Department: AIMD Author: JAKE Era: 1981 Date: 01/19/07 I find it hard to believe that the Navy would put all that money and time into the Ike omnly to mothball it I think what you saw was a misprint they probably meant to say the Independence good riddance too, she was always late relieving us anyway!

I stand corrected Department: Medical Author: Bob Era: 1983 Date: 01/20/07 I stand corrected, after I went back and researched my info, it was Kitty Hawk, Enterprise and Carl Vinson that were on he chopping block for decommissioning. Kitty Hawk will be replaced by George Washington and Enterprise and Carl Vinson escaped the axe because that would not leave enough carriers for the whole fleet. I can understand Kitty Hawk (the poor old girl is up their in years) and Enterprise (she is up there too) but Carl Vinson????? Could Ike's sister ship be in that bad shape to even be considered for decommissioning??? I know that IKE will be around for a long time to come and I hope that those sailors that serve on her now share their stories. I know I would love to hear about their adventures (good or bad). Keep up the good work, reading these stories brings back lots of memories.

NoNo for Chuckie V Department: Rx Author: Mark Era: 2007 Date: 01/21/07 Bob, I read the report you quoted regarding the Carl Vinson being considered for decommissioning. When that report was generated CVN-70 was on deployment with subsequent homeport change for her mid-life Refueling Complex Overhaul (RCOH). Her consideration for possible decommissioning at that time would have saved ~ $3B in funds. The downside of that move would have seriously disrupted the industrial base at Northrop Grumman Newport News Shipyard to the point of laying off many skilled workers with no real plans for their return. But fret not...Chuckie V is knee-deep in her RCOH & scheduled for completion in 2008 just in time for another 20+ years in service.

Ikeatraz and the Chuck-boat?? Department: Rx Author: Flounder Era: 2007 Date: 01/30/07 It's bad enough that over half the merchant ships I've worked on have been cut up into scrap for no good reason...but to think that BOTH the carriers I sailed on were on the chopping block...no matter how much I hated them at the time (but the worst part, as we all know, was not the ship but some of the people - but I digress), I hope they both survive at least until I retire. Then maybe someone will turn them into museums, and we can all go around like those old WWII guys, pointing out where we lived and worked to unbelieving grandchildren...

Away the morale suppression team Department: Ops Author: Ron Eureka Era: 1987 Date: 02/01/07 The bumper sticker on the Ike Bites home page containing the phrase "Our screws may stop but the shafts never do" always cracks me up, and just reminded me of this - One day inport Norfolk, an airdale I knew who worked with the arresting gear told me it was looking like a good day to break down to duty section early, there was really nothing to do. Instead, the decision came down to send the idle men over to another carrier to repack shims, which he said was a really nasty, greasy job. Like he said that day, "Ike, the savior of the fleet ... ". Man, could the Ike khaki "away the morale suppression team" or what ?!

For ABH3 Man Overboard Department: Air Author: ABH1 Era: 1997 Date: 02/02/07 I do you remember the camera crews were on board to film a movie of the IKE picking that guy up. We were up there forever and one of our guys an ABH got to yell man-over- board for it. Bull and I talked about it but its back in the early pages somewhere. All they needed was man over board and everybody running to there stations. Then they were gone. I remember pulling into St.Thomas and a new guy came back so drunk and the seas were so ruff he couldn't jump to the tire from the libety boat fell between and got his leg so badley broken they had to send him home!ABHAN Narango threw up on ABH1 Wallaces feet at the Green Bar. Good port call. Shame to hear about the shitty Kitty she has been out there awhile.At least we're finding out about it before they sink it! Unlike the America. There is no way that ship should of ever been used as a reef! It the USS AMERICA for christ sakes. If ANY SHIP SHOULD BE KEPT AS MUSEUM IT SHOULD BE OUR NAME SAKE!

RP/RM Department: Rx Author: Guns Era: 2007 Date: 02/06/07 After doing over 4 years on the iron bitch, finally off FOREVER! But I digress... Bisonhead: RM Division has the MM's that work in the RAR (Reactor side of the engine rooms). RP Division has the MM's that work in the MMR (non-Reactor side of the engine rooms). Sol the Bull: Eng and RX are still separate departments, and I hadn't heard any rumors of them being put together when I left in mid-January. Just a few things to bring up that might interest y'all. -As far as I know, the air wing is still completely useless during GQ drills. However, they are great targets during Security Alert drills. The look on some airman's face is priceless when he gets laid out by security for walking while they're announcing to "stand fast". -They still do Bingo on Ike TV, 3 games on 1 night each week. Top prize was something like $750 for the blackout game. -National Geographic came onboard to film flight ops before we went underway: http://shopngvideos.com/products/super_carrier_3

In the overhead..... Department: COM Author: Shawn "Doc" Willett Era: 1992 Date: 02/06/07 I was on my way back to berthing after another 12hrs in the shack. I'm just about to start down the ladder to my space when I hear some muffled voice.'Lo and behold there's a young nuc "hanging out" in the overhead. Now really fellas..How do ya keep a straight face when you find a new jack adhered with enough EB red to patch an 8" hole on the fire main? While I may have not made it through nuc school, I knew enough to know that the glowworms had initiated their bootcamp. God, I'm LMFAO now still! Well, considering myself part nuc, it wasn't my duty to free the guy.So when the fellas in my compartment asked what the hell was so funny, I told them to take a walk up to 03 level. If they made the right towards the shack, they went too far. This poor bastard was getting it from some 15 or 20 RM'S. We were all laughin' our asses off. After one of the RM1'S came in and asked the big ? he went and saw the dude up in the overhead. It was he who ended up helping the kid out of his predicament.

Thanks Department: Rx Author: Bison Head Era: 1984 Date: 02/07/07 Thanks Guns for the Info. The story of the guy taped to the ceiling was good to read. Glad to to know some nubs still get initiated. Why were nukes on the 03 level? We never went above the hangar bays in the old days unless you were going up to vultures row to watch flight ops and catch a glimpse of sunlight.

No unemployment for you Department: Ops Author: Ron Eureka Era: 1989 Date: 02/13/07 One of the first things I did after I separated was to check into unemployment benefits here in Ohio. I was told that since I had "quit my job" by not re-enlisting in the military, I was not eligible. I was immediately pretty perturbed, and angrily pressed further ... why ? I had served my country, not to mention honorably. I did not quit, but my contract had expired and I chose not renew it. My home of record was Ohio, and they had received taxes on my income for the last 5 years. The woman dug a bit deeper into her files and stated that I was indeed eligible for unemployment, but after like 8-13 weeks. In a mixed blessing, I was hired full time 3 weeks after separating. It still smokes me, though.