02 January 2024 21 hrs MST

Had a great conversation with Fred Martin a few days back. It had been 50 years since we last spoke. It was a great honor and pleasure talking with him.

Best wishes to all for a wonderful New Year.
Chris

37 Yrs ago I boarded USNS Bowditch as a Fresh ET2, having cross rated from an RM. We were in port Rota Spain. Sea was calm, but being the land luber that I was, I got very sea sick. We pulled out into the Atlantic and headed north. LCDR C. Nelson was the CO. Thankfully by the time we hit rough weather I had gotten my sea legs. We were taking 35 deg rolls and it was a blast. We did an inport at Las Palmas, I road a camel on a volcano!!. I was inducted into the Merchant Marines, as our Civ Cook suffered a medical Casualty and I was the only one aboard willing to admit food service exp. We then headed south. We ran lines, and then had an engineering casualty. Got pulled into Rio. Did Carnival in Rio, then with ship OOC most of Us were flown to Gulfport. Damn Mardi Gras!! Most interesting year of a 23 year military career. God Bless all the Shipmates, both Military and Civilian.

Last year in the Navy for me was onboard the USNS Hess in 1987. Great way to end my 10 years of enlistment. Loved the sports and the people - the scientists, high caliber Navy personnel AND my own cabin. What was there not to like??. Peplo, Buzz, Carla, how are you all

Tech rep for Bunker Ramo Corp.

My father, Captain Joseph W. Ryan, Mercant Marine, Master Mariner was stationed on the USNS H.H. Hess when it was at Port Canaveral. Does anyone remember him he passed away in 1998.

Admin Edit: If anyone wants to contact Fay, please send me a message from the Admin link on the main page.

Morgantown Victory was broken out to haul ammunition to Viet Nam from Port Chicago, CA. I sailed as an oiler with the Marine Fireman's Union.

Served 1981-1982 from OSP School, followed by sub duty.

Was assigned to the Ocunit One out of D-Mins Navigation School at Submarine School Groton Ct. My friend Bill Ashburn who also attend the same school was assigned to ship as well . It was a great experience and learned a lot very quickly. After 30 days at see in rough seas, went back to the ship yard and about 1/3 of the crew transferred. The tech reps and NAOCEANO rep awesome and they were always willing to give guidance, both at sea and in port.

I served on the Michelson Tag- 23 1962 - 1964 , would like to contact any served 62-64, i was IC PO3 and made PO2 in Belfast. Loved the duty and those i served with.

I look back fondly to those days aboard the USNS Dutton. What an adventure! I was a novice photographer, having just bought a great Canon FTb at Rota and got started right away. I have a few slides all scanned of visits to Naples, Bergen, South Hampton, Edinburgh, Glasgow, the Canary Islands, etc., but like most people I'm sure I don't have very many pictures of myself. Would love to trade with my former shipmates If you happen to have any pics with me in them. Thanks!