Navy Life

Time aboard ship was time spent sleeping! We would check the POD to see if there was a general quarters drill scheduled, since our "battle station" was our rack! That's the good life for a grunt. Lots of rack time, PT and weapons cleaning.

Too funny!!! Sure wish that was the story for me!!!

When in Naples avoid the lady called "Red Devil Blower"....
Never fall asleep when on watch... with a 45 on your side.... after being up for 19 hours

Ahhhh...the memories...15th MEU(SOC), HMM-163 (REIN), USS PELELIU (LHA-5) and a 7 month deployment for OEF, 2001-2002.

KIK36 I know what you mean. Nothing like being a USMC "Air Winger" on ship working with the Navy. Cram 6 guys in a 4 man stateroom and "hot rack" . Staying up 96 hours straight, on more than one occasion, to keep aircraft up so our Grunts can do what they do best...locate, close with, and destroy the enemy! Lemonjello....GET SOME!!!

Crossing the Line... Cancelled liberty ports...139 days straight underway...Australia was nice to see again. It sucks at times when you're out, but once you're back...you miss it.

kik36 and Dragonfire,
I thought it was "swing with the wing" I didn't know you guys actually did work???? I did all my sleeping on ship, cause there wasn't much of it once we left...

I was trying to get back to a MEU when I left Oki last year, ended up at the next best thing, an infantry regiment with 2MARDIV. And I deployed a lot quicker than I had expected (about a month after checking in to my unit)

LemonJello:

Yep, believe it or not, we did work. Sometimes, "swinging with the Wing" can be a good thing, at others it can suck (fix aircraft while others are on libo). I can also sympathize with you ashore...mortars tend to ruin your sleeping habits.

LemonJello,

I forgot...are you 0311, or 0331?

Actually, I'm now an 0659, tactical data chief, I lucked out at my re-enlistment and got a lat-move. I started out as an 0311, bullet sponge. I took my company gunny's advice when he told me if I could get out of the infantry, to jump at the chance. Still, I'm back at division and we're already looking at heading to Iraq next year, after this tour in Afghanistan wraps up this summer.

Saying "I'm a shellback" after getting your ****** beat for eights hours straight by a fire hose. Crawling thru all kinds of garbage that was being saved by the supply pukes. Molybendum grease on your armpits thanks to the gunners mates. The long crawl up to the flight deck to face the gauntlet. Going thru the 200 +man gaunlet line on an LHA with those crazy ****** shellback marines from Hawaii. Then throwing all clothing on your body over the side as you make your way down to the berthing area to shower. Then sleep for sixteen hours straight. Priceless.............USS Peleliu 1983-86

It's definately an honor to be a "Shellback"...

How about those those two famous words: "Stand By."
Can we dump trash now? Stand By.
Can we secure from flight ops? Stand By.
Can we go on liberty? Stand By.
Permission to depart flight deck? Stand By.
Fuel state critical, do we have a green deck? Stand By. . .

Don

i served 4 years in the Navy as an Operation Specialists onboard the USS Monterey which was stationed in Mayport (Jacksonville) Florida. here are some of my fond memories of the navy:

1. "slider day" every thursday you got the privilege of eating either a greasy hamburger of one that had been under the heat lamp for half a day and was charred.

2. refueling and replenishing at sea. the joys of trying to heeve a gigantic gas hose to from there ship to yours with a oversized K-poc strapped on and gripping the non-skid with you toes in order to prevent being washed overboard by the churning sea between the 2 vessels!!

3. the dreaded "balls to 4" watch!!!

4. thorough "FOD" walkdowns.

5. General Quarters

6. "Work" details.

7. endless watches in sub artic-rooms like CIC (Combat Information Center).

8. Cutting my hair and shaving!!!! i haven't shaved in about 2 weeks as i type this!!

9. Ship wide personel inspections where you get to stand at parade rest for nearly 4 hours waiting on the captain to arrive, then 2 more while he inspects every person aboard the ship.

10. "Sausage Fests"(if you didn't clear the base by atleast 10 miles you'd be competing for girls at ratio of about 20 to 1. my close friends and i avoided these "sausage" fests at all costs.

11. Fox tails!!

12. Fire drills!!!

these are only a dozen "fond" memories of my wonderful and glamorous days in the navy!! later.

QUOTE: Originally posted by Dragonfire Ahhhh...the memories...15th MEU(SOC), HMM-163 (REIN), USS PELELIU (LHA-5) and a 7 month deployment for OEF, 2001-2002. KIK36 I know what you mean. Nothing like being a USMC "Air Winger" on ship working with the Navy. Cram 6 guys in a 4 man stateroom and "hot rack" . Staying up 96 hours straight, on more than one occasion, to keep aircraft up so our Grunts can do what they do best...locate, close with, and destroy the enemy! Lemonjello....GET SOME!!! Crossing the Line... Cancelled liberty ports...139 days straight underway...Australia was nice to see again. It sucks at times when you're out, but once you're back...you miss it.

was the vma-311 on lha 5 for the 2001 deployment?

QUOTE: Originally posted by Dragonfire Ahhhh...the memories...15th MEU(SOC), HMM-163 (REIN), USS PELELIU (LHA-5) and a 7 month deployment for OEF, 2001-2002. KIK36 I know what you mean. Nothing like being a USMC "Air Winger" on ship working with the Navy. Cram 6 guys in a 4 man stateroom and "hot rack" . Staying up 96 hours straight, on more than one occasion, to keep aircraft up so our Grunts can do what they do best...locate, close with, and destroy the enemy! Lemonjello....GET SOME!!! Crossing the Line... Cancelled liberty ports...139 days straight underway...Australia was nice to see again. It sucks at times when you're out, but once you're back...you miss it.

I've never been onboard a ship underway - I was supposed to do a 1 week cruise on the Eisenhower a few years ago, but wound up in the hospital instead. I did, however, spend a few months flying with navy helicopter squadrons out of Norfolk NAS years ago when I was an Army officer, and a few things struck me:

- The aircraft were filthy. I always wore Corcoran jump boots when flying with the Army. When I flew with the Navy, I switched to the standard rubber-sole boots to keep from falling on my butt. Honestly - I remember sliding the length of the cargo deck on one CH-46, from the oil and hydraulic fluid slathered on it.

- They kept their aircraft in really nice heated/airconditioned hangars, but first thing in the morning they opened the doors, and kept them open all day. It was Winter, and pretty damn cold.

- Overall, my impression of the Navy was that, if they weren't dirty, wet, and uncomfortable, they didn't think they were doing their job.

- I did, however, enjoy the attention I got when I called a squadron and introduced myself as "Captain" That got them running well before I had the chance to add "US Army"

Dan H.

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

" 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

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

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

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)

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

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.

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 

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?

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? 

 "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

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.

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.)

      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.

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

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...