Working hours Department: Rx Author: Charlie Era: 1983 Date: 08/15/06 I remember those long days in the plant.4&8's with workday, PMS, field day, GQ, and whatever else the khakis could dream up to keep us "busy". Even still I managed to hit the gym some, read a lot of good books, saw Animal House a go-zillion times, and hung out with a great bunch of guys. On the 83 Med, I got to see how the other half lived when I TAD'd to Safety. We had a 12 hour "workday" from 0700-1900. There was enough work in a typical week to last about 6 hours on average. The rest of the time I spent in the gym or hiding out in Rx Berthing or just wandering around aimlessly. I was supposed to stand 5 watches per quarter in the plant for proficiency, but I felt so damned guilty about my buds slaving away that I stood one a week instead. Since we only hit port twice after I transferred over, I really got rested up on that cruise. After the cruise, I went back to RM as a shift leader in the yard, so I couldn't even catch a quick nap on the top of the CTG. Somebody had to stay awake!

Newport News Department: Ops Author: Arch Era: 1985 Date: 08/15/06 Blues Brothers There were a lot of OS types that were near permanent fixtures at our apt. during the yards. Two of these characters were always riding around with sunglasses on regardless of the time of day, a la the Blues Brothers. They came up the stairs to our apt. late one night, and nobody was home. They made such a ruckus beating on our door, that the neighbor across the hall finally opened his door and told them to piss off. They drunkenly screamed back at him, sunglasses and all, and he retreated back into his apt. The next time I paid my rent down at the front office, the girl remarked, "Oh yeah, that neighbor of yours. That guy spent 27 years in the Air Force, and another 10 with Newport News Shipbuilding. He's quietly and happily retired. He told us to NEVER, EVER rent that apt. across from him to sailors again."

For Anyone On The Ike Today Department: Engr Author: MM2 Sol The Bull Era: 2006 Date: 08/15/06 If you are on the Ike and are able to get into Wardroom 1&2 on the forward 03 level, look in the overhead. In the forwardmost space on the starboard side there is a wooden box that holds all the recipies in the overhead. You will have to remove some of the ceiling tiles to get to it. See, one of the cooks kind of upset me one day so I hid his recipies. It sounds kind of stupid now, but it seemed like such a great idea at the time. I really have no idea if it is still there, I do know it was there in 2001. Who knows maybe a yard bird was working in that overhead during the yard period and found it. However, if you feel like going on a treasure hunt, you now have a verbal map. If you do find it please leave it where Supply will find it. I my apologies to the MS1 that to this day is still probably trying to figure out where he put that damn wooden box.

Just found site Department: Rx Author: Coondog Era: 1990 Date: 08/18/06 Hi all, I just found this site and I was on Ike from 1988 to 1992. The only name I really remember well is Mike Matthys. Hey Mike, I hope you remember me, I saw my nickname in your list of nicknames. And I remember a lot of your stories. As a matter of fact, I think one of them might have been about me. And of course I remember most of the guys you have mentioned. Mike, I hope you're doing well. And I have a story, too. One day during a big inspection, I think it was ORSE, someone had put one of those huge green glow in the dark tea-bags in the #2 Rx room bilge, the kind they use to find someone floating in the ocean from miles away, and you could see the bright green glow from the 2nd deck door to the Rx room. They tried like hell to find the culprit, but never did. The inspectors didn't think it was very funny. You might remember this, Mike. (And I'll give you one guess who did it). I couldn't wait to get the hell out, either, but there were some notable good times. Coondog

Hangar Bay Frolics Department: Engr Author: MM2 Sol The Bull Era: 2000 Date: 08/20/06 Jake, not only was there Ty-Bo in the hangar bay, but they also had those fake summo wrestling suits and a summo ring. People used to take turns putting on the suits and summo wrestle each other. Myself, I had to pass. I knew the seven layers of scum that covered my body after a workday on the IKE, and did not want 20 other peoples 7 layers of scum on me. (that would make 147 layers of scum.) It seems that MWR got a bunch of money somehow and spent a bunch of it on stupid stuff like that. I am sure there are other hangar bay activites that were just as bad, but I cannot remember exactly what they were. Maybe ABH1 can help my memory. I do remember a big inflatable playground in Hangar Bay 1 once, but I believe that was for a tiger cruise.

CoooooonDogggggg! Department: Rx Author: Mike Era: 1990 Date: 08/22/06 I think that's how Mark Fiocco used to say it. Coon Dog, how in the hell could I ever forget you??!! Good to see that you are still alive and kicking. What are you up to, now? I keep in touch with a few of the guys from our "era." I talk to Dave Zezula (Rack) about once every three months. He works for NOAA and is an officer (LT). He said his uniform looks just like the Navy's except for the shoulder boards. I told him I always knew he was a lifer. I also keep in touch with Bourgeois and I hear from Goble every once in awhile. Hard to believe that I have been out for almost 15 years. Anyhow, drop me a line and let me know what you are up to.

MMCS Ian Forbes Department: Rx Author: Dan Fuqua Era: 1990 Date: 08/23/06 Someone had said that MMCS Ian Forbes was discharged in '87, but he was still #2 plant LCPO, in March '90. I was the division short timer in March '90, and he was bragging that he might be discharged (for medical reasons) before I was.

Capt. Mackey Department: Rx Author: Fuke the Nuke Era: 1986 Date: 08/23/06 Anybody remember Captain Mackey, the C.O., (a real hard... at captain's mast) around 1985 to 1987? I heard that he had made O-9, by 1995, but that when he was about to retire, they took 2 stripes from him, for some comments he made about some girl that was attacked by some marine enlisted under his command.

Man Overboard Department: Air Author: Ed Siangco Era: 1983 Date: 08/24/06 I remember that guy mentioned on pages 51 and 63. In fact, I belive he was in Air Department, but I forgot his name. He was skinny, tall and looked like that guy who hangs out with Skooby Doo. I remember betting this same guy five bucks if he could drink a whole bottle of hot sauce on the mess deck and not drink water for five minutes after drinking the hot sauce. Needless to say, I won the bet!!!

Capt Mackey Department: Air Author: Ed Siangco Era: 1983 Date: 08/24/06 Capt Mackey was an ass!!! I was in HS-5, left for school, and returned to IKE in Air Department. One day while going through a compartment door, Capt. Mackey came through the same door and basically pushed me aside. Well, just before my PCS orders to leave the ship, I placed a cut out of a Cap,n Crunch cereal box cover over his picture outside the V-1 Department Office. I heard he's still an ass for making comments about a girl in Okinawa!!!