Coming back from Vietnam on carrier deployment, I would always volunteer for midnight to 4 am flight deck watch. Only lights were the blue edge lights all the way around ship and the 63 on the tower. So black and a million stars. No air pollution no other lights. I'd hang out among our squadron helicopters. Walk leangth of deck. Good walk. 1969 wish I could do that today. Big Cat, Kitty Hawk, flight deck was 1,010 ft long 250 ft wide . I'd love to get out there one more time.
The sight that made me stop and stare was when I was in the Navy. Out in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. No land in sight and no city lights on the horizon. I couldn’t see my hand in front of my face. It was so dark. Unless I looked up. Trillions of stars! The milky way stretched from horizon to horizon. Suddenly, the ocean was filled with billions of glimmering ripples, caused by the ship's bow stirring up marine microbes. I have never seen anything so breathtaking. It is a memory I have cherished from my years in the military.
Thank you for your service. I was stationed in San Diego California to the USS Gridley CG 21. I was in the military from 1987 to 1992. Unfortunately like my ship the Oriskaney was decommissioned in 1976 then sank in 1997 to make an artificial reef. The USS Gridley was decommissioned in 1993 and scrapped in 2005. this is after the U.S. Government spent over a billion dollars in 1992 and 1993 to be refitted then refitted again.
Thank you for yours too. My other ship Kitty Hawk in scrap yard now too. .one of my weekly coffee buddies was on the Gurkey not shure of spelling a torpedo man ..my cousin on Stribling dd 867. All back in 1960-70s. In a Typhoons on Kitty Hawk in 69. We were like big cradle just slept most of time. I felt sorry for you tin can sailors playing submarine. My cousin fought up to us in Yokosuka told me what it was like. No thankyou.
Lol, yes it was tight but there were some good times too. I think the worse was the storm we ran into on the way up to Canada. Walked up the passageways going up one wall across the deck to the other wall was very interesting. On the way back we lost a screw made it to about 100 miles out of San Diego and lost the other one. That was worse. Just getting tossed about. 35 degree leans back and forth. Everyone kept an eye on the radars because they are designed to snap off at around 35 to 40 degree slant. Fun times!
Coming back from Vietnam on carrier deployment, I would always volunteer for midnight to 4 am flight deck watch. Only lights were the blue edge lights all the way around ship and the 63 on the tower. So black and a million stars. No air pollution no other lights. I'd hang out among our squadron helicopters. Walk leangth of deck. Good walk. 1969 wish I could do that today. Big Cat, Kitty Hawk, flight deck was 1,010 ft long 250 ft wide . I'd love to get out there one more time.
Love your posts, thanks.
The sight that made me stop and stare was when I was in the Navy. Out in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. No land in sight and no city lights on the horizon. I couldn’t see my hand in front of my face. It was so dark. Unless I looked up. Trillions of stars! The milky way stretched from horizon to horizon. Suddenly, the ocean was filled with billions of glimmering ripples, caused by the ship's bow stirring up marine microbes. I have never seen anything so breathtaking. It is a memory I have cherished from my years in the military.
I was ATN 2 halo squadron HC-1
Thank You for your service.
I did not see yours till I posted mine, when and what ship? I was on Kitty Hawk for 9 months in 1969, Oriskaney in 70. Both 9 month Vietnam cruises.
Thank you for your service. I was stationed in San Diego California to the USS Gridley CG 21. I was in the military from 1987 to 1992. Unfortunately like my ship the Oriskaney was decommissioned in 1976 then sank in 1997 to make an artificial reef. The USS Gridley was decommissioned in 1993 and scrapped in 2005. this is after the U.S. Government spent over a billion dollars in 1992 and 1993 to be refitted then refitted again.
Thank you for yours too. My other ship Kitty Hawk in scrap yard now too. .one of my weekly coffee buddies was on the Gurkey not shure of spelling a torpedo man ..my cousin on Stribling dd 867. All back in 1960-70s. In a Typhoons on Kitty Hawk in 69. We were like big cradle just slept most of time. I felt sorry for you tin can sailors playing submarine. My cousin fought up to us in Yokosuka told me what it was like. No thankyou.
Lol, yes it was tight but there were some good times too. I think the worse was the storm we ran into on the way up to Canada. Walked up the passageways going up one wall across the deck to the other wall was very interesting. On the way back we lost a screw made it to about 100 miles out of San Diego and lost the other one. That was worse. Just getting tossed about. 35 degree leans back and forth. Everyone kept an eye on the radars because they are designed to snap off at around 35 to 40 degree slant. Fun times!