USO Department: Air Author: Ed Siangco Era: 1983 Date: 08/24/06 Remember when we had a USO show while in the Med around 1983? Barbara Mendrell or her sisters were aboard. At the closing of the show they played "Proud to be an American". That was one of the best moments aboard IKE.

Department: AIMD Author: Jake Era: 1975 Date: 08/24/06 That was Barbara Mandrell and I remember Jimmy Stewart was aboard also But Mandrell was alot nicer to look at than Jimmy. I could be wrong my memory is a little hazy after 23 years,Stewart may have come aboard earlier in the cruise anyone else rermember?

Capt Mackey Department: AIMD Author: Jake Era: 1984 Date: 08/24/06 I was still aboard when Mackey took over but never had the pleasure "which was good!" I do remember when Clexton took over though befor he became CO The Ike Mall was just an adult book store, there was more screw mags down there, and all over the ship for that matter. Clexton was pretty religous so that explains that, I still think he was a good Captain though,I kind of thought he would be CNO one day. wonder what ever became of Ed? I agree with the guy that said there were more assholes at the div level than anywhere else Div Off, LCPO even some suckass first class trying to make chief,Ike definetly had its fair share of assholes that didn't have an eagle on his collar. Lifers, what are you gonna do.

Checkozlovakian website Department: Rx Author: Dan Fuqua Era: 2006 Date: 08/24/06 Check out this Checkoslovakian website of IKE COs http://letadlovelode.xhosting.cz/ike/kapitani_ike.html

Dick Department: Ops Author: Anonymous Era: 2006 Date: 08/25/06 Yep, Big Dick was a prick, and myself being a firm believer in Karma, what cums around went around. He did make that true - but politically uncorrect - comment about those Marines raping a 13 year old girl in Japan. That was his direct downfall. But there were a couple of indirect and not-so-highly-publicized reasons contributing to why he got demoted from 4 star to 2 star, both involving a female LT JAG officer. For one, adultery is against the UCMJ, and two, he was flying her across the country on the public dole regularly for their rendezvous. (No last name used as not to slander the innocent ... ).

Mini Air Boss Dow Department: Air Author: Ed Siangco Era: 1983 Date: 08/28/06 Does anyone know where Mini Air Boss Dow went after leaving IKE? I know he made Captain just before I left the IKE. He was a cool officer.

Leaving the Navy, Part Deux Department: Ops Author: Ron Eureka Era: 1989 Date: 08/31/06 That DonHenley tune just made me look up my previous IkeBites.com post, because October 3 marks my 17th year out. I didn't mention that I had a young wife, along with a 3 month old daughter, & no job when I got out. I had a 10 hour drive ahead of me with everything I owned in a U-Haul, behind which I would be towing a '79 Pinto (hey, it was free). The wife and baby followed in an '86 Charger that had a temperamental computer. I had 1/3 of my attention on my rear view mirror the whole time, esp. through the rush hour Capitol Beltway traffic. I was feeling a lot of pressure overall, but was also strangely calm ... one step at a time. We arrived in rural NE Ohio at 01:30. My daughter was put to bed in an empty dresser drawer on the floor fitted with soft towels. The crib would have to wait until morning. I slept right on a bedroom floor, exhausted. That 3 month old girl is now a 17 year old senior with her own car (yeah, dad's a sucker). Man, does time move on.

Captains and XOs Department: Rx Author: Flounder Era: 1984 Date: 09/02/06 That's really weird...a Czech website listing the COs of the Ikeatraz... Clexton, aside from getting rid of the porn, IMHO was not that bad a guy...at least he wouldn't push guys aside just because they were lowly blueshirt scum. Sometimes he took a genuine interest in what we did for a living on there. He even deigned to answer our questions on WIKE-TV every once in a while. His XO, George D. O'Brien, however, WAS a turd. He followed me to the Vinson, where he showed up one day as CO and proceeded to make life even worse for everyone on board. Even the Navy knew he was a loser; he retired off the Chuck-boat when it was made clear to him that he would not be given flag rank.

For Ron Eureka Department: Rx Author: Flounder Era: 1985 Date: 09/02/06 Hi Ron, Our very own Brother Wags and the Lost Sheep Band all live and play in the area around Geneva, OH...bit of a drive toward the NE for you, but well worth it! I had the privilege of meeting all the guys in the band, plus several of the other fine people of NE Ohio...had a great time there with Wags and his family; even got roped into judging a children's photo contest in a library in Lucas, OH - hey, I just stopped to ask directions! It was a lot of fun driving across the country this summer. Now I'm back out at sea, on my ship down here in the southern Caribbean. Will be home in FL in December, then back to school in Eugene, OR in January.

Hey Flounder Department: Ops Author: Ron Eureka Era: 2006 Date: 09/04/06 I did get your e-mail via Peter, just didn't get around to replying yet. Summer "ended" here in typical Cleveland fashion - we went from an average daytime temp of 84 to 64 in about, oh, two days ;-) Another two weeks and the snow will be flying (just kidding, the earliest it snows up here is Halloween, and that's pretty rare). Spring and Fall truly seem shorter every year here. It must be great having internet access afloat. During the Caribbean cruise in '86, I got to make a MARS phone call to the wife, that was pretty kewl, although I felt a bit embarrassed shooting the breeze with her when guys who really needed to talk to home were waiting in line behind me. I'm curious about that "sea going life for me" you've mentioned - I take it you are Merchant Marine ? Or on a commercial freighter ? I'll reply to you and you can fill me in. I was hooked on that one cable show "The Most Dangerous Catch", about the Artic Snow Crab fishermen, can't wait for the next season.