KP- haven't spun a yarn in awhile, so here's a little tale of adventure that I know all can remember (mostly, anyways)...

During the shipyard period in 1980, before the Big “E” left to go to sea, everyone (including Nucs) had to be trained in firefighting. This was necessary and important for reasons obvious. Here’s the tale of Arrgh!’s experience in Firefighting School on Treasure Island, CA…

Even though I had a head cold, we were all bussed from the pier in Bremerton to McCord AFB to take a MAC flight over to SF, then down by bus again to Treasure Island (definitely NOT to be confused with “Pleasure Island”, I must add). Have you ever flown on a jet with some hot dog jet jockey pilot who thinks it’s wonderful to break the record for getting from 35,000 feet to the pavement? This is not a good thing if you have a head cold. I couldn’t hear or think straight for about a day…

After arriving at TI, we sort of split up to hit the town for the weekend, since school didn’t start until Monday. I left Friday with Frank L_ipinski, and we headed to SF to find out what lay in store. It was my first trip to CA, and the first time I was cut loose in a downtown that was like SF. SF is very European in it’s setup, not like most American cities. American cities have factories and businesses downtown, and people live in the suburbs, mostly. SF has a huge resident population, and most industry is located elsewhere in the Bay Area. Frank and I were eager to discover the city…

We spent the day walking around the city, heading down to the Piers to check things out. We saw jugglers juggling bowling balls and chain saws (live) and many glorious and new sights. The people are always most interesting to get to know. We walked down the street that zig-zags all down hill with all the flowers on it, and even headed over to Haight-Ashbury, to check out the sights (and got an eye-full). We also checked out many establishments specializing in adult beverages, of which we partook to excess. Then, we looked for a “base,”and found a small piano bar to call home. This was necessary in case got separated, but that was just wishful thinking for 2 young hormone filled males in town for the first time.

We did end up taking in a Street fair, and finally we ended up at the Hippodrome where a semi-famous band was playing, but I can’t recall who it was. We went in, and I don’t remember much, because I, as usual, fell asleep. It was my sad and silly habit to over-indulge, and then give in to the urge to sleep, much to the delight of many of my friends and companions, who enjoyed telling of the embarrassing places and positions where I could be found after an evening of imbibing.

After we left the Hippodrome, we discovered that there were no more busses running to get us back to Treasure Island. Needing a place to sleep, we found a construction site and climbed over a fence to sleep on the concrete pilings beneath what would eventually become the Embarcadero Building #4, I believe.

When we awoke the next morning, we discovered to our dismay that water had leaked on Frank all night, and he was soaked. I took full advantage of the opportunity to imply that something else was responsible, but Frank didn’t seem to be in the mood for jokes, so I laid off it. As it was a little chilly, Frank decided that a change of clothes would be in order. Sadly, we didn’t have anything but what we were wearing. A brief search of the area revealed a pair of pants that were obviously left behind by one of the concrete workers, since they were covered with cement. We named them “the cement pants” and Frank quickly changed into them. When we began walking to get out of the construction area, Frank put his hand into the pocket of the pants and found some money! Since we had spent all of ours the night before, this was a great blessing.

After a breakfast, we were headed back to the Haight-Ashbury area to try to find a Laundromat so Frank could wash his pants and get rid of the cement pants, which were chaffing him a bit. As we were walking along, we saw people going into a church, and to my surprise, Frank said that we should go in too. Frank took enough money out to wash his clothes, and put the rest in the offering basket when it came around. I was surprised by this, but Frank said it was the right thing to do, since it wasn’t our money, but God had taken care of us by providing it. I couldn’t argue at all with his logic, but it was the first time I recall ever hearing a reference to religion from Frank.

When we got back to the base, I found my other buddy that came with us from the Enterprise, whose name I will omit for his sake. As we traded tales of our adventures, he told me how he decided to stay on the base, and has gone drinking somewhere on the TI base. I have no idea where this could have taken place, as time and distance have eroded away all of the recollections of these details. He related that he had gotten drunk (very drunk, which was out of character for this guy) and then, as he related the rest of the tale, he hung his head in shame, and continued something like this…

“Well, we came back here, since I figured that you weren’t coming back. She had a huge set of wings, like a Harley Davidson symbol, tattooed on her back. Don’t ask, Jim… anyway, in the morning, when I woke up, I couldn’t believe how my senses were being assailed! I could barely breath, as a horrible stench, like a bad yeast infection, filled the room. I jumped out of bed, ran to the shower and scrubbed myself raw trying to rub the smell and memory of it off of me. The smell left, but the shame is still there! Thankfully, when I got back, she had left, but the room still smelled horrible. I opened the windows and door to air the place out, and stripped the bed. I can’t believe I did that!”

I couldn’t believe that he TOLD ME ABOUT IT!! A huge error in his judgment, I must say. Well, he never has lived it down, and won’t if I have anything to do with it. The incident was bad enough, but telling on yourself to a known derelict and wretch like Arrgh!… unthinkable. Chalk it up to a bad hangover, I guess…

We went to the school, and it was something that must be experienced to be believed. I’ve never been that close to a burning anything (except a campfire), and it was horrifying and exhilarating at the same time. Since my 2 buddies and I, being Nucs, were the only 3 Petty Officers there at beginning firefighting school, they split us up between the classes. Everyone else was like a seaman recruit, of maybe apprentices. I really felt out of place there, and it was obvious that we were nucs or advanced electronics weenies or something like that.

My turn came to be the #1 nozzleman, and I was not too excited about it. Being hung over, and only weighing slightly more than the nozzle, I didn’t exactly exude confidence about what we were about to do. We came up to this door, which was like a hatch to a shipboard compartment, and the fog nozzle man cooled the door, and then it was opened, revealing before us a concrete building designed to resemble an engine room, with grating that you could look down below and see a “bilge” filled with burning JP-5! The whole bilge was aflame, and we were to put it out. Fear and adrenalin kicked in, and I made a “gooseneck”, aiming the nozzle down, and started swinging it back and forth to beat the flames back away from the door so we could go INTO the burning building. I can honestly say that at this point, I was no longer happy to be there, and wanted to go home right away. We made it about half way through when someone tapped my shoulder and pointed below us and to my right, where the flames were sneaking back around to come up behind us! You can’t imagine what fear and adrenalin can help you accomplish, my friends. The flames didn’t get us, but I was needing a change of drawers.

All sailors go through that school, and it is necessary and very helpful to understand what you need to do to survive in a fire at sea. All joking aside, it was probably the scariest and most important school I attended in the Navy!

Arrgh!

7/16/04

Hi KP,

I would like to be added to the list. My name is Tony Smith. I never met you. You got out before I showed up on the E. I got out at 6 years as an EM1, 5 months away from being up for chief (not that it mattered since I was not staying in.).

My e-mail is TonNRach@aol.com

I really like the site. I especially liked reading that Naughton finally got some payback for his treatment of other people. He loved to give 3 days confinement with only bread and water as punishment. I had to re-read the sports page once because I couldn't believe he gave a guy this punishment for 15 minutes UA (we were in drydock-the guy didn't miss ship's movement or anything serious and there were no other charges against him.)

Served on the E from 91 to 94 in EE30. Spent time as E-div TPO (working with conventionals and IC guys wasn't a bad thing), One plant supervisor and forward group supervisor until getting out. Unfortunately, I was there when the command changed from a west coast attitude under Capt. Harry Rittenhour, to a full east coast attitude under Naughton. This was during the refueling overhaul so I never went to sea L.

I see a lot of the same command-related experiences on the site that I had. Basically, the guys in the shops were awesome guys to be around. There were very few exceptions. It was the command that usually screwed things up for morale, etc., near the end of my time in.

If you could, please add DAVE DECKER to your memorial list. He served in EE30 in the early 90's till 1995 when he (questionably) committed suicide after a string of bad events. He was a good guy and would work hard, but walked right into some bad situations.

Some of the things that may be of some interest to others:

Was a staff pickup at S3G for a year until it was decommissioned in 1991. (I can hear the boos and hisses now) I stayed for end of life testing where we basically ran trials trying to make equipment fail. It was interesting. Have some information from that and have the final shutdown book given to the decommissioning staff that has facts about S3G if anyone's interested.

The day all the guys in EE30 submitted special request chits for stress management and anger management skills training. Over 100 chits all in triplicate. This got the command's attention real quick.

How EMC TIM ANTRIM was undone by EMC ALWAYS (nickname).  His last name was Benedict J How convenient. ALWAYS was a huge piece in a ladder of poor leaders in the chain of command during the last year or so before I got out. (But he was the only one attached to our shop).

The day that EE30 was put at attention and told we were all restricted to the ship, no one leaves. Statements to be taken by all. NIS in Washington had already been informed of the "situation" and was sending investigators down. The electrical officer, an academy graduate, was repeatedly shouting MUTINY at our shop. And of course, in any Navy witch-hunt, they were looking for a ringleader. Note to current nukes: Don't ever even imply a threat to the command or your leadership. Big mistake. Oh, what a fun day.

The mung bucket.

How to very briefly parallel a shore connection at 3 phase 60 hertz with 4A CTG electrically secured but spinning at 30 hertz. And yes, the mechanics thought the turbine was going to lift off its mounts.

Some advice to current nukes that want to be conventional electricians when they get out. (It's not that bad and you can make very good money if you’re prepared and qualified): get your civilian license if you can.

The best view I almost had from the very top of the Enterprise .  The ladder in the main mast goes from around the 08 level to the top of the mast (around 70 feet up), ending in a hatch at the top.  The top section of ladder just below the hatch was not bolted at the bottom.  When I grabbed the bottom rung of that section, it broke loose and I fell backwards in the mast, holding on to that swinging section of ladder.  Luckily, I didn’t let go; it would have been a long and painful drop.

I'm probably one of the few that got to see the Enterprise from underneath. The view was so impressive!

The 3 plant dry spill that kept sailors out of the plant for over 6 months as NN shipbuilding tried to decontaminate. Warning to present nukes - they never did get it all.

Here's another acronym for you - IMHO. In My Humble Opinion. Needless to say, IMHO, the command related memories near the end of my time were the worst. The fellow guys in the shop were the best things to remember out of my time in the nav. Hopefully, some of those guys that have already showed up here will have their memory jogged by some of this and add their versions of the stories.

Thanks and keep up the good work!

7/16/04

Here's a couple of pictures from the 76 / 77 Westpac. Obviously one is shell back initiation. The other is of the all girl band that played at the WildWest #2, just a couple of blocks down from the gate. The one in the middle (you know, the short one with brown skin and black hair and playing an O-town version of a Fender Mustang) was an awesome lead guitarist. Their bass player was a brown belt in Karate and didn't mind kicking your but if you got out of line with her or any of the other girls.

Rick Ellenberger

7/20/04

7/20/04

7/20/04

Hey KP. 

It's been a while so I thought I'd drop another note. The Big E is due to return from Summer Pulse '04 soon. It's been a long year as 328 of 365 have been spent at sea. The hubby is officially a short timer now with only 71 days left until his EAOS. Perhaps after a little down time, he can come here and share some stories of his own. What really stinks is that for many years he's been looking forward to his ROAD trip and he hasn't had that luxury. Too qualified (heavy?.. been reading the jargon.) Too much integrity to bag a watch? I'm not sure, but it just seems so unfair. Anyway.. here are some pictures from their summer frolics (at sea, not much port time). Regards, 

VB Nuke Wife

7/25/04

KP Note: The item sent was a Power Point presentation and my server space is limited so I couldn't upload it.  However, below is a "still" of our Great Lady.  This is the most recent look at her.  I'm not sure where this photo was taken or what other ships are in battle group.

Hojdila, Mickey "Hojo" RC-22 1993-1997 mickhojo@earthlink.net

Sensitive may be a bad description for the 90’s.

Angst filled and Bitter may be closer to the truth.

Most of the guys there during the early to mid-90’s got to endure a special kind of screwing.

There was a long length of time that all RC div was stationed dual SROs on Port and Starboard duty rotation, the Mechanics had all kinds of extra watches because of the overhaul, and all the new guys had the wonderful excitement of Heise (sp?) gauge watches.

The single guys got to live in the converted high school like refugees from a war zone. The parking lot for the Shipyard was miles away and required a bus ride (added to the 12 hour plus day, they decided to add on a half hour wait for the bus and another half hour bus ride to the parking lot, then a 15-20 minute sit in traffic trying to get out of the parking lot, just so you could drive 30min to an hour to get home).

Many of the folks that came in after the dry dock got to spend months on end in the Rehab division. Rehab Division (for the life of me I cannot remember what Master Chief Mosley’s Motley Crew was actually called) was a place where fresh, young minds got to meet up with people that “had their clearance pulled” because of drugs or DUI or short timers Some were even so lucky as to spend months and months sorting the dirty underwear in chief’s berthing… oh how fun that was. Although Chief’s Mess did have benefits, (mmmm… Dove Bars) having a boss that is a 20 year second class pissed at you for being a third class in 3 years made life hell.

After 2 years in the pipeline, 6 months in RT as a student, a year in Rehab Division, 6 months in Chief’s mess, they started to threaten to take away clearances for people that weren’t qualified. I probably would have gone to the MAA and spent some more time out of the department if I would have re-enlisted and gotten the second stripe.

By the time we hit sea –trials and the med, the boat was so top heavy (How many Captains can you fit on a carrier? Like 7?) RC Div actually had one Khaki for every 7 guys.

Even with all that said… I met a lot of great guys and had a lot of great times.

Hojo

7/25/04

BIG E Reunion UPDATE

7/25/04

After nearly a month of fighting and e-mailing, I think that I finally have permission to duplicate the cruise tape.

I have been as far as the Office of Naval Research and been talking with a copyright / patent lawyer from the Navy in DC –

Finally, they have determined that no one copyrighted the tape and we are free to copy it at will.

It is still amazing to me that we get any official work done. Now I can see why we pay so much for repair parts etc. I can only imagine how many man-hours were put in to research this miniscule video tape from 1986.

What a cluster f**k.

The tape will go in for mastering on Monday. We should have a working copy in two weeks.

Will keep y’all posted as to the ‘progress’.

Mark

7/25/04

KP Note: I will make a likewise effort if I can find my 1988 Cruise Video (it was last seen at my dads).

KP Recently I received of a picture of the USS Ronald Reagan passing through the Straights of Magellan. Pretty impressive. In my 2 1/2 Westpacs, I made several transits of straights. We went through the Straights of Malacca on the 74 and 76 cruises. I remember seeing Kuala Lumpur off to starboard and the jungles of the island of Sumatra off to port. There was a lot of ship activity both times. I read somewhere that it's one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world.

I passed through the San Bernardino Straights on 3 different occasions. When we'd leave Hawaii for Subic at the beginning of a cruise, we'd pass from the Pacific Ocean to the South China Sea via these straights, which cut through the Philippine archipelago. I still have fond and vivid memories of this small part of the world. The transit would take about 24 hours during which there were no flight ops so the flight deck was wide open for sightseers.

On the 74 cruise I was still a new RT knub so I could spend all the time I wanted observing this evolution. One amazing thing about being at sea for a long period is that when you get near land the smell is the first thing that hits you. We would pass close enough to these small islands that you could distinctly pick up the smell of cooking fires and sampaguitas. The color of the water and the lushness of the islands was like something out of an exotic travel brochure. And talk about a postcard sunset!

On the 76 and 78 cruises, I swapped watches with others so I could maximize my time on the flight deck and take in this awesome sight. On the 78 cruise, after watching the sunset, I made a quick trip below to take a leak and have a quick bite to eat. When I came back to the flight deck I waited for my eyes to adjust to the dark. On a dark night you can usually tell where the horizon is by where the stars end and the inky blackness begins. This night there didn't seem to be a horizon. As my eyes adjusted I saw that there were hundreds of small fishing boats all with a single white light on a pole in the bow. The sea looked almost as if the stars came alive! This was just one of those sights that make you feel fully alive. (The thought that Olongapo was less than a week away didn't hurt either.)

PP

7/28/04

Here's a few things from the mid-90's (mostly the 96 med run) that might jog a few memories:

RC-22 Mafia (We controlled the berthing, the bathroom, the laundry and the porn)

"The Library" (The porn)

Buddha in 1 Plant (I think Lynch sawed his head off)

The pile of green plastic Army men (Heroic warriors fighting off gremlins)

The Kevin Bacon Game (Brad T. was the king of all kings)

LT. Andy's five o'clock shadow ten minutes after he shaved. (RC-22 Div O and a great watch officer)

ETCS ------- smoking in EOS (A lotta people didn't like the guy, but I never minded standing watch with him... he was one of the few enlisted Watch officers)

The Marathon Valve repair in 2 Plant (RC-22 had to repair... ahhh... memory failing... uh... some valve. It took over 36 hours.)

The rebuilding of the reduction gears (The steam side mechanics busted their asses to get this accomplished)

Mallrats... over and over and over and over and over and over

Be careful if Ron Nagy is watching the Steelers (RC-11 LPO from Pittsburgh... when the Steelers were losing, he got violent)

"Fine... we'll just call you 'Bob'" (Heasley wouldn't tell us what the "B" stood for, and we didn't use last names in 2 Plant)

Johnny Caustic (the most bitter man on Earth)

Buzz Lightyear (poor 3 plant)

The Noise Brothers (Gerren Mc[something... or Mac something] and Rich Vidra) (The dread of every watch officer... except Brandon. Somehow, Brandon was able to tune them out)

... and one of the great speeches by the RO: "Our job is to make the boat go so we can go and shoot the enemy in the face!"

And... does anyone from the '96 cruise have a copy of the picture they took when we were side by side with the Vinson (I think it was the Vinson)... almost wrecked 4 ships for a damn picture.

--Hojo

7/28/04

KP

Would you please add Marc Leboeuf to the memorial section of the site. He died July 30th 1982. He was a RM11 mechanic in the mid to late '70s. A small group of us have put together a tribute to him and would like to ask that you post it on the site also. We are gathering everyone to toast him this Friday so would appreciate your posting this as soon as possible. Below is the tribute.

Thanks for all the work you've put into the site, it's really brought together a bunch of old friends.

-----------------------------------------------------

Due to the wonder of the internet, over the past year a number of us mid/late 70s guys have been getting back in communication. We've been looking up guys in an effort to expand our ranks. Sometimes we find good info, other times not.

Unfortunately, we recently learned of the passing of our good friend Marc LeBoeuf from RM-11. Marc passed away as the result of an accident just a few short years after he got out of the Navy. We are currently trying to find out more details.

Marc LeBoeuf 7/5/55 ? 7/30/82 That dash between birth and death does not do justice to his life as there were a lot of good times for Marc and those who knew him. Marc probably did more living in the few short years he was blessed with than many who die of old age. Marc was a truly funny guy. In a crowd of characters, he not only held his own, but was a stand out. Marc was a guy who could not only dish it out but he could take it as well. You just could NOT get under his skin. You'd give him your best shot and he'd just laugh it off, give you his famous "Jerk Off" pantomime and tell you "Yeah, sure. To Mark, there was simply nothing that was worth getting and staying mad about. He enjoyed life way too much to let little things ruin it for him. He was a no-bull, quick justice and move on with it kind of guy. Even if he didn't agree with you, he'd happily set down and share a beer.

Marc's real passion was to explore old ghost towns in California and Nevada. When we were in port in Alameda, Marc would often load his old beat up pick-up with camping gear and take off for some ghost town. When he found a good one, he'd try to learn from the locals about the towns history. How it was born and why it died. He'd often come back to the ship with pictures and share his stories with us. His eyes just would light up when he described these towns. I think his searches through the desert were because he was displaced in life by about 100 years. And I mean that in a good way. Most of us that knew and or worked with Marc always pictured him running an old run down tavern not far from one of these old towns, inviting everyone to belly up to the bar as he poured himself a shot of Montego Bay rum. If he thought you really needed cheering up, he would gladly take you out back with his shotgun and help you blow away what ever was convenient or made you feel good. Even ! those that didn't know him well, will never forget him. Marc was not the type of person one forgets about easily.

While in the Philippines, Marc liked to dabble in the world of movie making. Many of us have had to undergo years of counseling and still have vivid dreams after watching one of his movies. Even if he couldn't find actors, he would find a way to shoot the movie and feature him self as the star.

Most of us are now in our early 50s. We do not consider ourselves "Old farts" but when we peer into that tunnel, that light up ahead seems closer than it used to. Those of us who still have our Zumwalt era beards occasionally look in the mirror and go "Didn't that used to be BROWN!?" Some of us have taken to "combing" the hair on top of our heads with a wash rag. When no one is looking, we tend to buy "relaxed fit" jeans. Preparations H, Maalox and Viagra have found their way into our medicine cabinets. A bowl of chili still looks appetizing, but we wonder how it's going to affect us a few hours down the line, praying that at the very least it might have a mild laxative effect. On the bright side however, flatulence is starting to return to that lofty status it held in our youth.

Marc lived fast and died young, thus sparing himself these indignities. Too bad. Marc would have made one crusty and cantankerous old fart. He would have been the one that when he started telling stories of his youth, EVERYONE would stop to listen and laugh.

This Friday, July 30th will be 22 years since Marcs passing, so at 9:00 pm eastern and 6:00 pm pacific time get a glass with the beverage of your choice and join us in a toast as we celebrate not the death of a friend, but the life of a friend.

May you rest in peace Marc. Your memory will live on with us forever.

Rick Ellenberger

7/28/04

I’d like to have my name, Peter Rumble, included on your roster. I was on the Enterprise ( we called it the Big Tuna) from 1973 to 1976 and was out to sea on her forever during the Vietnam war. In fact, we were steaming to Hawaii and got halfway there before the ship turned around and headed back to evacuate Saigon. There were thousands of Vietnamese in the hanger bay, and they pushed some jets into the Indian and Pacific oceans to make room for all the refugees. I worked in RM, 4 Plant, 1972 – 1976 as a Reactor Operator. I saw John Hafer’s name on your list from the same engine room. I remember him… I wonder if he remembers me?

Thanks.

elbmur@comcast.net

7/28/04

8/6/04

Charles "Chuck" Grosvenor, USS Enterprise (CVAN 65) RC Division, 2/3 Plant EWS 1976 - 1980

home: grosveno@nwinet.com

work: grosvenorc@psns.navy.mil

8/6/04

KP Note: Todd, it totally blows me away that you are still in the navy!  I totally remember you and I'm pretty sure we shared one or two beers in PI during one of our many westpacs. How's the Stennis?  Does the "New and Improved" compare even remotely to the "Tried and True"?

My name is Lance Link. I served on the Enterprise from 1987-1991 in EE-30. My E-mail is stlink@wcnoc.com. Currently a reactor operator at Wolf Creek Nuclear Generating Station Burlington, Ks.

8/6/04

KP Note: Holy Crap, I'm scratching my head trying to remember you.  I knew an EE30 guy named Link but he was an EM1 on the '86 cruise.  He was a bass player, who would only play (or jam to) Christian music.  Was that you?  But I don't think his name was Lance.  I'll have to explore the '88 cruise book.

Irazarry, Edwin M Div 2 & 4 Plant, 1974 - 1978 

eddiei53@verizon.net

8/6/04

I have changed my email address & was hoping you could update it. My name is Rory Majors. I was on from 1998-2003. My new email address is alaskanite65@yahoo.com.

Thanks, Rory

8/6/04

Larry Dean Harris RM-23 Jan 95-Jan 2000

ldharris@rocketmail.com

8/6/04

For all you nukes who think buying a cruisebook is a lifer thing to do, I just got outbid again for 84 and 86 cruisebooks. As to the rest of you if you see a cruisebook on ebay with Uncle_Joe1956 as high bidder please do not bid against me !!!!!!! (Well unless you really want it. ) .......................................................

Thanks.........Joe

8/6/04

My name is Milton D. Hill, Jr. and I'm the Senior Recruiter for DTE Energy out of Detroit. I'm looking for 10 Nuclear Power Plant Operators for our Fermi 2 Nuclear Plant. If you know of anyone who is interested or if I can post a job description with you please call me at 313-235-9495 or e-mail me at hillm@dteenergy.com. Thanks.

8/6/04

Hi could you please add me to the contacts list for the rx and engineering alumni.

Name: Patrick Toops Work Center: RC22, Tech Dates: 1994-1998 Email: pctoops@yahoo.com

8/6/04

Ram,

Please update my email address to mjcarlin@comcast.net. And thanks again for putting the site together.

Regards,

Michael Carlin, RC11 87-90

8/7/04

KP,

Thought it about time to stop lurking and start contributing to your extraordinary Big E Rx site...

To establish my vintage... I reported aboard just prior to YardPac 79/82, and got out just weeks before WestPac 82 was commenced.

The common denominator to most of the posts on this site is that there were so many unforgettable characters on the Tuna-Prise (as I was taught to call her by my Sea-Daddy James "Napkin" Moore). As has been said here so many times, as much as things absolutely sucked, I still look back on those times as some of the best, thanks primarily to the people amongst whom I found myself working and partying.

Some random thoughts...

Arrrgh has well captured the flavor of many of the experiences during the YardPac 79/82. I recall the breaking in period for nubbies to be pretty traumatic for most. Arrrrgh, of course, was on the "advanced" plan and quickly grew to heap his own form of abuse in every which direction, no matter the seniority of his intended target.

I lived at Schmegma House the last year of the YardPac. It was located on the second (extremely bowed) floor above an old bar in Silverdale. Legend has it that during previous decades it had served as a house-of-ill-repute. Its layout seemed to confirm that - two living rooms, and six small bedrooms on the main floor, and two more bedrooms in the attic. During that time I remember Jerry "The Waste" W. rebuilding his Harley '39 knucklehead (?) inside, sometimes in his room, sometimes on the living room table. Someone once passed out drunk after putting a pizza in the oven. Hours later the then carbonized pizza was discovered. It was no small miracle the place didn't burn - it would have gone up the like dry-rot it was. Somehow the coal black puck was tacked to the Schmegma-message board where it stayed for weeks...

There was another famed party house in Port Orchard known as "Consumers." Norm Cooley was one of its occupants. I'll have to get him to share details, but during one notorious party there were so many people jumping around inside the house (live band included) that it literally cracked. And this was no little 'settling' crack; wall-to-wall and floor-to-ceiling! I think there was also something about a dead horse in the yard (though that may be me flashing back to a scene from Animal House).

Prior to moving to Schmegma House, I was honored to share a room on the Gaffey with the infamous Bill (RE Slick) Ball. The previous posts have not really done justice to the unique "mannerisms" of Bill. What more can you ask for: really great and entertaining person. When I think of a poster-boy for E nukes - smart, contemptuous of authority figures, loud, wild, hard worker, harder partier, all of which in the extreme - Bill Ball was that poster-boy.

To second Al Berner's (AB1) earlier recollection, I understand that "Napkin" Moore got his handle (reportedly from the late/great Marc "E" Leboeuf) when, with his mouth overfilled at the dinner table, he was only able to mutter "nmmpknnn".

"Napkin" and Al Brumbalow (sp?) bought the Anchor Tavern shortly after the E pulled in to Bremerton in '79. As previously noted, the Anchor was just across the street from the ferry terminal and a block outside the PSNS gate. Prior to their ownership, the Anchor was reported to be a favorite hang-out for local gay community. That didn't seem to last too long after the ownership change...

The Anchor Tavern served as a regular location for our "Fat Tuesday" parties. We were on prototype rotations (7 days / 7 mids / 7 swings) and after the last (Tuesday) night of mids many of the crew partiers would convene at the Anchor for an early start to the two off. The place really seemed like our own semi-private club.

The RO's in our crew also very often gathered at Jim Pinkertons house, where I believe Al Berner and Fred "Cheese" Chamness also lived. "Cheese" was a lunatic's lunatic. As abusive and hard partying as he usually was, he was a genuinely good guy (as most on that crew were). We used to sit for hours, 8 or 10 crowded around the dining table, playing non-poker card games (Uno, etc), passing around intoxicants, and all the while there sits "Cheese" telling tales or passing out abuse. Some people are blessed with the ability to lock in an audience's attention with their wit and humor - "Cheese" is one of those few (though the E nukes had a higher per capita of those types than the general population). No one seems to know much of what became of "Cheese"...

We also had Kelly MacMillan's bachelor party at Pinkerton's house. I (somehow) located a couple of "dancers" over in Seattle and - talk about holding an audience's attention! Most in attendance had not yet experienced PI, but these girls provided a good preview of coming attractions.

The attached pictures I snapped from a Dopey Book in 3 Plant. The author's name I cannot remember, and the snapshot quality is poor, but, hopefully, you can pick out enough detail to do them justice. (The caption for the Sooper NooK cartoon reads: "Sooper Nook is always ready to respond instantly to any sign of danger..." "Stupid woman! You have just defeated a reactor protection interlock! You have violated RPM procedure and in so doing could easily have caused severe core damage!!"

(Yo AB1, what was the deal with the RPFW signs? I don't remember.)

Other names from that era: Randy Hermatz, "Ropey" Hunzelman, James Johnston, Dean Quackenbush, John Bonfiglio, Bob Durham, John Torey, DirtBag Davis, "Denver D" Hooper(?), John Flowers, Ken Bell, Jerry Cook, too many others...

Enough, for now, from me.

Regards and keep up the great work.

P.S KP - I'm just across the valley in Glendale. We should get together sometime (beer, golf, etc.) to discuss this stuff...

KD

8/7/04

KP Note: If you do live in the valley please call me.  My work # is 480-592-0808. 

8/10/04

Please add me to the list.

Jim "Tark" Tarkowski, RM-14/RM-3 1980-84, aka-Green Weeny

Jim_Tarkowski@dteenergy.com

8/10/04

Please include me in the roster. 

Terry King, Reactor Electrical, 1979-1981 tiking@msn.com

8/10/04

Tark-

I've been waiting here for you to show up for over a year! Soooo..... did you have your lips stitched back on or what? hehehehehehehe!!!! I have Dirtbag's number, if you would like to dispute his story about a certain night in San Fran....

HAHAHA!! Mel got in touch with me a while back too. I know where to find Jerry "Waste"tinas and Steve Wegner.

I'm almost afraid to ask this, but could you send some stories in? Don't scare everyone too bad, now... since you've seen "Arrgh!" in his full glory and shame....

Arrgh!

8/10/04

I may as well embark on this literary adventure by offering my first memory from the Big E. She was well planted in the yards when I got there and cables, hoses and wires were strewn everywhere. Myself and the rest of the nublets who had just arrived from class 8007 were wandering around the ship with that agape look trying to get all our check in signatures. Towards the end of the first day I hear on the MC: "Ding Ding. ENTERPRISE DEPARTING." Now I had no idea that this was the navy way of announcing that the Captain was going ashore. All I knew was that I have a wife on shore in this strange new land of Bremerton and this ship just said it's departing!!! I wondered how this could be, especially given the copious amount of tethering to the pier. I figured I had better go back to the RT void and ask the only guys I knew aboard what the hell was going on. Of course by this time I was so lost I couldn't find the passageway back to the void. I finally found a semi-recognizable face. I'm sure my angst was fodder for an amusing nub story for the rest of that week. By the way, I happen to be in possession of an RM-14 dopey book. All I can say is stand the f*ck by Tark and Willie Wright!!!

Layne "The Tack" Pontnack RM-14 '81-'84

8/12/04

KP-

Page 32 has been a good page for me, bringing back lots of old memories and acquaintances. My old Division officer, the amazing Tark, and I know Layne Pontnack, and have some vague memories of Terry King too. Then, there was a long awaited post from Kevin Doyle! Kevin. I'm sorry I forgot your name as one of the guys living in that house in Phoenix that I visited after leaving the Nav. Don't know if you remember that or not. I remember eating some lasagna at John Flower's house that his wife made (I helped grate some of the cheese). I dropped in on you, and then hit the Ropey one after leaving the Nav on my "cross country - stop in everywhere you know somebody- party across the country to celebrate freedom tour". Took me a month to get from San Fran to Charlotte, NC. Ahh, the days of no cares and freedom to go anywhere, any time! Of course, having a family and job does have a few benefits, too. I miss that kind of freedom, but I wouldn't give up what I have now for anything in the world!

Arrgh!

8/12/04

I am going to try to explain a situation on board the Big "E" that only a very few were privileged to experience. The list includes 1 Plant "M" Div. during the 82 cruise. Names haunt me now; however, a few come to mind: Barry Jackson, Garrett Mehling, Robert Miller, there were others involved but time has wiped them from my memories. I do recall faces but names to match them, no. Maybe some of you reading this story will recall others who were privy to this wonderful experience. Anyway, during the cruise in 82, after the yard pac, a few of the party crowd decided it was time to come up with a place and idea to escape the rigors of the ship. Someone decided to acquire a box of fluorescent stickers, the ones that were pasted on every bulkhead with the arrows giving you direction to escape to nowhere, and bring them to 1 Plant MMR. During the next several weeks certain individuals took the stickers and began using whole punches of different sizes and punched hole after hole after hole in the stickers. A cardboard box was used for storage of these precisely punched out specimens for safekeeping. Eventually there were no stickers left and the box was full of punched out dots of varying sizes. Now, if you can recall, the aft shaft alley in 1 Plant had a very steep ladder that took you to the bottom walkway. Once there you could look aft toward the citron seal where the longest shaft in the world exited into the deep blue. Shaft Alley patrols knew this area well. The MM's of 1 Plant spent hours in the shaft alley, climbing everywhere, pasting the sticker punches on the walls, ceiling, floor and shaft. If you recall, the shaft alley went from a large area to a much smaller area as it went aft from the entrance hatch to the seal. I do not recall how long it took to place all the stickers but I do remember the first time I was invited down to check out what had been accomplished. As you all know, the early 80's were known for being a party boat, need I say anymore? I vividly recall Barry, Bob and myself arriving at the shaft alley, opening the hatch and climbing down to the bottom. Once there, we took positions on the storage rack at the forward end of the alley, turned on the music box and after some time Bob ran up the ladder and opened the hatch, reached out in the hallway and turned off the lights, came back inside and closed the hatch. He arrived at the platform just as my eyes were adjusting to the darkness. As I was looking down the alley I was in awe at what was transpiring right before my eyes. The illusion of the shape of the alley and the thousands of stars that suddenly were appearing everywhere out of the darkness made my mouth drop open in amazement. The dots just seemed to be hanging in space right in front of us. The 1 Plant M-Div guys had created the most spectacular thing I ever experienced on the Big "E". The shaft alley became known as the "Star Alley." A few officers were brought down to experience it prior to there leaving the Big "E", but only a select few. For those of us who had the privilege to experience this masterpiece, which undoubtedly is lost in the bowels of history by now, can only remember the first time sitting there in awe as the lights went out and the stars appeared. I spent many hours with an amazing bunch of guys who were my shipmates and friends staring down the alley watching the glowing stars fade away into the darkness as time crept along.

8/12/04

KP Note:  In the late 80s, the M-Div'rs still talked about a place known as "Star Alley."  None of us "outsiders" knew what it was.  It was still a well guarded secret and now, after 20years, I know what the hell it was.  Does anyone currently serving aboard the E know if Star Alley is still there? And while you're at it, see if the RMs are still hiding laughing gas in the overheads.

8/13/04

KP please change my email address to waitinas@comcast.net. I have changed services. The free year of aol (a-holes on line) we got when buying a new computer has run out.

Thanks, Jerry "the Waste" Waitinas

PS I have not been lurking the whole time. I have sent in several stories, but none were posted. I am not sure, but I think aol had screener software and won't let a message go through if it contains the F word, and I can't re-tell an Enterprise story without using the F word several times, especially if Arrgh or the Dirtbag are involved!

8/13/04

KP Note: this is indeed a crime if the Ethernet has stolen valuable tales of debauchery from all of us.  I can assure you that they never arrived in my mailbox.  I doubt AOL would have stricken them but you never know.  I hope you can find them and resend them.  If you send something and it isn't posted right away (i.e., things sent at a later date are posted by others) then that means I never got it, or I didn't recognize it as being navy related in my spam filter (that is why I recommend using the header "KP Site").

Here's to you Tim Link, wherever you are! 

OK, the second thing I remember about arriving in 4 plant…Arrgh!! Here is this guy sitting at the panel telling me how bad the Navy sucked, especially at sea. I'm thinking to myself "Damn, what did I get into? Nobody could hate the Navy this bad if it didn't really suck!!" What the hell did I know? I was a lowly nub. And in a lot of ways, it really did suck. Then there was Danny "Dirtbag" Davis asking me how many days I have left and laughing his ass off. About then I was plotting ways to get my recruiter snuffed.

Layne

8/13/04

It's been about 25 years since most of us have seen each other, but thanks to this site many of us have re-established connections with comrades from a time that most of us can now look back on with very fond memories. We always seem to remember the good and forget the bad. In our quest, we found out one of our old shipmates and steaming buddies, Marc Lebeouf, met an untimely death in an accident shortly after getting out of the Navy. Since we found out about this only a couple of weeks before the 22nd anniversary of his passing, we felt like we just had to do something to pay our respects, so we agreed to do a "virtual toast" to Marc on July 30.

At the appointed hour we all raised a glass to his memory. Some with San Miguel, some with Rum, some tea, and others water. One of our old buds is serving in Iraq with the National Guard and due to time differences and location-imposed temperance, raised a glass of chocolate milk at 05:00 Iraq time. If you knew Marc you know he would have loved the irony. The beverage didn’t matter; it was all about the memory of one hard steaming good friend, and the toast. Toasts were given from Washington State to California. From Texas to Michigan. From Rhode Island to Iraq. We tried to find someone from Florida, but they were still too busy counting dimples and making ready for the next re-count.

I believe this was the first "virtual toast" any of us took part in. We probably wouldn't have done this for anyone but Marc.

For those wanting to celebrate or mark an occasion but can't get together physically, this seems like a good way to share a remembered moment. Thank you to all who participated. Maybe some day soon we can all get together and toast Marc good and proper.

And by the way Willie May (our shipmate now in Iraq); in case nobody has said it to you recently. THANK YOU.

Friends of Marc

8/16/04

May 1975. We were in Hawaii on our way back from Westpac. Just off the main drag, about half way between Pearl Harbor and Honolulu, there was an interesting little place. (I forget the name) It was kind of like a mini-mall but it just contained bars. You paid a cover at the front entrance and then had access to something like 5 or so bars all under one roof. Each of the bars had a different form of entertainment, most of it adult.

One bar featured a transvestite stripper. This stripper was "well done" for the mid 70s and had better boobs than a lot of girls I've known. She had her top off but kept her bikini bottom on for obvious reasons. (Not that you could notice a bulge.) A first class ELT named Jerry was pretty well three sheets to the wind, and didn't know the stripper was actually a guy. And he was pretty well attracted to her too. During a break between dance numbers, a couple of guys went to the dancer and told "her" that Jerry had the hots for her. She just smiled and said "Wait till my next number."

True to her word, when the music started she caught Jerry's attention and motioned him on to the stage. Jerry couldn't believe his good luck. The dancer made Jerry get on his knees and kiss her feet. The audience howled! After a few moments Jerry decides to be sly and starts working his way up her legs. (Remember : Alcohol WAS involved.) He's kissing the inside of her thigh when the dancer does something unexpected. She puts both thumbs inside the front of her bikini bottom and pulls down. Out of nowhere pops a very angry erection that almost slaps Jerry in the face!! The bar gasps, then falls silent. Jerry is just staring in confusion at the object an inch in front of his face. Some people up close to the stage said Jerry's eyes crossed as he stared down the barrel. Evidently (hopefully) Jerry had never observed one of these from that angle. Finally it dawns on Jerry what he is looking at. He lets out a howl and falls backwards into the audience. The whole bar erupts in laughter. Beer squirted out of numerous nostrils.

In my four years on the E there were 4 or 5 events which were talked about so much that everyone thought that they had been there themselves. This was one of those occasions. Unfortunately, I myself missed this one by a matter of seconds. I was standing in the "lobby" shooting the shit with some friends when we heard the howls of laughter and rushed into the bar to see what had happened. Guys were still pounding their fists on the tables and trying to catch their breath between fits of laughter. Others were still choking on inhaled beer. Jerry was now sitting on the floor in front of the stage and was the only person in the bar not laughing. The dancer was still on stage, but had tucked her dick back into her bikini bottoms. ("Her dick." Now THERE'S two words that shouldn't appear together in polite conversation!) I spied someone I knew, and asked what had happened. It took a couple of minutes for him to compose himself enough to relate these details.

Jerry took a lot of shit on our trip back to Alameda. Shortly after we got back, Jerry just disappears. Don't know if he was discharged or begged for a quick transfer just to get away from the ridicule.

PP

8/16/04

Everette "Andy" Anderson drowned while fishing in the San Francisco Bay after he got out. He died in 1986 or 1987. He was the 4 plant LPO for awhile, I think '82 and '83, he was known for conducting his CRAO turnovers in the chem shack in the RAR. (saved on hepa filters).

-Tark

8/16/04

Tack & Tark have finally arrived. DING DING..DING DING

Now if we can get Mike McFarland and Joe Halsey to join up, we could start the 3 plant vs. 4 plant feud again.

MrB

8/16/04

------more from Mark-----

The cruise tape from the 1986 WESTPAC / MED cruise is finally available.

Since there was no copyright on the material, I have since applied for and received the copyright for unlimited duplication.

Not sure what the exact cost will be, but am pretty sure that it will be under $10 including shipping.

I know of 3 people who already want copies. I just do not want to get stuck with a bunch of extras, so will be accepting orders through August. September 1st, I will get the dupes made.

Contact me at junque@zianet.com (put 'ENT DVD' in the subject line so I can set up my filter). I will contact you with the final price and where to send your bongo bucks.

Miss Ohio – Halle Berry onboard ENTERPRISE for a USO show in 1986

KP Note: so all you lust monkeys, who watched that show on the flightdeck and fantasized about seeing the lovely Miss Ohio's ta tas, can now finally do so by renting Monster's Ball!

Hi, I was on the Enterprise from 81- 85. I was a rx operator in plant 4, then later a slackbout in the RC shop.

Please put me on the list

Brian Barkey (ET 1st class)

brian_barkey@hotmail.com

8/17/04

Enjoyed KD's post of Bremerton circa 78-82. Never expected to see a "SOOPER NOOK" cartoon again though -- just another reason to hope wifey never finds this website! Had lots of requests to continue the series but SN made only a couple of brief appearances before fading into obscurity. Dan McKenzie (RM23) ragged on me in that same dopey book about not producing more, in a post referring to me as "old man" (I had a few years on most of my sea-brethren). I slapped him back with a multi-panel cartoon of himself as an infant, in a diaper, clutching the dopey book and bawling about it until he craps himself. He seemed a bit humbled afterward (it was only a joke, Dan ... honest!) The lower sketch that KD resurrected is mine also, where I tried to capture the dynamics of a typical GQ drill. Until I saw it again here, I'd forgotten about the thing we used to do with our socks. Still don't know what THAT was all about!

I always thought Waste's Knucklehead was a '38. But my memory isn't trustworthy enough to insist. Now that Waste has resurfaced, he can set the (f_cking) record straight. That was one very cool bike too, low and spare and mean -- pure essence of motorcycle.

Speaking of nukes and motorbikes, I have the remains of a 1958 650cc Matchless twin (Brit bike) which once belonged to Craig Schneider and came to me by way of the Grub. It had a little peanut fuel tank and crudely made shorty straight pipes. I've since replaced these and several other parts that had suffered severe heat damage; a few were even crispy. This thing had "Rat Bike" written all over it, and obviously experienced an incendiary moment. I'm sure there must be a squidly tale of woe involved. I've been hoping to run into Craig one day and ask him about it. Anyone know the lad's whereabouts? Anyone remember a flaming limey bike?

stickman

8/19/04

KP Note:  Stickman your artistic talent is incredible.  One of these days I want to compile a Big E Rx & Eng Dept museum (or archive).  I would collect everything I could, like old cruisebooks, dopeybooks, patches, etc.  There are a few "private" Big E museums out there but none have the stuff we would all enjoy seeing again.  Can you imagine looking through a dopeybook from your era? Or seeing yourself in one of those old black & white PI table photos?  No wives would be allowed (unless they signed a waiver of unconditional love)!

Be It Ever So Humble ....

On to Page 33!  Click Here.