I made three WESTPAC cruises (cruise 1, cruise 2, cruise 3) with CVW-2 on board USS Ranger, CVA-61. All carriers involved in operations off Vietnam were attached to Task Force 77 and affectionately known as the Tonkin Gulf Yacht Club.

My MOS was AMH (airframes mechanic hydraulics) and I made E-5 in 1968. As an AMH-2, I was assigned to the airframes shop and was a flight deck troubleshooter for catapult launches and recoveries of our squadron's aircraft, the Douglas A-3 'Skywarrior', also known as the 'whale.' I was also an 'unofficial' aircrewman. I attended sea survival and rescue school and flew on combat missions from the carrier but was never officially authorized a/c wings. As aircrewman, I operated radios and radar and was available for troubleshooting of the refueling hose reel during flights.

I always enjoyed flying and would get into anything with wings if allowed. Some didn't have wings as I got a couple of hops on helos. When I first got to Alameda, I rode in the back seat of an A-1 'skyraider' as the A-3s hadn't arrived yet. I trapped aboard ship in a E-1 'Cod' and made many launches and recoveries in whales.

After making an extensive repair to an aircraft, especially flight control surface hydraulics, I was always pleased when the pilot would complete his walkaround and ask, "Is it ready to fly?" After my obligatory, "yes sir," he would say, "Would you fly in it?" My reply was, "Just let me get my flight gear," and I was strapped in.

Ports of call over the years included Pearl Harbor; Yokuska, Japan; Sasebo, Japan; Hong Kong; Subic Bay, Philippines; Manila, Philippines; Atsugi, Japan; Cubi Pt. NAS; Crows Landing (NAS ?) Calif.; Fallon, Nevada bombing range; Barbers Pt. NAS, Oahu, Hawaii; Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaii; Kowloon and some more I've probably forgotten.

Flight deck work, especially at night, was always a heads up proposition. As a troubleshooter, one of our tasks after a recovery was to retorque the tail hook bolt on the 'whale.' I always hated lead-footed phantom drivers that could blow you away when heading for a parking spot. Thank God for those many little tie down stars that saved me from going over the side in the middle of the night. They sure made good hand holds!

One notable event occurred in early 1968 as we finished an on-line period (30+ days) at Yankee Station (North Vietnam). We headed for port somewhere, assumed to be Subic Bay, PI, but three days later there was no land in sight. The next morning I went up on the flight deck (my favorite place, being a flatlander from Kansas) and observed about 29 ships from horizon to horizon. These included destroyers, cruisers, supply ships of all sorts, and at least one other carrier. It was apparent that something was up. We finally got an official announcement that the USS Pueblo had been seized by North Korea and things were heating up. We proceeded north to the Sea of Japan. Needless to say, it was quite a shock to go from the tropical heat of the Tonkin Gulf to the winter cold of this area. We spent 30+ days there on ready alert enduring 60 below zero wind chills across the flight deck in the middle of January. All told, we were 65 days at sea before getting a break when things settled down.

I was glad when my Navy days were over and didn't give much thought to reenlisting. But now, years later, it is something I'm glad I went through and can even say I enjoyed it. I had the opportunity to visit the 'Moving Wall' recently and was shocked at the emotions it brought back. I would recommend seeing it if you have ties to that era or even if you don't. Someday I would like to see the one in D.C.