Was I wrong! We did the Gitmo cruise for "ORE". We were
in the "Med" in 79 when the Iranian hostages were taken
and were terrified that our deployment would be extended.
When the Forrestal (CV 59) came over the horizon to relieve
us, we were overjoyed. When we "outchopped" we hit a
storm in the Atlantic that was so bad that they sent the
escorts back to Rota as we rode it out going 10 miles into
the sea, turning 180 degrees and running with the sea for 10
miles. This went on for about 3 days.

I was proud to serve on such a great ship. I would have loved
to have gone to te decommisioning but living in New Jersey,
my schedule and economic condition didn't enable me to go.

I did many things on board. Stood all the positions on the
bridge watch. I stood Boatswains mate of the watch import
and underway. I stood as honors Boatswains mate in Naples
for an Italian dignitary. I was a boat coxswain with what was
then 6th division. I was a rigger on receiving and DD refueling
rigs. I was rig captain on the receiving rig even before I was an
E-4. Stood as winch operator on the receiving, DD and burton
cargo receiving rigs. Worked as division DCPO with my old
friend Bruce Jost. I served with a lot of great guys and Captain
Watson was a commander I would've sailed into hell with.

I would love to hear from my department head, Commander
Brian Boyce, BM1 Yarberry, SN Cotter, SN Macqueenie,
Eckenrode, Howard and everyone else I served with.

Fair winds and following seas, shipmates
.

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