I served on Howard W. Gilmore (AS-16) from March '56 until August '58 in R-3 division. Went aboard in Key West as EMFN, and left in '58 as EM2. We went to Hoboken, N.J. in summer/fall of '56 for shipyard overhaul at American Shipbuilding yard, across the Hudson from downtown Manhattan. Went through REFTRA at Gitmo, then visited Havana, and back to Key West by Christmas. We went to Charlotte Amalie, U.S. Virgin Islands for Springboard '58, and spent 6 weeks at the pier (tough duty!) Servicing U.S and British submarines. We stopped in Havana again for a week, and I was assigned permanent Shore Patrol at the central Police Station, living in a hotel. (More tough duty!). This was our last visit to Havana, since Castro took over in December '58. I married a Key West Conch in June '58, and we still visit Key West, but it's a far different place than the '50's. Would like to hear from shipmates of that period. Bob Adelwerth CWO USN, Ret. |