my dad (1930-2023) was a BT3 "boilerman" from jan 51 to jan 55 on USS Raby (DE-698), USS Walter B. Cobb (APD-106) and for about 6 weeks when getting ready to muster out, USS Mt Olympus (AGC-8). he loved his time in the Navy but had a good civilian job waiting for him to return to.
I remember this when we couldn’t go up the river because of Green Peace. The sea and anchor detail was forever going up river I was working in 2 engineroom aboard the New Jersey.
Served on the Kittyhawk as a BT. Really proud I made topwatch. Lead to a solid career after I got out. US Navy used to be the only and greatest place to learn boilers and steam. Didn’t realize how much I actually knew, til I hit out and started studying fir my license. Never went to A school. If I could do it all over again, YOU BET! I’d have my shell back ass right down in 2main machinery room onboard the Hawk!!!! Torch is on the box……..torch is still lit! 😎
Always told our gunners mates to aim for the guy with the yellow hard hat, not that they ever actually hit him. We were never allowed to wear gloves when hauling the rig across. Emergency breakaways were a lot of fun as well. Not so much for the oiler crews. Basically they would toot the horn, release the probe , tell the oiler to slack the span wire at which point we just pretty much threw their stuff into the water, sped up and pulled away.
Anyone remember beer days, 2 beers for every 45 consecutive days at sea, Think it was 45?maybe longer, but we got several beer days. Haze grey and underway .⚓️🇺🇸✌🏻🍻
iIl never forget my first deployment 1985, crossed the line same year, and several times before making CHIEF, much less my first Deployment as a CHIEF 1995! Served on several different platforms in between. First was on a DD SPRUCAN an IO Deployment with USS MIDWAY, CV-41, BG ALFA, Homeported outta Yoko Japan so WESTPAC was was pretty much home to us, The latter was outta SAN DOG on an FFG, We did both IO and WESTPACs outta there, and did several LEO OPS, but they keep those less than 90 days so they dont count as deployments.⚓️🇺🇸✌🏻🍻
Because it was HOT when the boilers are lit. We were supposed to stay in uniform, and cutting the undershirt in half gave you SOME relief from the heat.
I was the OOD on the Battleship New Jersey during that transit. We had to stand off ahead of the Astoria bridge for what seemed like hours because of the protestors hanging from the bridge. The local cops couldn't/wouldn't pull them up and we did not know what they had on/with them that they might try to drop on to the ship, so we had to wait until they got tired and climbed up and out of our way. From there, it was a v-e-r-y long sea detail up the Columbia River to the Portland Rose Festival. Once in Portland, we had to keep our Marine guard on station during visiting hours, in case any of the local chuckleheads decided to make some sort of statement, which they did. You can always tell when protestors are about to do something because the local TV camera crews show up unannounced (the long-hairs call them first, to ensure coverage.) When the TV crews showed up, the Marines leaned forward, and when the long-hairs splashed a red liquid on Turret #3, the Marines immediately blocked them off with portable screens so the TV crews couldn't film them, then whisked them away and cleaned up the area before anybody could get a shot of it. Interesting fact: on the transit home from the Rose Festival, as we sailed back under the Astoria bridge, we were filmed by a movie crew and th footage was used in the opening scenes of the Schwarzenegger movie "Kindergarten Cop."
Ah the slugs with training in Progress In the GOAT Locker!!! .⚓️. Sadly all those traditions are All but gone for awhile now, they even conveniently changed the name from INITIATION to TRANSITION and then INDUCTION. Its def a NEW NAVY! Initiated in 95 and things have changed drastically, but Im also certain it was lots different before I got Selected, INITIATED and PINNED as well. Things change! Thats life! Love that rendition of RAWHIDE! Thanks for your Service CHIEF!⚓️🇺🇸✌🏻
ELLLL T made that comment I dont see many Black people here😅😂😅😂. Awesome LT! Good ole Portland has been a part of the Liberal LEFT Coast for awhile, most dont care much for the military there, Seattle Seafair and San Fran Fleet weeks are lots better with lots more to see and do . Thanks for your Service CHIEF!⚓️🇺🇸🍻
Great video, brings back memories. Was the Stream Officer on the Camden for that deployment. Remember racing to Hawaii from Subic, after being delayed on our return.
