Prize Crew Department: Rx Author: Peter Era: 1984 Date: 06/06/06 When I was on IKE, I was assigned a member of the Prize Crew. Presumably, if called upon, they would have given us some sort of side arms and sent us over to the captured vessel. Not sure what I would have done with a pistol as the only firearms training I had in the Navy was renting archery sets from Special Services. We would start out first by shooting arrows at each other (not full-draw) and batting the arrows away before they would hit us. We then moved on to shooting arrows straight up as high as possible and then scattering so as not to be struck. Being drunk made this exercise all the more entertaining. But like I said, not sure how this "training" would have prepared me to comandeer an enemy vessel.

Nuke Security Department: Rx Author: Charlie Era: 1981 Date: 06/06/06 I'm not sure if this is still safeguarded information, but I got assigned to the "Plant Intruder Team" once. If an intruder got in the plant, the designated Nuke went in with a nightstick to flush out the bad guys while Gunner's Mates waited at the access to blast them with a 12 guage. I guess they didn't want any shooting going on, as if a terrorist or enemy combatant wouldn't be armed to the teeth. Why are Nukes pulling Security? Are all the Marines in Iraq or something?

Normandy Department: AIMD Author: Jake Era: 1984 Date: 06/06/06 Today being the anniversary of D-Day made me remember our trip over to Normandy for the 40th anniversary.How many of you guys out there remember having to stand on the flight deck spelling out IKE anticipating the arrival of president Reagan and he never landed on the ship, he addressed us flying over head,Margaret Thatcher was with him also.Portsmouth was a great liberty visit,but when we hit Normandy three days later it really sucked, I couldnt help but think man 40 years ago these French assholes were kissing our asses now they don't want us around oh well I guess some things will never change.There is a web posting of Reagan's speech to us I'll have to find out where I seen it and pass it along to anyone interested.

D-Day 1984 Department: Rx Author: Charlie Era: 1984 Date: 06/06/06 I remember that cruise well. It was my last time in Europe. We went to Lisbon, Portsmouth, and Brest. Since I had recently been demoted to MM2, I was only allowed one overnighter, so I saved it for a trip to London. Cal,PJ and PeteW were out by then, so the Noodles were depleted, but still managed to have lots of fun in the Gut and London and Portsmouth. We were all drinking and shooting English pool when the Queen's motorcade came by. All decked out in a Hawaiian shirt, I raised my pint in salute, but she was looking the other way. We had to field day the plants out in the Channel because Reagan and the Queen were supposedly coming on board, but beamed down a message instead. In Brest, I had to drunkenly defend American honor against a bunch of obnoxious Frenchmen and women. That was a most memorable cruise and a good way to go out.

Reagans Speech Department: AIMD Author: Jake Era: 1984 Date: 06/06/06 The web site for anyone interested is www.reagan.utexas.edu/archives/speeches/1984/60684e.htm

Marine security Department: Engr Author: MM2 Sol The Bull Dupler Era: 1996 Date: 06/06/06 There were no marines onboard for both of my cruises and the entire 5 years I was on the IKE. The story, oh sorry, I mean the scuttlebut was that they were causing too many problems and not solving enough. Then a CO said he did not need them to escort him around (I think that was Capt. Brown) and told them to get off his ship. The 5 star bulliten did a story about it, and like all stories in all Navy newspapers it was all sunshine and lollypops. They expalined the change by saying that by taking sailors T.A.D. from depts. on IKE they would know the hidding spots and the bad sailors" It turned into the dirtbags and the people that loved power trips being sent T.A.D. to security. In the meantime the rest of the depts. lost workers. This got worse when you had to send people tad to laundry as well. It was like depts. were seeing how many TAD people they could get.

IKE and TAD Department: Engr Author: MM2 "Sol THe Bull" Dupler Era: 1996 Date: 06/07/06 I had never been on a ship before going to the IKE, and I kind of doubted people when they talked about how bad it was until.... My division had to send 2 people to work in the laundry in addition to 3 people to the messdecks, 1 to security, 1 to MWR, and 1 to LSC. When we sent these 2 people to the laundry the laundry still had to send 1 or 2 of their below E-4s TAD to the messdecks. This made no sense to me, so I asked around about it. No one had an answer for me. So one day the CMC walked past me and asked how everything was, I am sure he was expecting the normal "Great Master Cheif!" that everyone else would offer. Instead I said "I am having a hard time understanding why we are sending people TAD to laundry just to have them send their people TAD to the messdecks." He told me that he would look into the matter, and a while later he told me that it was because "It was the only fair way to do it" I still stop in a haze when I think about that.

soapy saltines Department: Ops Author: Ron Eureka Era: 1985 Date: 06/08/06 I was enjoying some Cheezits in the shop one day, a rare find at the Ike 7-11 store. After eating a few handfuls, I thought they tasted kinda funny - a bit soapy. I remarked this to another guy in the shop, and he goes, "Yeah, a guy in the 7-11 told me that a pallet of soap was on the flight deck next to the pallet of Cheezits - and it was raining real hard. The boxes of soap foamed up and got all over the place." I guess I got the residue on the outside of the box on my hands, and it flavored my snacks that day. I think I ate them anyway.

gimme some water Department: Ops Author: Ron Eureka Era: 1985 Date: 06/08/06 I was standing in berthing one day, taking a long draught from a drinking fountain. As I was drinking, they came over the 1MC and announced, "Do not drink any potable water aft of frame 200 until further notice." I looked up, and berthing began at like frame 208. Burp.

Navy rumours - myth or fact ? Department: Ops Author: Ron Eureka Era: 1986 Date: 06/08/06 I heard a few rumours in my time like: - Military members could not be held responsible for their actions approximately 1 minute after being suddenly woken up. - Military members were only guaranteed 1 hour of sleep per night. - Military members could get an early discharge by buying back their remaining time on their active duty contract. - A Navy CPO cannot be busted in rank except by Congress. (I'm gonna say 'bunk!' on this one). - Drinking water and JP5 were stored in the same tanks on Ike - they could be accomodated due to different specific gravities. I wish I could remember the few others, but hopefully they will come to me. Anybody have any input on the above or others ?