I don’t have a lot of pictures from my Navy days. You would think over a twenty year career I would have a great deal more but that time was before cell phones and everyone taking selfies. Selfies wasn’t even a term back then, the closest thing would have been selfish. But there were times when I had a camera or someone else did and a few snapshots were taken. There were also “rules” about photography on board the ship. You weren’t supposed to photograph certain areas and machinery, and generally speaking that was observed.
I ran across this photograph this morning and thought to write about that. I have to really think about it, where I was and who I was with. The ship would have been the USS Yellowstone AD- 41. I was a member of the commissioning crew for that vessel. It was built in Vallejo, California. Where we were when the picture was taken I can’t say for certain. I can tell you we are in the machine shop for the Auxiliary department. I was assigned to that division and my workspace was the after steering room. I don’t have a picture of that. Today, that ship rests in the inactive ship maintenance facility, having been decommissioned in 1996.
I was looking at that picture and straining to remember the names. As is the custom in the service last names are what we generally use. Just like in civilian life some will get a nickname that everyone recognizes and others will just remain with that last name, often mispronounced. My name was often said as “rightguard” like the deodorant. A term of endearment or a not so subtle jab. Well, it was also a time when we weren’t “sensitive” “inclusive” and living with an an awareness. Yeah, you could get your feelings hurt.
After some time I did remember their names. Back row, left to right is Hoffman and Brown. Front row, Williams, Smith and Dillenger. Some I remember more vividly than others. Brown I called Willie and he was from Texas. He was friend and I have a Christmas tree ornament he made that still goes on my tree. Smith I remember because he was constantly trying to get time off, his grandparents died, a lot. And dillenger, he rode a motorcycle , drank way too much, and in trouble most of the time. I do wonder what became of them. As I said Willie came from Texas but I have no idea about the others.
I remember Willies’ plan was to get out and move back to Texas. He had plans to buy a tool shed to live in on his grandparents property. His big plan was to sell marijuana. He told me, he knew people. What any of the others had planned I couldn’t say. I was on my second enlistment at that time and so was considered a lifer. A second class petty officer I was their superior. I chuckle about that these days but I did give them all work assignments and such. A second class petty officer is middle management, a little authority but not all the responsibility. Some say it is the best position to be in. I went on to become a first class petty officer before retiring. I did take and pass the Chiefs exam five times but was never selected. I’m fine with that, I’m not really chief material. I just never took the Navy that seriously. It was an adventure, just like the ad said it would be.
Well, I wish a fair wind and a following sea to all those I served alongside. The numbers would be in the hundreds, if not thousands. I see faces without names, I hear occasional conversations and remember certain events. That time in my life is just a memory now. It’s rather an amazing thing if you really think about it. I do wish I had more pictures of things. At the time though it was just everyday stuff, nothing to see here. It’s like the town were you grow up, it has its’ attractions but you probably never went to them. They were, always there. Twenty years seemed like a lifetime back then but now it just seems like a little while, a distant memory. A time somewhere over the horizon.
We were all Machinist Mates. Snipes they called us and we ruled the ship! At least we thought we did. We were all in out twenties then, today we would all be in our seventies! I have doubts that Dillenger made it.
An aging man living in a confusing world. I was born and raised in East Hampton, yes “the Hamptons” but not rich, not famous and definitely not woke. These are my thoughts, my memories and my opinions. Just the stuff of the regular Joe.
I don’t have a lot of pictures from my Navy days. You would think over a twenty year career I would have a great deal more but that time was before cell phones and everyone taking selfies. Selfies wasn’t even a term back then, the closest thing would have been selfish. But there were times when I had a camera or someone else did and a few snapshots were taken. There were also “rules” about photography on board the ship. You weren’t supposed to photograph certain areas and machinery, and generally speaking that was observed.
I ran across this photograph this morning and thought to write about that. I have to really think about it, where I was and who I was with. The ship would have been the USS Yellowstone AD- 41. I was a member of the commissioning crew for that vessel. It was built in Vallejo, California. Where we were when the picture was taken I can’t say for certain. I can tell you we are in the machine shop for the Auxiliary department. I was assigned to that division and my workspace was the after steering room. I don’t have a picture of that. Today, that ship rests in the inactive ship maintenance facility, having been decommissioned in 1996.
I was looking at that picture and straining to remember the names. As is the custom in the service last names are what we generally use. Just like in civilian life some will get a nickname that everyone recognizes and others will just remain with that last name, often mispronounced. My name was often said as “rightguard” like the deodorant. A term of endearment or a not so subtle jab. Well, it was also a time when we weren’t “sensitive” “inclusive” and living with an an awareness. Yeah, you could get your feelings hurt.
After some time I did remember their names. Back row, left to right is Hoffman and Brown. Front row, Williams, Smith and Dillenger. Some I remember more vividly than others. Brown I called Willie and he was from Texas. He was friend and I have a Christmas tree ornament he made that still goes on my tree. Smith I remember because he was constantly trying to get time off, his grandparents died, a lot. And dillenger, he rode a motorcycle , drank way too much, and in trouble most of the time. I do wonder what became of them. As I said Willie came from Texas but I have no idea about the others.
I remember Willies’ plan was to get out and move back to Texas. He had plans to buy a tool shed to live in on his grandparents property. His big plan was to sell marijuana. He told me, he knew people. What any of the others had planned I couldn’t say. I was on my second enlistment at that time and so was considered a lifer. A second class petty officer I was their superior. I chuckle about that these days but I did give them all work assignments and such. A second class petty officer is middle management, a little authority but not all the responsibility. Some say it is the best position to be in. I went on to become a first class petty officer before retiring. I did take and pass the Chiefs exam five times but was never selected. I’m fine with that, I’m not really chief material. I just never took the Navy that seriously. It was an adventure, just like the ad said it would be.
Well, I wish a fair wind and a following sea to all those I served alongside. The numbers would be in the hundreds, if not thousands. I see faces without names, I hear occasional conversations and remember certain events. That time in my life is just a memory now. It’s rather an amazing thing if you really think about it. I do wish I had more pictures of things. At the time though it was just everyday stuff, nothing to see here. It’s like the town were you grow up, it has its’ attractions but you probably never went to them. They were, always there. Twenty years seemed like a lifetime back then but now it just seems like a little while, a distant memory. A time somewhere over the horizon.
We were all Machinist Mates. Snipes they called us and we ruled the ship! At least we thought we did. We were all in out twenties then, today we would all be in our seventies! I have doubts that Dillenger made it.
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I don’t have a lot of pictures from my Navy days. You would think over a twenty year career I would have a great deal more but that time was before cell phones and everyone taking selfies. Selfies wasn’t even a term back then, the closest thing would have been selfish. But there were times when I had a camera or someone else did and a few snapshots were taken. There were also “rules” about photography on board the ship. You weren’t supposed to photograph certain areas and machinery, and generally speaking that was observed.
I ran across this photograph this morning and thought to write about that. I have to really think about it, where I was and who I was with. The ship would have been the USS Yellowstone AD- 41. I was a member of the commissioning crew for that vessel. It was built in Vallejo, California. Where we were when the picture was taken I can’t say for certain. I can tell you we are in the machine shop for the Auxiliary department. I was assigned to that division and my workspace was the after steering room. I don’t have a picture of that. Today, that ship rests in the inactive ship maintenance facility, having been decommissioned in 1996.
I was looking at that picture and straining to remember the names. As is the custom in the service last names are what we generally use. Just like in civilian life some will get a nickname that everyone recognizes and others will just remain with that last name, often mispronounced. My name was often said as “rightguard” like the deodorant. A term of endearment or a not so subtle jab. Well, it was also a time when we weren’t “sensitive” “inclusive” and living with an an awareness. Yeah, you could get your feelings hurt.
After some time I did remember their names. Back row, left to right is Hoffman and Brown. Front row, Williams, Smith and Dillenger. Some I remember more vividly than others. Brown I called Willie and he was from Texas. He was friend and I have a Christmas tree ornament he made that still goes on my tree. Smith I remember because he was constantly trying to get time off, his grandparents died, a lot. And dillenger, he rode a motorcycle , drank way too much, and in trouble most of the time. I do wonder what became of them. As I said Willie came from Texas but I have no idea about the others.
I remember Willies’ plan was to get out and move back to Texas. He had plans to buy a tool shed to live in on his grandparents property. His big plan was to sell marijuana. He told me, he knew people. What any of the others had planned I couldn’t say. I was on my second enlistment at that time and so was considered a lifer. A second class petty officer I was their superior. I chuckle about that these days but I did give them all work assignments and such. A second class petty officer is middle management, a little authority but not all the responsibility. Some say it is the best position to be in. I went on to become a first class petty officer before retiring. I did take and pass the Chiefs exam five times but was never selected. I’m fine with that, I’m not really chief material. I just never took the Navy that seriously. It was an adventure, just like the ad said it would be.
Well, I wish a fair wind and a following sea to all those I served alongside. The numbers would be in the hundreds, if not thousands. I see faces without names, I hear occasional conversations and remember certain events. That time in my life is just a memory now. It’s rather an amazing thing if you really think about it. I do wish I had more pictures of things. At the time though it was just everyday stuff, nothing to see here. It’s like the town were you grow up, it has its’ attractions but you probably never went to them. They were, always there. Twenty years seemed like a lifetime back then but now it just seems like a little while, a distant memory. A time somewhere over the horizon.
We were all Machinist Mates. Snipes they called us and we ruled the ship! At least we thought we did. We were all in out twenties then, today we would all be in our seventies! I have doubts that Dillenger made it.
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