Back at it today
But I saw something I wanted to post about. Having spent 8 months on ship during Desert Storm: aboard the Tarawa, the flag ship of our convoy over there, I can attest to what Matt is talking about. read the inserts,,,
I can tell you, an entire Platoon, stuffed into a steel box about the size of my current house, stacked three deep in ‘racks’ that are smaller than a coffin, cuddling with a rifle because there wasn’t enough space in the armory for our small arms (but they made sure we didn’t have easy acces to the ammo.) in a boat that is designed to ‘sink’ (flooding the cargo hold so the shore boats can come and go with all the trucks, howitzers and tanks that we were carrying)
Toss in 28′ seas off the coast of Malaysia with a bunch of land-lubber motion sick grunts,,,, UGH!!! (FTR, I never suffered motion sickness until just a few years back when kayaking in rough water. Caught me off gaurd seeing how I had never had that issue prior.)
8 months in exactly those conditions described by Matt. I think I STILL have bruises on my noggin’ from the hatchways.
One thing he didn’t describe was ‘Steel Beach Day’. this is a ‘liberty’ provided if the float extends past 6 months. You get TWO beers, and allowed to be in PT gear for the day. Thats it, and since things need to keep running, the ‘beach’ is only open for 4 hour shifts. (that four on, four off thing Matt talks about)
And the Card room is always chaos,, And avoid a session of Spades with the Nogs if you value your hearing. Those of y’uns that have been in know of what I speak. Call it racist if it makes you feel better, but I know the facts of that time. Segregation was a thing and for a reason. (and this was in the 90’s. It’s probably worse now after the Oblammy years.)
BUTZZZZ~~~~~~~~~~~
Its domestics day along with Engine Swap day, and things are about to get BIZZY!!! on my end. One more cuppa, and feed my wet kittehs (they were out playing all night and are a little damp from last nights rains) then Get At IT!
more laters
LLLLL!
(, ‘)
Dio's Workshop 
Good times. Let us not forget those chow lines, and keeping your hand on your tray during heavy seas. ya know i still miss some of that food. Perhaps i have never been quite right? chuckle!
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April 19, 2026 at 9:10 am
Going to add something else. We fondly called her the pig boat also the brokinawa. Uss OkinawaLph3 Helocopter landing ship. Was pretty cool back in the day. We even had Herrior jets on her right before the naval yards. They toasted the deck pretty good. Went through the Navy yards Aprox. 1983. Automated controlls added phalenx system, all the bells and whistles, then sank as a reef in 2002. Was suprised and a little dismayed at this considering the money and effort put into this ship.
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April 19, 2026 at 9:54 am
.USS Tarawas sister ship. Tarawa, last I heard was in SanFran being decommed, slated to join her sister at some point. Yeah, it ls funny how word like that hits.
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April 19, 2026 at 1:04 pm
Excellent poast! Dad was a Navy man – Pacific Navy in WWII. I heard a few from him about how crowded it was. That’s why I like hearing these kinda stories, I guess. But yer both ab-so-f***k’n-lootly correct from all I’ve heard from lotsa peeps that were in similar circumstances!
Much good wishes on yer domestic, and Twuck day!
L’s.
Y’all take care,
Mike in FLA.
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April 19, 2026 at 9:38 am
He said “spades with the nogs”. ha ha ha
I knew what that was like back in the 70’s. Some things never change, but can always get worse.
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April 19, 2026 at 9:46 am