I just found this web site and will try to scan some old slides for submission.

What a wonderful discovery, this site was. It revived memories of one of the most interesting period of my Navy time.

Quite a story of getting assigned to the Bowditch. The end of 1970, I got a call from a fellow in DC looking for an RM1 for a unique assignment. I was at NAS Beeville, TX having been there a little over a year.

"I know you will tell me to go to hell, but I really need 2314 (crypto repair)", he said. "Where?" I ask. He told me of OC unit on the Bowditch and rapidly went through thing about the great chow, fabulous port calls and unusually comfortable accommodations.

"I'll take it." I replied. A pregnant silence and he said "Are you sure? A lot of people will call you crazy to give up shore duty to go to sea." "Probably, but if you have ever been to Beeville, TX, you might understand". Then I added, "I'll take it if you can get me my next duty station after that."

"Well", re replied, "I can't make any promises, but I'll try. Where do you want to go?"

"Operation DeepFreeze."

Immediately, he started laughing. "Now I know you are crazy, but it just happens that I handle the DeeFreeze assignments. It's a voluntary assignment so consider it done!"

(DeepFreeze was Naval Support Group, Antarctica and I wintered-over in 72-73)

So, I had two wonderful adventures, one after the other. It is hard to qualify one as better than the other. But my year in the Bowditch stands out. 320 days of 365 days at sea would seem to confirm my insanity but for those fortunate enough to be aboard for the Falmouth drydock will agree that insanity sometimes is well rewarded.

To all that contributed to this site, a great gratitude is due. I never realized we had that much artistic talent until I read again the cruise book.

What wonderful memories. . .

I think I had a great time on board. Memory is a bit hazy.
Remember Charlie Brown, Tickets and Duek of Earl.
Pat Ryan doing more pullups at a time than I ever did in a lifetime.

Great times in " Bar Party" Scary times in " Bar Cave"

I joined Dutton at the Newport Shipbuilding and Drydock. She was having lead installed in the ballast tanks to help stabilize her in rough seas. We then took her thru the Panama Canal, to the equator and then to Seattle. My last trip was the one that broke the ship. I remember the Coast Guard coming aboard and asking me to join them on an inspection of the keel from beneath the engine room. Scary down there. I received orders while she was laid up for repairs. I'll always remember the volley ball games. Nice web site. Thanks

I was one of the gravity guys on all three ships (plus the USNS Shoup) from 1964 to 1967. Many fond memories, and I still have a photo of the Dutton on my wall..

Michelson - Jul 1964 - Dec 1965 SOGSN, ST3, ST2
Bowditch - Feb 1966 - Dec 1966 ST2
Dutton - 1964, 1966 - ST2 Visitor
Michelson - Mar 1967 - Apr 1968 GI Tech Rep
Michelson - Nov 1969 - Jun 1972 GI Tech Rep
Dutton - 16 Oct 2007 Good-by Visit
T-AGS, the only shipboard Navy I really knew. Life aboard them was the best seagoing life an enlisted sailor could ask for in my opinion. Better duty I could not have selected myself.

Met many nice and interesting people, military and civillian; my six years aboard the ships were some of the best years of my life. Hindsight being 20-20, I wish I had remained with the program until it completed its last surv-ops.

My visits to the Dutton were in Bayonne, New Jersey; Belfast, Ireland; Lisbon, Portugal; and Brownsville, Texas.

Still in contact with some of the crew and hope to hear from more.

Best wishes to all who sailed and their families.

Just prior to getting underway for my first survop on the Bowditch when hit by MV Po, helped in dismantling survey spaces in New Orleans. Went on to serve onboard NOAA Ship Discoverer, USNS Hess, USNS Wyman, Plank Owner USNS Maury, and USNS Tanner. Great times.

Glad to see there is more information out there on these ships than there were in past years. Good job. I have a few photos of the Dutton and crew, including some shots of us skeet shooting off the roundie end.
As with Philby, I have great memories of Barcelona and Marseilles. Remember how little ice, room service would bring at a time.

I reported to the Dutton in June 1969, newly married and right out of OCS. It was a great 13 months. We inported in Copenhagen, Amsterdam, and Trondhiem Norway, and several ports in England. We dry docked in NJ in January 70, then headed back to the North Atlantic. I left the shipped in July 1970, and took an early release from active duty. I have been able to maintain limited contact with only three people from my tour. LT Bob Zang, Lee (the baker_) Everette, and Peter Labyak, the CO when I left. Would love to hear from anyone.

During the late 1980's my daughter purchased a number of photographs of old and new hardhat diving taken by a navy photographer. Included in the items was a brass dolphin structure (like on the submarines emblem) with a divers helmet in lieu of the submarine conning tower. This looks like something that would have been mounted over the hatch for the "Diving Locker" I have a hat patch with the words "Oceanographic Unit One" . I wore this for many years and purchased from the sub school a Chief Masters Diver pin which I have placed on the middle of the patch. If this hat patch came from the same source as the photographs and the brass emblem, then they would all be related. Anyone interested in learning more about these items please send me an email. Happy New Year Larry Beaver, Gresham, OR