watch cap Department: Rx Author: Charlie Era: 2005 Date: 11/25/05 Frank, I've been out for 21 years and I still have my watchcap!

Man OverBoard Department: AIMD Author: Jake Era: 1983 Date: 11/26/05 I Was reading some of the stories on this website and couldn't help remembering the one man overboard we had,I think it was during the 83 Med, anyway everyone was accounted for but this one guy who was sound asleep in one of the liberty boats, after what seemed like an hour they were calling this guys name over the 1-mc and everything they found him asleep. I think he had mast right afterwards,anybody else remember that?

XO Policies Department: Rx Author: Anon Era: 2005 Date: 11/29/05 A couple of policies that have been put out: -We can only use 1 brand of flourescent lights, and only 1 type of light cover on ALL light fixtures. If the cover isn't clear, smooth plastic (i.e. the crosshatch/pyramid bump kind), it's wrong and we're wrong. -Where paint has chipped off and been repainted, the edges must be sanded down smooth and repainted. Filler not allowed (as far as I know). -The bottom few inches of every wall will be painted black. So will the first 1/2" or 1" of the WAXED TILE deck. (Going to make it fun to do strip, wax, repaint every few days). -Baby leave is not allowed in any way. Any leave chits with the word "Baby" are denied. Although we only know about the schedule 6 months max ahead of time (and of course it NEVER changes...), we should plan on having our babies around the ship's schedule. Hmm... That's great family support. The CO, XO, and CMC have all turned over in the past few months, and Ike went from "bad" to "it CAN get worse..."

MB-5 check out Department: Air Author: R.D. Era: 1979 Date: 12/03/05 I was on my first cruise after finishing Crash School and assigned to night check with two other guys in Crash and Salvage. My job during the training cruise in the Carribean was to check out the large crash truck on deck, the MB-5. So, there I am, going down the check list and things are going okay. I then recall that one of the GSE guys had said for us to hit the govenor switch while we were checking the unit out so the batteries could charge better. So, I do this. All of the sudden, I hear this rush of water flowing through the large diameter hose behind me, that leads from the pump to the large Cardox nozzle that sits atop the cab of the crash truck. As I look on in horror, and some humor, the strait stream of water coming from the nozzle nails two guys walking across the deck. I kill the govenor switch and the deluge stops, but now the tank water is pouring out of the bottom of the crash truck. Mad Dog Fowler had to muscle the pump valve closed.

Late for Duty Department: Engr Author: MM2 Dupler Era: 1997 Date: 12/04/05 I lived on board and was feeling a bit tired so I climbed into my rack at about 5 PM one afternoon while we were inport. I had duty the next day and knew that I would not be sleeping. When I woke up I looked at my clock and it said it was 7:30. I flew out of my rack, got dressed as quickly as I could and went looking for my section leader to tell him I was there and not U.A.. I searched everywhere and could not find him. So I went up to my shop and there was MM3 Wright, who was in my duty section. I was yelling "dear god man where is everyone, I need to tell Osborn I am here before I am U.A.. He asked me what I meant, and I told him how I overslept and was late for duty section muster. He then informed me that it was 7 pm not am the next day. Boy did I feel stupid. Who knows how long I would of been going around that ship if Wright was not up there playing playstation.

An Ike Christmas Department: Rx Author: Charlie Era: 1980 Date: 12/09/05 To all of you that will have duty on Christmas, you have my sympathy. Alas, I am working this Christmas, but in the real world you get highly compensated for working holidays. Hang in there. Anyway, I remember my first Christmas on the Ike. It was 1980, and we had just pulled in from the IO 3 days previously, 2 days late of course, screwing up leave for those who took the early period. I opted for the 2nd period to get a longer leave, but got stuck with duty the first day in and on Christmas. As a junior Nuke, I was assigned to the Inport Emergency Team as the Assistant Scene Leader. What a tough job! All I had to do was show up with the flame-safety lamp and tell people where to drag hoses during our drill. Also, I "manned my broom" during Sweepers Call and signed for Condition Yoke. In Portsmouth, I was even doing that on 6 section duty. I really caught up on my sleep on duty days because I couldn't go in the plant in case I had to respond to an IET emergency. What a great deal!

Vacation Scams Department: Rx Author: peter Era: 1980 Date: 12/09/05 I had a great scam going for Christmas vacation. During Christmas time one could sign up for either of the vacation periods. I would sign up for one of the periods BUT NEVER TAKE VACATION. What happened is that when assigning watchstanders to sections and watches, the khaki would omit my name for the vacation period I had signed up for. Also Work Center Sups would not have work scheduled for me to do. Since, during Christmas time, the workdays were little more than a muster - I essentially got those days off, anyway - just had to muster daily! - no watch, no duty! Then I would take my vacation in the summer. It worked great.

RE: Ian Forbes Department: Engr Author: Scott Pfaff Era: 1989 Date: 12/09/05 Just to clear things up on the website - former MMCS Ian Forbes is in good health and still amongst the living. He currently resides in Maine and still slaves in the nuclear industry. How do I know?? He was my instructor at Ballston Spa and was my Watch Supervisor on IKE in the late 80's. Not to mention he's my brother-in-law. By the way - he still is about the most preppiest guy you've ever seen. Not sure if he still irons his t-shirts though.

hangin' around at Feed Control Department: Rx Author: Charlie Era: 1982 Date: 12/14/05 One thing we used to do to kill time on watch was to have a hanging contest. There was a small pipe in front of the Feed Station that we would hang from to see who could do it the longest (no swinging or changing grip allowed). John Graves was the champ. He could hang for about 2.5 minutes without moving. Another thing was to bang on the valves with tools to practice our drumming skills. That's why the handwheels at Feed Control are so dinged up, unless they've been replaced. Of course, the 501's were our shoot-the-shit place. When the khakis asked us to actually do some work on watch, we complained and acted like we were too busy monitoring our parameters! Yeah, right! We acted like it would kill us to lube 2 valves on watch, and then complain about being bored. But everyone knows that's just part of being a sailor.

Re: Ian Forbes Department: Rx Author: Mike Matthys Era: 1989 Date: 12/14/05 Scott -- Thanks for the info regarding Ian Forbes. That is certainly good news. MMCS Forbes was my chief when I was in RM-22. I saw that you were in engineering? What rate? We were on Ike at the same time. Please say hello to Ian for me, please. (Last name pronounced "Mathis")