Blue Water Navy

Just a poll to make you think!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

If it was the same scenario then, Vietnam, most definately and probably would have remained a "Bubble Head" rather than seeing where we were going and smelling the fresh ocean air.

The best part of my Navy Service was an around the world cruise to many places that US NAVY had never been to, and the desire to return to some of those places has always been a wish but I will never have the opportunity in this lifetime to do it.

To be a Blue Nose, a Shellback, International Dateline, Straights of Magellen, around the Cape of Good Hope, the Panama Canal, Africa, India, Ethiopia, Suez Canal, the Carribean, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Hawaii, Guam, the Phillipines, Singaphore, Senegal, Austraila, Bermuda, including the Triangle by mistake, what more could one ask for to see the world and didn't even need a passport or alot of money.

I was a US Navy sailor that joined to see the world, get drunk, party, girls in almost every port, and a great bunch of guys to do it all with. What more could you ask for? Yep, I thunk I would do it all over again!!!!!

My only regret is that it appears by Irag, Afganistan, etc. the people, the Government seem to have learned nothing from Vietnam

You know Frank, the only real thing that I believe Vietnam did for our country was before we decided to get involved in another conflict in any short term thought process, the attention was directed to the NAM vets that expressed how wrong that conflict was. The children going to war after that were the children of these Vet's, so they had good advice and counseling before making that choice to serve.

Later

Good point, Ken

You guys are great with what you have to say.

Yepper I would do it again. the navy that is. My son joined the Army during the Golf War. He went thru AIT (?) (advanced infantry training) at Ft Eustis, VA. To leran how to drive a SHIP from Pearl Harbor to the othewr islands. The ship happened to be a tank transporter. He waqthe coxsin on the
Col. John Page a USNS ship contracted to the army. BUT HE DIDN'T GET TO SEE THE WORLD AS I DID. shirereef

I too miss all those beautiful places that I sailed to. When I was on the Mahan we were the first ship to sail into Brisbane Australia since the second world war. What a reception we had...All I can say YES I would do it all over again in a heartbeat........

I, too, loved all the places we went on the USS Decatur (ddg-31)

But, Ive went to Hawaii so many times, I dont care to ever return. Had a great time while there, but the only thing that would ever take me back, is the lottery, (or passage of HR6562) and the wife.. LOL

When we pulled into a port in Austrailia, there were protesters on the pier when we arrived, with signs "Yankees go home" "Victory VC" etc.. Needless to say, there were several fights in town that night. I never wished to return to Austrailia, the rest of my 4 years. Even started a petition (which I was accused of mutiny, lol) when the Commodore said we were going back.. many guys signed it, and we didnt go back.
but when we got back stateside, the Comm. took it out on us, by granting instead of 30 days holiday routine, as he did the first westpac, 5 days holiday routine, then back to normal ops. No trips to disneyland, even had to refuel, on arrival, before I could hit the beach with my wife.

Other than that,, set me us a San Miguel in a green bottle.

Papaw

PS. its funny how years can change memories of places.. A buddy visited me last year, and told a story of me getting two women in Austrailia, aboard our ship, and hiding them out in the oil shack, when we went from Perth to Melbourne. Now I had to keep these girls hidden, for about 2-3 days (cant remember how long the trip was) feed them, and of course, do what I supposedly brought them aboard ship, for. LOL,, this did not happen, of course, but he swears it was me, and it did happen.. thank god for oldtimers.. LOL

13 votes, thats it???????
come on now I know how many members we have and if I don't see that total climb, well I just may be forced to sick the GATOR on all of you.......

I didn't vote because I was still a kid and couldn't join the Navy. I lived the Navy life though. My dad was in the Navy in Korean War and then got out. He rejoined when Vietnam came up and served 2 tours as a SeaBee. On his 2nd tour the plane he was on crashed and caught fire. He was injured and though he got out ok, he disobeyed an order and went back in to get men out. He was severely injured and spent more years as a recruiter.

I know my dad would have reupped or even done it over again.

Then I married Carl-one of those savvy ex-Sailors I had been warned about by my dad. He says he would do it all over again. He loves all those "educational " ports he went too!

Hell Yes!

bring it on. shirereef

Terry,
You ought to set one up to get a feel for things as they are now.

-JR