Ike Gala Department: Rx Author: charlie Era: 1983 Date: 01/27/05 The pictures of the Ike Gala brought back some great memories. It was in Jan, 1984, because we were already in Portsmouth on shift work. I remember the Noodle Gang assembling at Noodle Central in Va Beach for pre-Gala festivities. We were well on our way when we arrived at the Gala decked out in our mismatched Goodwill suits and Hawaiian shirts. It was the ultimate party. We even went to Captain Clexton's table to embarrass Bill Shroyer, who was Sailor of the Year. Then, unfortunately, I had to gather my crew together to work the mid shift. IB. The ride there was memorable, but that's another story.

Brig Rats Department: Rx Author: Peter Era: 1983 Date: 01/27/05 On IKE, you could go to the MAA office and get "slave labor" for the day. These were Brig rats and sailors who had been "awarded" extra duty. We would have loved for them to come down to the plants and help us with our endless chipping/painting. But engineering spaces were considered too inhuman an environment for these guys... of course, we spent 12-16 hrs. a day down there. But we were able to use them in other spaces. For instance, once, I had one guy come paint an access trunk for us. I think this guy, an E-2, taught me one of my more powerful lessons in the Navy. Even though he was being punished, he was cheerful and conscientious about his work! - That one incident brought home to me that even though sailors are constantly stabbed in the back, shit on, and forced to work long hours for little reward - they demonstrate an incredible resiliency and "can do" performance. ...That describes most of them... I, however, was one of the .01% lazy, gundecking, sleazebags who expended more effort avoiding work than I would have just doing my job.

"Whatever became of...?" Department: Medical Author: John Era: 1982 Date: 01/27/05 Whatever became of Cap't Clexton? I know he made Rear Admiral, but does anyone know if he is still alive? John

After the Gala Department: Rx Author: Charlie Era: 1984 Date: 01/28/05 When the Noodle Gang went to the Ike Gala, we took 2 cars. Well, one belonged to Pete Ryan. Problem was, Pete was a PPWS and didn't have to go to work that night like the rest of us. So we crammed 7 of us into Wags's 76 Malibu. Luckily, nobody puked on this trip, since the Norfolk Scope was just across the river from the shipyard and was a short ride. It had rained a lot that day, so the parking lot was flooded big time. Wags decided to go for it, so he gunned it and hit the parking lot at a pretty good clip. Not a good idea. The car stalled in about 3 feet deep water. Before anybody could stop him, Cal opened the door and water came gushing in. We piled out and pushed the car to a dry spot, where it took a good while to dry out. When we showed up at the quarterdeck all drunk and wet and laughing hysterically in our Goodwill suits, little did the Quarterdeck watch know he was looking at over half of the oncoming shift Mechanics, including me, their illustrious leader.

athletic events Department: Rx Author: charlie Era: 1981 Date: 01/28/05 In 81 during a kegger, we decided to play football. Tim Hallman broke BDB's leg that day. Naples in 82, we decided to play softball at the NATO base. We were farting around among ourselves when the IKE softball team challenged us. We lost big time and LT McKinney and T-Bear both broke their legs. My favorite was the 1983 Flight Deck Special Olympics. It came down to Rx vs MARDET in the tug of war and we kicked their butts. Pete Ryan, Don Vaughan, LT Sanders and I went on WIKE-TV to get the trophies from Capt Clexton. When the CO asked if the Marines were a challenge, Pete piped up and said, "They're a bunch of wimps!"

Drunk Reactor Startups Department: Rx Author: Peter Era: 1982 Date: 01/28/05 Most of the time I participated in in-port startups, I was either blind drunk or severely hungover. Usually, there were enough watchstanders who were sober to make the startup relatively smooth. One time, however, all of the mechanics on a startup were completely trashed. What's worse is that it was on a Tiger cruise. - so imagine how the dependents felt when someone announced it was time to start #2 Reactor and 7 drunks stumble up the ladder off to the plant... If you've ever had to sober up on watch, the worst possible place is Feed Control, which is what I had. I parked my ass on MFV-501A and just let the building temperature of the RAR compound my headache. Usually you could count on a visit from CTGUL or RAW during a watch - but those bastards just sat under their air ducts and left me alone in my misery... PS.. to the guy inquiring after Ed Clexton - I saw him at IKE's 25th anniversary party in 2002. I talked to him but was too drunk to remember much of what was said.

Getting Stoned on IKE Department: Rx Author: Peter Era: 1980 Date: 02/01/05 There were several great places to get stoned on IKE. The sponsons and the BPDMS launcher were great - but probably the safest place was inside the Reactor Compartment. There was plenty of ventilation and you could listen in when the Rx Compartment watch announced who was entering the RC - gave you plenty of time to hide the evidence and get back to work. I knew one person who actually hid his stash in the RC - incredibly stupid... all that pot got irradiated and who knows what the physiological manifestations would have been from smoking it?? But most of us were responsible about it and merely brought a joint in there to smoke. In 1980, the going rate for a gram of hash was $7 but during the 9 month IO cruise it hit $80/gram. And for a period of time, the mural on the foc'sl had a marijauna leaf hidden in it.

Shady Acres Department: Rx Author: charlie Era: 1981 Date: 02/01/05 After the IO, a bunch of us moved into a really scummy trailer park called the Chesapeake Trailer Park. We affectionately called it "Shady Acres." I lived in a trailer with Robbie and Geek; Wags, PeteR, Cal, And Rock-n-roll Ed Hammond had one; PJ, Major Mike, and Bobo had one , and even the UN-Noodles, Bernie, Harry, and Joe lived there.There was always something going on with such a cluster of characters, but our last night there stands out. We had about 20 people crammed into Wags and friends trailer having a blast when one side of the foundation collapsed. The trailer was at a huge slant, but we kept the party going. After observing the mailbox was the only normal sight left, I proceeded to pull it out of the ground and do my best Pete Townsend imitation with it. I smashed it to smithereens.Our landlord, who we called Mr. Haney, was very displeased to say the least. I bet he had it rented out again the next week, though.

Shady Acres Department: Rx Author: Peter Era: 1981 Date: 02/01/05 I remember that trailer - didn't they live there for quite some time in that condition? Normal trailers have a set of steps leading to the front door. On this trailer, due to it's angle, after you reached the top step you had to either leap up or down to get into the trailer. Also didn't you guys have barbques in the kitchen sink? - just fill the sink with charcoal and use a shelf out of the oven. Then to get rid of the charcoal, turn on the garbage disposal.

"Those dopers were very resourceful" Department: Medical Author: J. Era: 1982 Date: 02/01/05 Not being a doper myself (never have touched that stuff)I was always amazed at how resourceful the dopers onboard IKE were during my tour of duty aboard that great ship. I recall being ported in Morocco (1982 Med cruise?)...one day we opened up one of the large first Aid boxes---the large silver ones strategically located throughout the ship---and it was packed full with Hashish. Ive always wondered how that stuff got onboard. Yes, I may have been a little naieve back then, but that was a serious crime; they were really starting to get serious about drugs in the Navy at that time. J.