I arrived onboard around Feb.67, I forgot about the six
months of "A" school at Great Lakes. I left Aug 68. There were only a couple FT's onboard at that time so that kept us pretty busy with two systems to keep up. I don't have many photos of the Westpac cruise, just the good old "Cruise Book" I did make a few friends but have lost contact over the years.
Most of my memories are of Grande Island and diving off the
pier around midnight, waiting for the launch from Rainier to come and pick us up. We did go to some part of the island and paint a block school house for all the little kids. Actually if it wasn't such a rotten time in our history, It was kind of a kick when you think back. Yet they say you only remember the "good times". I really enjoyed the site about the "USSR" (that's what we called her) and I will be back to visit many times.
Thanks for the mail ,Bravo Zulu
Al Dickerson, Berthoud, Colo.