174 - December 27, 2006 12:01 pm

Name:

Dan Howell HT2

Tender:

Gilmore AS16- Shenandoah AD26

Comments:

Served on the Gilmore from Jan 72' till March 74'. Had some great times in the Shipfitter Shop and made some great friends. La Madd was a blast and I still miss being there. Heard that La Madd will be closing in the next few years. Italy will be getting a great naval base, thanks to those who built from what it was to what it is today..

175 - December 23, 2006 1:05 am

Name:

Don Behrens

Tender:

USS Orion (AS-18)

Comments:

She was a great ship, I served on her from 1981 to 1983. I worked out of 38A outside machine shop. It is unfortunate that she is gone now, but the memories will always keep her alive "fair winds and following seas"

176 - December 23, 2006 1:01 am

Name:

Don Behrens

Tender:

USS Orion (AS-18)

Comments:

She was a great ship, It is unfortunate that she is gone "fair winds and following seas"

177 - December 20, 2006 9:15 am

Name:

Al Rothe

Tender:

Bushnell

Comments:

I served on COMKWESTFOR STAFF from 1967 to 1969. We lovingly refered to the Bushnell as "Building 15" because she was a constant "fixture" out on the Quay Wall. The joke was that they would have to dredge out the coffee ground in order to get the "Bush" underway! I do remember Camille in '69, I plotted the storm on the hugh wall map in the Command Post. As I recall, the Bushnell was on a port visit to New Orleans and had to ride out the hurricane tied to the dock because they could not get the crew back on board in time to sail down the Mississippi and get out to sea.

I do recall that the Bush spent several weeks rebuilding Pilot Town. My next door neighbor was a crewmember and talked about killing snakes by the hundreds and dealing with dead cattle.

A littel side note, there was a small sub at the base that simply went to the bottom of Key West Harbor to ride out storms!

RADM F.J. "Fuller" Brush was our commander at the time. He was once asked to show his ID to a clerk at the Commissary and the young girl asked, "you are a Radioman what class?"

178 - December 19, 2006 8:35 pm

Name:

Diane Clark

Tender:

USS Sperry

Comments:

My father was Chief Petty Officer Red Cantrell. He served on the Sperry for three years in the mid 50's (in San Diego). I have fond memories of being a very little girl and visiting the ship for holiday dinners. It was a great ship, but then, aren't they all? (Spoken like a true Navy Brat, huh?)

179 - December 15, 2006 3:50 pm

Name:

Norman Boucher

Tender:

USS Proteus AS 19

Comments:

i was in the 11th Div. 3/46
to 11/47 a great crew miss them.

180 - December 13, 2006 3:44 pm

Name:

DION CLARK

Tender:

USS OTIS

Comments:

MY FATHER WAS CWO3 BENEDICT (BEN) HERMAN CLARK
MACHINIST MATE ON THE USS OTIS. PASSED ON NOVEMEBER 27,1997. IN MEMORY OF THOSE WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES FOR THEIR COUNTRY, LET US NOT GIVE UP THE SHIP NOW IN THE PRESENT TIMES OF PERIL TO OUR NATION,DO NOT SUBMIT TO TYRANNY, AND LET THEIR BLOOD SHED FOR LIBERTY, DIE IN VAIN.
RALLY AROUND THE FLAG AND CONTACT ME AT
DRDIONCLARK@HOTMAIL.COM
GOD BLESS THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

181 - December 8, 2006 6:11 am

Name:

Bill (Th' Sev) Severing

Tender:

USS Proteus (AS-19)

Comments:

Only naval ship I ever served on (1977-1980).
S-7 DIV, also ran the ship's entertainment system, which consisted of operating a reel-to-reel tape unit with AFRTS programming tapes.
Rode The Pro back to Long Beach in '78 for the overhaul period and transferred (I say kicked off) just before she was to go back to Guam. Did a late night DJ gig on "Old Pro Radio" on the way back to the states.

I've never forgotten her, and never will.

182 - December 5, 2006 9:18 pm

Name:

Curt Simmons

Tender:

USS Fulton (AS-11)

Comments:

Served on USS Fulton (77-80 and 86-89), USS Frank Cable (AS-40) from (81-83) and the USS Simon Lake (AS-33). I served in the Special Weapons Division on Fulton and Cable and was the Crane Officer on Simon Lake. Tenders were, and are, the true unsung heroes of the fleet. I had the best years of my naval career on the above ships. To all tender sailors, Well Done!!

183 - December 4, 2006 4:13 pm

Name:

Jim Bampfield

Tender:

USS Proteus (AS-19)

Comments:

Aboard the "Pro" 60 - 62
Also on the Bushnell (AS-15) 62-64