The Bowditch was my last Navy Vessel. I sailed as an ETN1 Navaids Tech, in 1974 and 1974. I came aboard at Maryland Shipbuilding & Drydock Co., in Baltimore, MD, just as the *New* Bow was being attached. I left the ship (and the Navy), in Red Hook, Brooklyn, NY, where the fire damage (from the Fire in #4 Hold, in Saint John's, Newfoundland, Canada) was about to be repaired. Typical Port's of call during that time were in places like Southampton, England, Greenock, Scotland, Lisbon, Portugal and Ponta Delgada, on São Miguel Island, in the Azores. The Bowditch was 30 Years old when was onboard, but I read somewhere that it kept up the OSP work until 1986 !!! 42 YEARS is a Long Working Life for a ship that went through what we did when I was onboard. In the mid-70's, Bowditch had a large crack in the Hull on the port side, just aft of the Galley. Every year in the shipyards, they would weld it shut, but as soon as we were back out in Really Heavy Weather and Pitching and Plowing HARD, it would Split Open again ! I was always a bit worried about that, and I believe a steel plate "bandaid" was welded on later. I've lost track of almost everyone from those cruises (and some are no longer with us, like Billy Gene Jenkins, RIP), but would enjoy a quick howdy from any that are still around: dwcoley@gmail.com SAFE TRAVELS ALL !!!

I checked aboard the USNS Hess early '89 for two months of training before going back to the USNS Maury, which the were finishing the ship at Bethleham Steel Maryland.
What an experience! The Hess was at Rio De Janeiro where I checked aboard. We took the ship out to sea and crossed the equator and pulled into Caracas Venisualla. Last, we passed through the Panama Canel and pulled into San Francisco.
Nothing but good memories.

Admin: And all that in just two months!! Welcome aboard Shaun!

I was Civilian Naval Oceanographic Scientist, Gravity Expert, as part of the Ocean Survey Project. I served at sea on the USNS Dutton, USNS Bowditch, USNS H H HESS, USNS WYMAN, USNS WILKES. I served also in the office in SUITLAND, MARYLAND and Bay St. Louis, Mississippi.

First SURVOP of several.

Oceanographic Unit 3 on board the HH Hess was my first and most memorable duty assignment. I loved it!

I'd like to hear from my old shipmates: dbrant58@protonmail.com

Reported aboard 04/84, departed 10/85. Say hi to Teri Lentz for me! Those years were the best.

George Cook (Butch)

I was a ET-3 Nav ET when I reported aboard in December of '79 when the ship was in the yards in Boston. I have some Bowditch Spitoons and crew photos that you do not have posted on the website. Let me know if you'd like to add them. Barely NSFW.
Regards/Al Clawson
(904)226-3834

Jul72 to Oct73. Any shipmates out there. How about Paco?

17 Apr 2026

Slowbell's web site is still up but not active. I have forgotten his name and have searched his site looking for it without success. Does anyone know what has happened to him? He has stuff on his site about our ships.

He is a WW II vet so he has to be getting up there in years. I'm Vietnam era and I'm 86. WW II ended 81 years ago. Can't be many folks around from that era.

Someone / organization is keeping his site alive for viewing and most likely historical purposes.

Does anyone have any information about Slowbell ?

Chris Headley

Dan, 15 Dec 2025

Nice boat, great idea living a dream that's a reality for very few. Congrats !!!

Miss the ships and their crews.

God Bless You and All Who Served.

Chris, Phoenix Arizona