The Post Office Is Closed Department: Engr Author: BT2 Dupler Era: 1996 Date: 09/30/05 I had totally forgot about this until the other day. A friend of mine had a place off of Northhampton across for a post office. We all ended up there after we got evicted. He had this friend that was a body builder, this huge crazy mean looking guy. It would always piss him off that people would go to the post office at like Midnight or later.(of course alcohol helped his anger) So, this guy would go running over flexing his muscles yelling as loud as he could "THE POST OFFICE IS CLOSED!!! I SAID THE POST OFFICE IS CLOSED" One time he ripped his shirt off. Someone went and had a shirt made that said the post office is closed on it with a picture of a guy with giant muscles. So then this mad man would wear this shirt and run after these poor people as they walked to the door of the post office. I am sure they thought this man was insane. All those poor people living in Virginia Beach, living in fear of us Ike Sailors.

I Like Ike buttons Department: Rx Author: Peter Era: 1984 Date: 10/04/05 I picked up a 86/87 Cruise book at a rummage sale the other day - I told the vendor I had been on that ship, but he didn't knock the price down for me. It struck me that in their photos, almost everyone wore an "I Like Ike" button (they are blue now - not the garish yellow of my era). Either attitudes had markedly improved since my day and sailors genuinely did like Ike... or more likely they were coerced in to wearing those pins for their photos. Periodicaly, they used to give them away and I think I may have pinned one on my shirt once just for the novelty - But that was it - and certainly not for my cruise book photo! The only button I wore was on my "steaming hat" down in the plant - it was an "Anti Nuclear Power" protest button that I picked up in Portugal. One LT. spoke enough Portugese to understand it and made me take it off.

More buttons Department: Rx Author: Charlie Era: 1984 Date: 10/04/05 We used to take the "I Like Ike" buttons and make our own slogans with scraps from the rag bin. Days remaining were popular along with your usual FTN's and IAFJ. The only time I wore one was to mast, which didn't help a bit unless Clexton decided not to restrict me because I professed to like Ike. I actually own one now. An RE-Divver from the 1985-87 era, Jaime Perez gave it to me as a joke, but it now resides with my medals and ribbons.

Ike Buttons Department: Engr Author: BT2 Dupler Era: 1996 Date: 10/04/05 While I was onboard the Ike the buttons were not worn except by those who liked to kiss ass, always had military creases in the uniforms, or female. I was named sailor of the day one day and my chief came to pick me up. When he got to the shop he asked me where my I like Ike Button was. I told him I did not own one. So I was marched to the ship's store to buy one because "if you see the captain you have to have one". I never got to see the captain that day. As soon as I stepped on to the bridge a jp-5 line in Wardroom 3 burst open and I was told to leave the bridge. I do own one of those buttons today, it was an accident. I bought an I like Ike button off of ebay that was supposed to be from his campaign. Guess what fresh from the CVN-69 ship's store. I wrote him and told him what it was. He did not care, told me he had no idea even though he was selling like 10 of them.

I like Ike buttons Department: AIMD Author: Mike Era: 1975 Date: 10/04/05 I remember that, for our cruisebook photos, we were told that we had to wear the "I Like Ike" buttons. I think most of the guys showed up without them, though. One thing that was often done was the guys would wear a pair of birth control glasses. One guy would get his picture taken and then pass the glasses on to the next guy. The guys who wore the glasses would then list their first name as "Pedro."

1980 shipmate passing- Ted Easlick Department: Rx Author: Gary Krauch Era: 1975 Date: 10/09/05 I thought I would start at 2005 and work backwards, as my memory of 25 years ago is not as good as the recent past. Pete Wentworth and others of the 70s - early 80s era will remember Ted Eastlick, the easy-going ET of RC division. Ted had a wonderful life after the Navy, had 4 boys, but recently passed on due to cancer a few years ago. Ted was a great guy and well liked by everyone in RX dept.

Passing of 70-80 era sailor: Walt Mooney Department: Rx Author: Gary Krauch Era: 2003 Date: 10/09/05 Working my backwards from now to 25 years ago - I recently attended the funeral of another 70s- early 80s era sailor a couple of years ago (2003?)- Walt Mooney from RE division. Walt had a very successful career after the Navy as a partner with Deloitte & Touche (CPA), and did very well. He left Alicia Mooney and a teenage son and daughter. It was a sad day for all; Mark Petroboni (RE), Rom Rickenbach (RE), Chuck (M), and I attended the funeral at Walt's church with the military burial at Arlington National Cemetary in DC. Mark Petroboni spoke at the burial service and delivered a great eulogy on Walt's Ike days. The young sailors looked like kids- just as we all did 25 years ago; it felt strange to be called 'sir' by these youngsters. The burial was with military honors- a nice tribute to Walt and his family. .

Lost Dogs Department: Rx Author: peter Era: 1983 Date: 10/10/05 I believe it was the '83 Med cruise when 2 of the pilots from one of our squadrons ("Pukin' Dogs") came in for a landing after a flight. Unfortunately for them, it turned out the ship they landed on was not the IKE but rather another aircraft carrier steaming nearby. They were allowed off that ship a day or so later to return to IKE. Among the many indignities the poor pilots had to endure - was having the emblem defaced on their planes. The airdales crossed out the slogan "Pukin' Dogs" and replaced it with "LOST Dogs". Around that time, the scullery had a sign up telling sailors to just drop off their dishes and get lost. But instead of the words "Get Lost" - it read "Make like a Pilot (Get Lost)"

Rack Monsters Correction Department: Rx Author: Gary Krauch Era: 1980 Date: 10/10/05 Pete, I am the rack monster that averaged the 17 hours a day you noted in your rack story- what a memory you have! I wish it had been for the entire IO cruise, however it was only on the transit or return from the IO (I forget which, forgive me after 25 years). There were only 3 in the contest: Ted Easlick- RC div (dec. 2001), Walt Mooney- RE div (dec. 2003), and myself- RC div. We were lucky to be on 4&8s at the time, and some days I only had the one four hour watch, hence my ability to rack up 17 hours over the course of the transit. The grand prize was one of those twin bed type comforters, since the width of those federal penitentiary style racks was no wider than an arms length. Alas, it didn't last long due to the non-quals getting more rack time than the qualified nukes!

United Way Campaign Department: Rx Author: peter Era: 1982 Date: 10/20/05 My company commenced the yearly United Way Campaign - and I was reminded of the same campaign we had on IKE. The Navy sure had some nerve, asking sailors to contribute to the United Way... E-1's making $6,000/year being asked to give their "fair share". In M-Div, the guy in charge of soliciting was a malcontent (like most of them) and as the campaign was winding down, when you passed by the poster listing every division's contributions so far - you'd see M-Div with a whopping 1% (and someone had even defaced the sign with the words "M-Div, We don't give a shit!". With two days to go, the M-Div Division Officer freaked out that his numbers were going to be so bad and rushed around personaly trying to strong arm his division into contributing. - I think he ended up with 10% participation. Evidently, participation was the important number. - If everyone gave just a penney, the division was at 100% participation - and the Div Officer got "points"