The Navy, and all branches of military.

[wavysteps2003]

Hi Catherine,

I did more than a few ascents for on top of the submarine training, I was also a qualified third class diver.

The SRA on the Roosevelt must have been just before she was decommissioned and after I had left for NSTPAC.

The USS Bang SS385 was a real sub, WW-II vintage and so was the USS Tirante SS 420. So, your Dad must know or even has a pin called the DBF (diesel boats forever). Still have mine, along with my Dolphins and Polaris patrol pin with six silver stars (actually did 31 patrols, but no room for the last one on the pin).

Never did serve on any targets (surface ships) and only went to sea on one when I observed a polaris firing from the "Cape".

Great memories and thanks again.

BJ

[Gabe]

Eventhough I have not yet served in the military, I have great respect to all Veterans who have served this nation. I have many family members who served in Vietnam, some served in aircraft carriers, and others fought in the frontlines against North Vietnam.

Some people unfortunately dont appreciate the sacrifices that all veterans and service members have gone through to save this country scores of times.

We must support our troops, no matter the battlefield and no matter the war. Because of the size and power of this nation, there will always be enemies waiting to harm us.

Each morning that I turn on the news, I thank God for the men and women who are currently sacrificing everything (some even making the ultimate sacrifice) for the good of this country, and I pray for all of the fallen heroes of this and past wars. If it was not for people like those who serve, the values and freedoms this country was founded on would have been stripped from this nation centuries ago.

THANK YOU ALL TO HAVE SERVED. GOD BLESS YOU, AND GOD BLESS THE USA.

[wavysteps2003]

THANKS GABE for your kind words. This is the time of year that is hardest for our servicemen, for being away from family and friends on any or even worse all of the upcoming Holidays is a sad thought. It is people like you though that help combat this sense of seperation on these days by saying the things that you did and I do wish that there were more in the United State that felt the same. way.

During the Nam War years, a lot of our servicemen were treated contempuosly for being in an "unjust" war and I was in that era. I also missed more than a few Holidays while on patrol underwater, but that is one of the sacrifices servicemen make for their country and the people in it. These sacrifices, however, are less burdensome when thoughts, like you expressed, are heard.

Again, thanks Gabe and have a great Thanksgiving.

BJ Neff

[Dick]

Gabe, BJ, Catherine, (the Navy brat), and all of the other "swabbies" who read this thread, I appreciate you ,who believe we are doing the right thing, even tho it costs us some of our loved ones. What makes me mad, is the gratitude some of our representatives have shown, including those "who did, before they didn't", for the efforts in Iraq. I speak to those who have never served, but enjoy the priveliges derived, from those who have. So many of them don't know what "bum dope" is, and can't understand that when one is MIS_INFORMED, and has to act on that information, it sometines comes out much different than intended. But we do what we have to do, and hope for the best. The only thing I, personally see done wrong in this issue, and in "Nam, was the way we "live by the code", and, (like the new way to derive intelligence from prisoners), instead of "getting to the point", and get the information, by whatever means necessary, to save our troops., and Nation! My position, do whatever it takes, every other country on Earth does, why not us???
Change of thought....I was never on, (in) a Submarine, and doubt that I could have "gotten in". I am too big, also, for the turrets, on aircraft. So I had to go where there was room! I flew seaplanes my whole career, including learning to fly, and make "bounce hops", just in case one, or more of the pilots became incapicated, some one could "get us home". ASW, Anti Submarine Warfare. Nothing like dropping a bumch of Sonobuoys, and use the "bird-dog", to find The Enemy", and drop a bunch of PDC's, then watch the sub, surface! We owe the "Silent Service" a huge debt, for, without them, how many of our comrades would have perished? Thanks, BJ, even if you were long after my time, thank you!
Dick

[Dick]

BJ, reading your posts with Catherine, brought back some of the memories of that era. You guys were checking the Russians thru the 'scope, and we had to"make a low pass", and "rig" the ship. You remember....Mast, Mast, funnel, Mast, kingpost, etc. Our only problem was that we have "lost an engine" on occasion, and during a "rigging run" is not the best time! That happened, and we had to set down, way north of Bo-koko, because the other engine lost power. No use mentioning the Chinese cop, and a Policeman, (badge, and all),that came alongside the after hatch, in a 50' motor-whale boat, with a .50 cal, mounted on the bow and said we had to get into the boat. They were going to "salvage our plane", and we had to get aboard the boat! Seeing the U.S.S. Boyd come into view , behind the brow of an island! CHINEE??, CHINEE?? Yes, I answered. They left much faster than they had arrived. The reason I was "talking" with them, was none on the crew spoke anything but Inglish. So I was elected. The Pilot asked me what did I ssay to them, that they left so fast? I said, see the ship coming? He said, yes, it is a DE, what about it? I said I told the "Pirates" it was Chinese! He said, "WHAT?" "WHY"? I told him I thought they were more afraid of what would happen to them if caught by the Chinese Gov't, than by our GOV'T! The Boyd towed us for 10 hours, to BO-KOKO, and we changed the engine in Mae-KOKO harbor. Never a dull monent!
Dick