Rack Contests Department: Rx Author: Peter Era: 1980 Date: 05/25/05 Sorry if this story's a repeat - I'm losing track of what I've written so far... During the IO cruise of 1980 - most of us in RX dept were working 12-16 hour days (counting watch). Except for RC Div. Those slackers were practically on a 9 month holiday. In fact for the cruise, the guys in RC Div. had a contest to see who could chalk up the most rack time. All of the competitors had a log book in their racks where they were to log the times in and out of their rack. At the end of the cruise, each one tallied up his hours. I think the winner averaged more than 17 hours/day in his rack for the entire 9 month cruise!

De-nuked Department: Rx Author: Mike Matthys Era: 1991 Date: 05/25/05 Some of you on here might know these guys... The guys qualified Chief Reactor Watch were standing proficieny watches one afternoon. Andy Fries was on CGUL, Stu Dunivan was standing Feed Control and I was standing RAW. As watchstanders usually did, Stu and I were shooting the shit over by RAW near the DFT. We hear the PPWO announce, low level alarm in steam generator. Stu runs over and sees that someone has placed one of the Feed Reg Valves in manual-electric. The problem gets fixed and the FRV is back in automatic. Andy Fries, the CGUL watch admits to us that he is the one that placed the FRV in manual-electric; he thought it would be a "funny joke", as he put it. Half of RC division shows up to trouble shoot along with their chief. Stu knows that these guys are going to be up all night trying to figure out what went wrong, and that kind of got to him. Stu called the PPWS to Feed Control and blew the whistle on Andy. Andy was relieved from watch and eventually de-nuked.

Nicknames Department: Rx Author: Elmo Era: 1982 Date: 05/25/05 Nicknames could cause problems. For instance one time as a newbie while I was trying to qualify some watchstation I was told to goto MM1 Boughton. I looked all over the place for MM1 Boughton. I finally asked Mombo (because he was on the watchstation I was told to go to) if he knew who MM1 Boughton was. Well Mombo says "That's me." I was kinda embarrassed as I didn't know his real name but knew his nickname.

Someone Strange to see Department: Rx Author: Elmo Era: 1985 Date: 05/26/05 It was strange to see Rich R. here. But then when I thought about it it wasn't so strange, as this site is dedicated to disliking Ike. (Webmaster's comment: That's not entirely true. I put this site up as a repository for IKE remembrances/sea stories and not specifically just to dwell on the negative. - back to you Elmo) Rich was one of the ones along with Spoerl to study almost daily for his chance to take a Whiz Quiz. So he could fail and be kicked out. I guess Rich disliked Ike a little more than the rest of us who had the oppurtunity to take the monthly Quizzes and tried to pass them.

Nicknames Department: Rx Author: Mike Matthys Era: 1989 Date: 05/26/05 Seeing Elmo's name made think of something... There was a guy named Russ Lion that got to Ike around the same time that I did. We went through RT together and both ended up in RM-22. Anyhow, one day someone in the lounge told Russ that he looked like a guy that used to be on Ike named "Elmo". Soon, everyone was calling Russ "Elmo" and the nickname stuck. So, a few years go by and I am finally getting out of the Navy. Elmo decides he isn't ready for civilian life and re-enlists (he was a huge IB talker!). I get out around Christmas, and end up in North Carolina spending New Year's with Dave Zezula, Julio, Gwynn Prince, and Norm Strickland. I tell the guys that "Elmo re-enlisted." Julio looks at me and says, "Then he ain't Elmo no more."

IKE was compaired to prision to me Department: Rx Author: Richie Ralston Era: 1983 Date: 05/26/05 Yes, I did study hard and Clexton became my best friend the day he told me I was going to paroled from the IKE pen. At the time, I compared IKE to being in prison. Being bound by the confines of the Ship (while underway), wearing the same cloths (with ID on it)as everyone else, eating off metal tray's (exactly like prison), and taking orders from people I wouldn't give the time of day on the street. I hated it then; was happy to leave, but I'm 20 years older and much more humble. I realize that it was actually a fun time. I sent pics to Pete last night to be posted and when I pulled out the old pics, that I haven't seen in over ten years, I just chuckled and thought back to all the fun on liberty. Much of it was a blur thanks to the Ozo in Greece, LOL. It's funny you speak of Rich Spoerl, one of the pics you will see is me and him in Glafada Greece on my 20th Birthday getting wasted. It's really cool, 20 years later to chat with you guys.

question for you Mike M. Department: Rx Author: peter Era: 1982 Date: 05/26/05 In your De-Nuked story, you mention you were hanging out by the DFT talking to FCW. I wonder when that became the "gathering place"? When I was in, everyone (CGUL, RAW, CRW, etc.) would just park their asses down on the MFV-501's. Then once an hour, everyone would go back to his watchstation to take logs and then lay back to FCW to continue the shoot the shit. When I look back, it's kind of pathetic thinking about all the time wasted while on watch - frequently just sitting down - staring off into space, or having an absolutely meaningles shoot the shit with someone. Many thousands of hours of my life could have been spent productively studying, exercising, anything... but instead, I'd just veg out for 4 hours straight, watch after watch.... - Pathetic.

Dining out in Naples Department: Rx Author: peter Era: 1983 Date: 05/26/05 There was this one restaurant in Naples that was even considered a hole in the wall by Neapolitan standards (I think there were only 2 tables in the joint)!! It was run by an old couple. And I only went there a few times. We would sit down and order and then after that, whenever we opened our mouth to ask for something else or complain, the old lady (her name was mama) would come up behind us, slap the back of our head, and tell us to "shudup!" - (Your typical stereotype of an Italian family meal). We would deliberately complain about things just to get a rise out of her: (you didn't give me enough sauce, mama... the ice is too cold.. etc.) and would be promptly rewarded with a slap on the head. After the meal the old man would come out of the kitchen, carrying a tip box. And after having heaped abuse on us for the entire meal, "mama" would ask for "tips for papa". The old man would wend his way around the table, shakily proffering his tip box.

I missed out I guess Department: Rx Author: Richie Ralston Era: 1983 Date: 05/26/05 After reading all the stories, I must have missed something. I read about guys napping in the bilge while on watch, sleezing off logs amoung other things. I never napped on watch, but that explains why sometimes I couldn't find anyone to shoot the crap with. I never did a pre-watch tour, I will admit that. But I did do my logs. I was always afraid something would happen and I'd have to answer for it. I realize now, we call that paranoia. While on Feed station, that did seemed to be the conversation pit though. I do remember being on fire watch while in the shipyard and falling asleep to wake up due to the extreme heat from the fire that singed my hair. That was a close one.... Never said a word to anyone, just went and got a haircut. How you guys remember all the abbrievations is beyond me. I am still finguring out some of them. But it's all coming back to me slowly.

Answer to Peter Department: Rx Author: Mike Era: 1988 Date: 05/26/05 Peter -- Feed Control and the 501's were definitely still "the gathering place." I don't know why Stu and I were standing over by RAW -- maybe he was taking logs or something. If I had a dollar for every hour I wasted sitting on the 501s I would be a rich man.