Served on your sister ship USS San Diego AFS-6 from 78-82. Was a non-designated striker when I first went on board worked as HT up to FN then spur of the moment studied & took EN courses left the ship as an EN2 with the RASE shop, left the Navy in 1985 as an EN1. Great memories. I remember both the Sylvania & Concord very well. We were either relieving yall in the Med, as the "On station AFS" or the other way around. Also the Sirius. I salute my brethren of the USS Sylvania !
My dad was a BT3 on the Ainsworth from 88-90. He always spoke fondly of his time aboard. He told me a story once of a time when they were shooting the deck gun at a tiny island for fun and it was hardly doing anything when all of a sudden a jet flew over at the speed of sound and dropped a bomb on the island and the explosion put their deck gun to shame.
My younger brother was a MM on board the USS San Diego with me I started as a non-desognated striker ended up a EN2 before I left he was a MM2 before he left the San Diego. There were 3 of us in the Navy. We all spent 8 yrs. & got out I was an EN1, younger brother an MM1, older brother an AT1. Younger brother went back in and retired in 95 with 17 yrs. when the Navy down sized they offered and he took it.
Ainsworth crew member 87-91. We almost lost that King Post tying to set it up in heavy seas when Captain "Deranged" was in command. Ensign Evans finally gathered up his balls and told the bridge it was too rough when the King Post rolled halfway across the flight deck(it was on wheels remember) and nearly took half a dozen seamen over the side with it. Luckily, we were able to stop it from becoming a torpedo. Good times!
I served on Sylvania from 69-71.Pulled in to Rota(If I remember correctly),to relieve the Concord & crashed into them,delaying their return to Norfolk.We screwed up a lot of guys leaves.
I was a BM2 on the Ainsworth 77 to 81 Can't tell for sure but good chance I was rig captain on the Ainsworth during this unrep. I do know for sure that during the set up (from 0:05 to 0:09) I am the skinny guy with the ball cap talking to the BMC (Chief Cusak - in Khakis)
