Berthing PO Department: Rx Author: Charlie Era: 1983 Date: 03/20/05 Pete, Since you mentioned his name, it was Ronald "don't call me Ron" Jones I was referring to. Also, I remember Jim Squib was notorious for setting his alarm clock and leaving it. I remember once Mombo was so pissed when it went off, he braved going through Squib's nasty sheets so he could bust that clock into a million pieces!

Ultimate Insult Department: Rx Author: Larry Era: 1980 Date: 03/21/05 Once upon a time Jim Squibb accused me of stealing his last pair of socks. Anyone that knows Jim knows that one time his rack was condemned by medical. So being accused of taking his socks, was to me, the ultimate insult.

Squib's cup Department: Rx Author: Charlie Era: 1980 Date: 03/21/05 Speaking of Jim Squib, does everyone remember that coffee cup of his? He used to wear it on his belt on a keychain. We all had pretty scuzzy cups, but his was so stained, he could have just added hot water to have espresso.

Battle dress Department: Rx Author: Charlie Era: 1980 Date: 03/21/05 Back in the old days, when we went to GQ, we went to battle dress. This consisted of tucking your pantslegs into your socks (black only, of course), buttoning your top button on your shirt, and best of all, rolling down your sleeves and buttoning them. Of course, if you wore short sleeves, this wasn't required. This was about as useful as bracing for NBC attack. Not to mention the OBA was like a bomb strapped to your chest. I understand now they have bunker gear and SCBA's just like real firefighters. Man, how times have changed. I wonder if Unit 51 still makes food raids in the galley during GQ or have a long line of airedales to greet them as soon as the hatch at the galley is opened after GQ secures. That part probably hasn't changed.

Helmets Department: Rx Author: Peter Era: 1982 Date: 03/21/05 Wasn't it curious that the only place you didn't have to wear a helmet during GQ was in the RAR and ER? It was really fun running around with a Mark-5 on in 120 degree heat when they secured the ventilation. Thank goodness the SGWLCC was such a fragile piece of equipment that could only stand the heat for so long before freaking out. They'd secure ventilation for about 10 minutes so we could play like we were under NBC attack - then start it back up while the rest of the ship still had Circle William set... I'm not quite sure what those 10 minutes without ventilation would gain us if we really did ever come under NBC attack??? During the IO, the navy was testing out some NBC outfits for a mfgr. A couple of RT nubs were required to wear these outfits for months on end - couldn't wash them and had to wear these coveralls everywhere - even in the hot plants... Those poor bastards were miserable.

CAPT Mauldin Department: Rx Author: Charlie Era: 1980 Date: 03/21/05 When I got on the Ike in 1980, Jimmy Mauldin was the CO. He was a pretty decent guy. Once when I was standing in the chow line, someone cut in front of me at the head of of the line. At first I thought,"Another damn airedale". But it was the CAPT coming to sample some of the enlisted scum's gruel. It seemed like the food got better for a while after that. One memorable quote from him over the 1MC occured right after we had some kind of flak going on, maybe when it was about a fake call for man overboard. The CO was pissed because no one would confess and he said, "I respect a (homosexual)[saving you from liability there, Pete] more than a liar. I don't think that would fly in today's politically correct world.

Bootcamp Department: Supply Author: Mike Mancuso Era: 1978 Date: 03/22/05 I saw a couple of bootcamps mentioned. I did bootcamp in Great Lakes 10/71-01/72. I had the misfortune of having my orders changed during bootcamp, so I was still at that command for a couple of weeks after 'graduation'. Man, that was the colest place I have ever lived in my life. I remember standiong outside during morning formation, everyone begging to do calistenics because it was so frigging cold! We used to have to wash out clothes by hand, and there were two options for drying them. They could be hung in the drying room, or hung outside...it was up to the company commander. He often chose outside because they never got dry overnight in the 'drying' room. So outside we went, in our skivvies, with a bucket of wet clothes to tie to a clothesline. One had to tie one corner to one line with a string, then the other corner to the other line. It was so fucking cold that before you finished tying the second string, the t-shirt (for example) was frozen solid!

Go Figure! Department: Supply Author: Mike Mancuso Era: 1977 Date: 03/22/05 One of the things I was constantly amazed at during my 7 years in the Nav was the right way, the wrong way, and the Navy way. That was so confirmed to me on Ike. I was a rover during battlestation drills, and I remember climbing down a ladder into a shaft alley, only to find the watch stander passed out on the cat walk beside the shaft. I turned him over, discovered it was someone I knew, so I had to give a shit. Called it in and the situation was dealt with. It was so frigging hot in there! Later I discovered the logic of the situation. During normal cruising the hatch for the shaft alley at the top of the ladder was normally open, the ventilation turned on (if there was any), and the space was unmanned. During battlestations the ventilation was turned off (again, if there was any), the hatch was closed, and the space was manned! A prime example of the Navy way.

Shaved head in boot camp Department: Supply Author: Mike Mancuso Era: 1975 Date: 03/22/05 I went to the Lakes for bootcamp in 10/71. Our company commander was a BMC. One night, out of sheer boredom, I decided that I would shave my head. The next morning, sitting in one of the classroom bleachers, the BMC came in to lay something on us before the class started. This was the first time we had seen him that day. He started as he always did.."OK, listen up shitheads..", then he saw my head. I thought this bos'n was going to have a coronary on the spot...."What the fuck is going on?!?!?" He hauled my ass out of the class..."Don't you know it's against Navy regs???" Yea, right, I know all about regs being a seasoned veteran with a few weeks in the Navy. Apparently not the regs, but the fear that I may have been made to do that in bootcamp. Anyway, I was to leave my cover on at all times. I think I had done something that actually put him in some sort of career danger, and he was pissed!

Shaved head continued Department: Supply Author: Mike Mancuso Era: 1975 Date: 03/22/05 Continuing my previous story, it also turns out that the first day of my shaved head was also our day to enjoy the tear-gas building! (Do they still do that?) We had to make one trip around the building (full of tear-gas) with our gas masks on, then another trip holding the masks above our heads. Holy shit was that fun. Now add to that the first hand experience that I can tell you that tear gas emphatically does not make a good aftershave! I thought my skull was on fire!