swore an oath to protect this nation try to keep the info posted here to "public knowledge" keep the brave folks serving now safe.

ppss thank you vets (all branches) thank a vet every chance you get.

Here's a new definition to rock n roll. This may have not been any big deal to the small boys, but for the USS Midway back during the Typhoon Tour of 88, it was quite the ride. The Japanese ( we were homeported in Yokosuka) estimated that a roll over 22 degrees would put the boat in danger of capsizing. We did 24 . I've never seen so many people puking at one time.

Here's a few pix of some of the rock n rollin that I took as we made our way around one of the three storms we got tangled up in.

   Eddie

ridleusmc wrote:

[quote user="Manstein's revenge"]  ridleusmc wrote: ...yeah, I am gonna be politically incorrect...I am so tired of women who want to be treated equaly to men in the service, then bad-mouth any aspect of service-life that infringed upon their femininity...STOW IT!!! I have a theory about these types that I won't share in open Forum that explains this mindset better... Manstein, I'm going to have to disagree with you about women in the military.  They are just as professional and reliable as the men.  Both genders have their complainers.  Don't take one person's comments typical of military women.  Semper Fi, Chris

...I agree with you...if you re-read my comments you'll discover that I narrowed down my opinion to the types that complain, as you did...

18 hours on, 6 off and 2 hours into your off time....GENERAL QUARTERS, GENERAL QUARTERS MAN YOUR BATTLE STATIONS.  1 hour of that, back to your hot bunk under the forward catapult, where they commence air ops.

Ah the memories.  Retired after 20 years of Service.  I must tell you that things got much better when I left the "fleet" and went into the Seabees.  The only water I saw there was the once weekly shower when in the field and of course the water that filled my fighting position! LOL

[quote user="Manstein's revenge"]

ridleusmc wrote:

...yeah, I am gonna be politically incorrect...I am so tired of women who want to be treated equaly to men in the service, then bad-mouth any aspect of service-life that infringed upon their femininity...STOW IT!!! I have a theory about these types that I won't share in open Forum that explains this mindset better...

Manstein,

I'm going to have to disagree with you about women in the military.  They are just as professional and reliable as the men.  Both genders have their complainers.  Don't take one person's comments typical of military women. 

Semper Fi,

Chris

jimz66 wrote:

Butchy. now a days they have serious restrictions on who can join and who can not join. For instance I have Tuorette Syndrome which I take medicine for. I also have asthma. Those two things alone kept me out. Not to mention my wieght, bad knees and a bad back. They have too many rules these days. I would go in a heart beat.

...and you were accepted into an academy? 

ridleusmc wrote:

Demankat wrote: I was on the USS Kearsarge '98-'00. I was the 3rd female to report on board and the only female in my division until Aug '99. Now that was torture at times, being locked behind a 6 in steel door with a safe combo and a cipher lock with 26+ males. Don't forget having Marines on board and trying to get through the chow line. All they do is eat, sleep, work out, shine their boots and eat 12 times a day. Sorry for my rant. Demankat We're also there to fulfill the mission of an LHD (Landing Helicopter Deck).  I took many trips lugging tool boxes up the ramp to make helicopters (that's what the H stands for) fly.  That attitude is exactly why I didn't like the Kearsarge (LHD-3).  The Iwo Jima (LHD-7) and the Bataan (LHD-5) were whole lot better by comparison.  There's going to be Marines on an amphibious ship.  That's what an amphib is there for.    Semper Fidelis, Chris

...yeah, I am gonna be politically incorrect...I am so tired of women who want to be treated equaly to men in the service, then bad-mouth any aspect of service-life that infringed upon their femininity...STOW IT!!! I have a theory about these types that I won't share in open Forum that explains this mindset better...

Demankat wrote:

I was on the USS Kearsarge '98-'00. I was the 3rd female to report on board and the only female in my division until Aug '99. Now that was torture at times, being locked behind a 6 in steel door with a safe combo and a cipher lock with 26+ males. Don't forget having Marines on board and trying to get through the chow line. All they do is eat, sleep, work out, shine their boots and eat 12 times a day. Sorry for my rant. Demankat

We're also there to fulfill the mission of an LHD (Landing Helicopter Deck).  I took many trips lugging tool boxes up the ramp to make helicopters (that's what the H stands for) fly.  That attitude is exactly why I didn't like the Kearsarge (LHD-3).  The Iwo Jima (LHD-7) and the Bataan (LHD-5) were whole lot better by comparison.  There's going to be Marines on an amphibious ship.  That's what an amphib is there for.   

Semper Fidelis,

Chris

      Having served in the absolute worst rate in the Navy (abe) aboard the absolute worst ship (uss enterprise) with the absolute worst officers (rhymes with oaf) in the absolute worst circumstances (justifying a budget) I can honestly say that the original poster did not say enough.  Having cross-rated into the best rate (non sf) within the best organization (seabees... hoorah) in the world's finest military I can honestly say to my former V-2 Division officer...(message omitted by poster due to content).  Needless to say this post is a sore topic.

This is an incredible thread!  What fun!  Dang!  There's a mess of jarheads in here!

An old gunny and an old chief were sitting around having a beer.  The gunny says, "I enlisted then I was 16, right after Pearl Harbor.  I was in the 1st Division on Guadalcanal, where I got malaria and my first purple heart.  I missed New Britain, but made Pelieliu and got my second purple heart on Okinawa.  I figured I'd get out in 46, but saw the unemployment lines and decided to stay in. Sure as the world, I ended up at Chosin, and lost two toes to frostbite.  By the time that was over, I figured I might as well stay in for the pension, and darned if I didn't end up in Vietnam with the Walking Dead.  Got my third purple heart and told 'em to let me the h*** out."

The old swab sucks on his beer and says, "Ummphf.  All shore duty, eh?"

I wouldn't do it again for zillion dollars, but I wouldn't take a zillion for having done it once.  USMC, '67-'71, 8th Marines, 3rd FSR (at Camp Foster) 2/5 at LZ Baldy - 2841, ground radio repair.

If all the guys who claimed to be Seals or Recon in Nam actually were, we would have had about three divisions of each over there all the time.  And if all the yahoos who claim to have been assasins with the phoenix program were telling the truth, there wouldn't be a live Vietnamese over the age of 32!  (Is that right?  2007 minus 1975... yeah, that's 32.)

I have no doubt that serving in the Navy is way more than it's cracked up to be - I wasn't able to serve myself, since I couldn't pass the physical with no kneecaps left - but a good friend of my wife did serve on the USS Cole and used to come over every chance he got and tell us all sorts of stories.  (He was discharged from the Navy before the attack on the Cole.)

When I was in high school I remember telling our priest one day that I had decided to be a Navy chaplain.  Don't ask where that came from - to this day I have no idea what made me think or say that (although at the time I did mean it) - I had a fondness for the Navy - always have - but like I said above, after 4 years in a military academy I wasn't able to take my commission for medical reasons and it amuses my friends that I envy them their service.  Most of the guys I went to school with served in the Gulf war and had lots of interesting stories to tell that year at our 10th year reunion.  Like the wingman who launched his AIMs instead of just arming them, sending them right past the cockpit of a friend of mine.  And funny stories like that there.

 "There are three classes of people in this world;

Those who are dead,

Those who are alive,

and those who are at sea"

NOW FOR THE INFORMATION OF ALL HANDS THE BU...ZZZ@#$$%%*crackle...&&*%": WILL BE SECURED IN FIVE MINUTES...

 God help me I love it so!

MJM sends

BT

kik36 wrote:

use tie down chains to tie down your car in the driveway, and make your kids stay up all night checking chains every half hour, and then make them go to school the next day. Make sure to keep everyone up all night working around the house, and schedule all of their medical, chow, and personal things 2 hours after they should be in bed, and back to work 2 hours after they're finished. Clog up all of the shower drains, toilets, and sinks.....make everyone change large amounts of oil, and hydraulic fluid......send to bed.....repeat... Tell everyone the A/C is broken, and will be repaired in about 6 months (two weeks before you get off the boat!!!) Make sure to shut off electricity to your house once a day for four hours claiming the damn generator is out again. When making plans for vacation, tell everyone you will be going to Australia.....if they are too enthusiastic change in two days to Hong Kong......in two weeks change to Africa.....once they get used to that idea....change back to Australia.....never mind, we're not going anywhere!! Make everyone work at night on extremely complicated components (Transmissions, engines, wiring, etc) with a stupid blue flashlight, 'cause it's lights out tonight. Pull into the toy store parking lot, and tell your youngest he has first watch, and has to sign out the rest of the family to enjoy the fun. Declare that for now on, anytime you walk by anyone, you will all pass at 45 degree angles due to the rocking. build a line of stalls, and anytime someone sits in one, yell from yours "Hey, can you toss me some PAPER!!!" LOL, memories.......I was in the 13th MEU USS Peleilu '97-98....USMC HMH-462. Maybe I wasn't in the Navy, but I was along for the ride for a little over 8 months!! I served too much chow duty, too much laundry duty, and too much chain shakin' to ever do it again!!!! My ex-wife actually tricked me back onto a boat about a month after we got back...we were supposed to go fishing for a couple of hours with her dad on a tour......when it started getting late, I asked why we weren't in port yet.....Hardy, Har, HAR, HAR!!!!! Joke was on me, we were spending the night!!! Only good thing to come of that, was I slept like a baby, and she was sick all night.......karma will get ya everytime!!!! LOL

"Declare that for now on, anytime you walk by anyone, you will all pass at 45 degree angles due to the rocking."

...I'm curious, what purpose does that serve, to prevent people from running into each other? 

Demankat wrote:

I was on the USS Kearsarge '98-'00. I was the 3rd female to report on board and the only female in my division until Aug '99. Now that was torture at times, being locked behind a 6 in steel door with a safe combo and a cipher lock with 26+ males. Don't forget having Marines on board and trying to get through the chow line. All they do is eat, sleep, work out, shine their boots and eat 12 times a day. Sorry for my rant. Demankat

hmmmmmmm...you knew what you were getting into didn't you?...if females want to be in the military surely they realize they will be in the minority?

It was pretty common to hear Marines say stuff like, "We have to go back to the ship, can't we just wait in Iraq for the Air Force to take us home."  It's bad when Marines would rather stay in the desert than go back to the ship.  

The USS Kearsarge has a great galley, but my favorite is the USS Iwo Jima.  The Iwo's newer, so the toilets, showers, etc. worked better. 

Semper Fi,

Chris 

I don't know where the following originated; I got it quite a few years ago from a friend who also takes part in this Forum, but whose name had perhaps better be omitted for his own protection. 

It is, I think, a rather profound commentary on (a) the obscurity of military jargon, and (b) the inability, despite such jargon, of the services to communicate effectively either with each other or with anybody else.

Tell the U.S. Navy to "secure a building."  They'll turn out the lights and lock the doors as they leave.

Tell the U.S. Army to "secure a building."  They'll put up a chain link fence around it and deny entry to anybody who doesn't have a pass.

Tell the U.S. Marine Corps to "secure a building."  They'll launch an infantry assault with artillery support.

Tell the U.S. Air Force to "secure a building."  They'll go see a real estate agent and take out a three-year lease, with an option to buy.

I was on a ferry once.........

Way too many fond memories (I think). You guys forgot one thing: Stay up all night, go to bed in the AM after eating greasy home fries and eggs w/bacon, have a total stranger sneak into your bedroom and hold an electric bullhorn to your ear. Then have him blow a bosun's pipe into the bullhorn and bellow.....General quarters, general quarters, all hands man your battle stations, set condition Yoke throughout the ship--make condition yoke reports to the damage control assistant in DC central...... repeat the previous announcement at least one more time.

Don't forget--if you're a snipe, come to work at OH-Dark-Thirty at least 12-14 hours before the rest of the crew in order to "Light off".. Then the magic words "Now station the special sea and anchor detail, make all preparations for getting underway" etc, etc....Retired in "91 and wouldn't take any of it back. NAVY--IT'S NOT A JOB, IT's AN ADVENTURE......RM1 Rick Martin, USN (retarded)(Ret'd)(whatever)

You folks are just kidding!! You loved it!!

It's Yooooooooooouuuuuuuurrrrrrrrrrrr Navy!!!!!!!!!

" Now on deck...All those forward procede aft...all those aft procede forward...all those midships, stand by to direct traffic."

" Now station the midships highline detail"

"Sweepers, sweepers, man your brooms, give the ship a clean sweepdown fore and aft, clamp down all weather decks, polish all topside brightwork..now sweepers"

and it was " Reveille, reveille, all hands heave out and trice up, the smoking lamp is lighted in all authorized spaces, now reveille" that could be preceded by the bo's'n's pipe, or a bugle call.

Mike Boorda used to have the word passed after refuelling," Now secure the special sea detail, the smoking lamp is lighted in all authorized spaces, and the captains cigar"
when in the Mediterranean, we had a group of officers and enlisted who made up the Fast Action Reporting Team, who documented soviet block shipping we encountered. and yes, the word was passed "Now away the F.A........."

Oh yeah, jimz66, "what is a bilge?".....That's where the water was stored that was used to make mess decks coffee!

CPO USN RET

I did two years on the Midway , two years on the Ranger, and two years at NAS Kingsville. I did get to go to the P.I. many times. It's very hard to convince some of the bar girls that you're a cherryboy after a few times in port. Also, being on the look out for Bennie Boys in Thailand. Korea was great with a cold Oscar and a hot egg sandwich during Team Spirit . I did 3 WESPACs and like so many others here, will probably never set foot on a cruise ship, although I would very much like to go see the Midway in San Dog.
I don't know if anyone remembers firewatches in port. Watching someone weld for 8 hours is incredibly boring. Also, those of us in Crash, we had the much loved duty of pulling ALL the flight deck fire hoses out and scrubbing the green off of the brass. I once got the honor of doing a spot check with the Captain of the boat. That has a bit of a pucker factor when you're an newbie E-3. Here's one of me on top of a Tomcat in the catwalk on the Ranger( in my very unsat white socks)
)and one of me with my Wog( me on the left hold the leash),plus Beer Day. That was a deal. 2 beer for every 45 days at sea. We had talk a couple of teetotalers out of theirs( Me on the left) Too many stories to tell.....Thanks for the memories.
Eddie