USS Ramsey First Western Pacific Cruise

Photos of Our First WestPac
chapter 1

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Grinnell and Meyerson FTM-2 Dave Grinnell, SK-3 Bob Meyerson "duke it out" at Sea Detail 1968
FTM-2 Fields, FTM-1 Nelson, FTM-2 Gerald Fantz FTM-2 Rick Fields, FTM-1 Roy Nelson, FTM-2 Gerald Fantz
Japanese Coke bottle Remember these? A collectors item now, and we just threw 'em over the side.
SN Pat Senko SN Pat Senko. Taken in 1st division quarters.
a middle rack Having a middle rack is quite convenient.
1st and 2nd Division Some of the "inhabitants" of 1st and 2nd division berthing compartment.
STG-3 Joseph Bevivino STG-3 Joseph Bevivino Hawaii 1968
Gunter, Lawrence, Bevivino STG-3 Bill Gunter, STG-1 Vince Lawrence, STG-3 Joseph Bevivino in Hawaii, 1968. Eating too much poi can have odd effects on some people.
Lawrence, Bevivino, Church, Gunter STG-1 Vince Lawrence, STG-3 Joseph Bevivino, FTM-2 Jerry Church, STG-3 Bill Gunter at Polynesian Cultural Center, Hawaii 1968
Gunter, Church STG-3 Bill Gunter, FTM-2 Jerry Church touring Oahu 1968
Quarters for leaving port Quarters for leaving port, Honolulu, Hawaii enroute Yokosuka Japan, 20 MAY 68. ENS Smyth, BM1 Quinn, SN Lerma, SN Senko, SN Dillavou, SN Black with LT. Hoag in background.
Church, Gunter FTM-2 Jerry Church, STG-3 Bill Gunter on Grande Island Liberty, 1968
Gunter, Church STG-3 Bill Gunter, FTM-2 Jerry Church on Grande Island Liberty, 1968
Gunter, Grinnell, Church STG-3 Bill Gunter, FTM-2 Dave Grinnell, FTM-2 Jerry Church Grande Island Liberty, 1968
Church, Grinnell FTM-2 Jerry Church, unknown shipmate, FTM-2 Dave Grinnell Grande Island Liberty 1968
Gaskill, Alden, Smyth, Thal GMM-2 Gaskill, FTM-2 Alden, Ens. Smyth, SN Thal on Grande Island Liberty, 1968
SN Larosa SN Larosa on Grande Island Liberty, 1968
LTjg Van Horn LTjg Van Horn on Grande Island Liberty, 1968
GMM-1 Webb, GMCS Jones GMM-1 Webb, GMCS Jones gettin' some sun
FTM-2 Sattie and FTM-1 Nelson FTM-2 Thomas Sattie and FTM-1 Roy Nelson get some sun on the missile launcher 1968
FTM-2 Church FTM-2 Church by the missile launcher 1968
GMCS Jones, FTM-2 Church GMCS Bobby Jones, FTM-2 Jerry Church, and FTCS Gurthe Bond at General Quarters in CIC 1968
FTM-2 Church FTM-2 Church on Victoria Peak on Hong Kong
The deck force at work The deck force at work. SN Pat Senko is closest to helo hangar door.
Plane guard detail in Tonkin Gulf Plane guard detail in Tonkin Gulf. U.S.S. Bennington (CVS-20) in distance.
The skipper (CDR. Robertson) catches a few z's The skipper (CDR. Robertson) catches a few z's on the bridge wing.
Gun drill Gun drill while on station for plane guard duty.
Gun drill Gun drill while on station for plane guard duty.
Air bursts from the gun Air burst shots (barely visible) from 5"/38 gun.
Passing USS Bennington Passing USS Bennington, headed for the barn (Pearl Harbor) at flank speed. We're not gonna be the last one home this time.
U.S.S. Menhaden U.S.S. Menhaden surfaces to port during ASW drills off Hawaii. Ramsey, Eversole and Cunningham were supposed to be protecting the Bennington. After surfacing completely undetected, Menhaden signals: "bang bang, you're dead." This did not go over well with the skipper.
U.S.S. Menhaden U.S.S. Menhaden (AG)SS-480 at day break, Yankee Station, 12 JUL 68.
SN Senko and SN Scoons SN Senko and SN Scoons (right) take a photo op break from lookout duty.
in port at Sasebo, Japan View from the quarterdeck when in port at Sasebo, Japan. What a fantastic vista!
World's largest oil tanker World's largest oil tanker (at the time) being built at Mitsubishi Heavy Industries in Sasebo.
hookers in Sasebo The hookers in Sasebo certainly did not care to have their picture taken. They zipped back into the bar faster than I could aim and shoot. This called for plan B.
hookers in Sasebo Plan B involved guessing at camera focus while standing around the corner in the alley, then quickly stepping out into the street and shooting. Damn! still not fast enough.
hookers in Sasebo Plan C required the help of able seamen from the Bennington to hold the suspects in position. The Bennington sailors wanted a photo too, and took the best of the lot. By the time this shot was taken, one "lady of the evening" had broken loose and made it back inside. The one giggling was hoplessly trapped.
Sasebo, Japan Partial view of the Sasebo skyline.......such as it is. Navy Exchange and various other buildings are in foreground.
Sasebo's marketplace Colorful decorations hang in Sasebo's marketplace.
Sasebo's marketplace Not a good photo as something stuck to it while still wet. Sasebo's market-place (we called them "malls"). More like a city street roofed over between buildings.
Sasebo, Japan An average residential street in Sasebo. Wonder if it still looks this way?
Sasebo, Japan Downtown Sasebo. Japanese school children all wear the same clothes. White shirts and black pants or skirts. Probably not that way nowadays.
Sasebo, Japan The famed Paradise Street in Sasebo. Wall to wall bars and hookers. A magnet area for those on liberty.
'59 Ford Sunliner convertible Several of us rented bicycles from Special Services, rode 10-12 miles north of town and discovered this very tiny fishing village. No roads in, only a very narrow walking/bike path. Unsure how this '59 Ford Sunliner convertible made it in there. A valuable car these days. Wonder what became of it?
SN Senko SN Senko taken in front of Enlisted Men's Club at Sasebo.
U.S.S. Brooke (DEG-1) Our sister ship U.S.S. Brooke (DEG-1) preparing to get underway. Also showing forecastle of USS Eversole.
a "shoot-em-up" western Ever tried to watch a "shoot-em-up" western where everyone speaks Japanese and has English sub-titles? Not very entertaining.
SN Senko SN Senko Mugging for camera as another 'deck ape' verifies no anchor chain movement while underway.
SN Senko SN Senko after heavy-duty liberty in Sasebo.
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