Damn ship about turned me into an alcoholic. Long days and longer nites. It sure made my decision to get out easy. Did have some great times with Phil, Rodney and crew.

Never forgot the trip from Charleston, S.C. to Amsterdam, Holland in 1968, when we weathered a hurricane that produced waves that rolled the ship close to it's maximum. The captain had his hand on the crane detonenator ready to blow it if we took a 45 degree roll. We took 3 successive rolls at 44 degrees. The captains personal  sailboat was lashed to the deck on the starboard side just below the crane. If he blew the crane, he would have lost his boat too. I started my assignment in the 38 shop. I went to A/C & R school in Norfolk, VA, I was an EN2 later assigned to the Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Shop located starboard side of the machine shop. I remember two men who lost their legs to parting lines in Rota, Spain. I was personally involved in helping to apply a tourniqet to the deck hand who lost his leg to a parting houser at the stern when the XO gave the engine command "ahead" before the lines were cleared from the pier ballards. The other incident was at the bow during an anchor deployment when the anchor was dropped.

Had a graet time except when Capt. Beno was there.

Old Times!

I first worked in the FWD Engine room for what seemed like FOREVER!  I struck out into radio--looking for some of the fabulous people I met while there--

Checked on board as TM2, two days after commissioning.  Enjoyed "sandlot" football games in Charleston & Rota.  Atlantic crossing with the missile crane was interesting.  Long time ago, but I have some scant memories of the "Gato Loco", burning haystack, "Rat fink" pennant (FLGXM), flying Bingo card, Poor Richard nights at the Acey/Deucy, and too many security alarms.

Love Scotland, Hanging at Marvins, The Bay Hotel....The Cowell games.....where does time go??

Worked hard, played hard and I have great memories from my time on Holland and in Scotland.

I hope you are all doing okay

Loved my time on the Holland...loved all the ports we stopped in and loved living in Guam !!  Hello to all my old shipmates and hope life is treating you well !!

Had a great time on ship and on shore, worked hard and played hard.

Those two years were definitely the worst of my life, but everything seemed to improve once I put an entire ocean between myself and AS-32.  I am glad she is gone. I only wish she had been decommissioned before the Proteus!

Ahoy Shipmates, I'm glad to find a site strictly for my Navy Family.