Yesterday Ray and I Celebrated Our Anniversary

24 years ago yesterday, Ray and I were married. We didn't have a big to-do, we were both in the navy. I was stationed on a ship, the USS Ajax, and Ray's ship, the USS New Orleans, was temporarily in the yards in San Francisco. He flew to San Diego for the weekend, we got married and he went back to Frisco the next day. The following weekend he came back to San Diego and we rented an apartment and set up housekeeping although in the beginning neither of us spent much time at home. It was nice to have a home to go to away from our ships when we were able to get there. Here's a picture of us on our wedding day (couldn't find the original only this one I played around with). See, I told you it wasn't a big to-do. :)

Tonight Ray came home with these beautiful roses--

Next year we'll have our silver anniversary. Where has the time gone?

On 27 December 1990, The 1st Female Commanding Officer of a U.S. Navy Ship Reports for Duty

Haven't posted much on my other love lately (history).  Here's a bit of history trivia for you:

 On 27 Dec 1990, the first female commanding officer of a U.S. Navy vessel, Lcdr Darlene Iskra reported for duty on board USS Opportune (ARS-41) at Naples, Italy, serving until 1993. After retiring in 2000 and completing a Ph.D seven years later, Darlene Iskra is now a professor and an author of numerous publications about Women in the Armed Forces.

For more info:

• Navy Women History
• Alliance for National Defense

• Probably Wise To Recall: Our First Woman Skipper

  
  
  
  
  Search Amazon.com for darlene iskra

Locating Historical Information About US Navy Ships:

USS Ajax AR-6

I was just being nosy and checked out a ship an old acquaintance of mine had been stationed on during Operation Eagle Pull and Operation Frequent Wind. Sometimes this old friend likes to make it sound like he was a Vietnam war hero but to tell you the truth, I have my doubts as to if he'd even left the ship since he was in engineering and they don't go cold iron (turn the ship "off") when there's a chance it might need to make a quick get away--at least that's the way it was with the old steam powered ships like this one. This means no liberty. This ship made a stop off the coast of Vietnam to help in the evacuations. Anyway, the ship's history is pretty well documented in Wikipedia. My old ship, the USS Ajax, is also listed in wikipedia so if you are interested in any other navy ships you may check there for any information.

We need to honor our vets and it is a shame that some vets exaggerate their experiences. No offense intended, after all, I'm a vet.

More information about US Navy ships can be found at:

• NavSource Naval History
• Naval History and Heritage Command (Navy Department Library)

More information on the evacuation in Vietnam:

• Operation Eagle Pull
• Operation Frequent Wind

Many ships have online webpages and shipmates organizations that you can visit for more information.

Snipes Lament

What is a snipe in the navy?  WikiAnswers defines it as--"Snipe" in the Navy is an enlisted person in an engineering rating, specifically those rates that work below the waterline in Engineering Main Propulsion spaces. They include Machinist's Mates, Boiler Techs and Electrician's Mate. Here is a poem composed by an Anonymous author about snipes:


"Snipes Lament"

Now each of us from time to time, has gazed upon the sea,
and watched the warships pulling out, to keep this country free.
And most of us have read a book, or heard a rusty tale,
about the men who sail these ships, through lightning wind and hail.

But there's a place within each ship, that legend fails to tell.
It's down below the waterline, it takes a living toll---
a hot metal living hell, that sailors call the “Hole.”

It houses engines run by steam, that makes the shafts go round,
a place of fire and noise and heat, that beats your spirits down.
Where boilers are a hellish heart, with blood of angry steam;
these molded gods without remorse, like nightmares in a dream.

Whose threat that from the fires roar, is like a living doubt,
that any minute without scorn, could escape and crush you out.
Where turbines scream like tortured souls, alone and lost in hell,
as ordered from above somewhere, they answer every bell.

The men who keep the fires lit, and make the engines run,
are strangers to the world of light, and rarely see the sun.
They have no time for man or god, no tolerance for fear.
Their aspect pays no living thing, the tribute of a tear.

There's not much that men can do, that these men have not done.
Beneath the decks, deep in the hole, to make the engines run.
And every hour of every day, they keep their watch in hell,
for if the fires ever fail, their ships a useless shell.

When ships converge to have a war, upon an angry sea,
the men below just grimly smile at what their fate might be.
They're locked below like men 'fore doomed, who hear no battle cry,
it's well assumed that if they're hit, the men below will die.

For ever day's a war down there, when the gages all read red,
six hundred pounds of heated steam, can kill you mighty dead.
So if you ever write their sons, or try to tell their tale,
the very words should make you hear a fired furnace wail.

And people as a general rule, don't hear of these men of steel,
So little is heard about this place, that sailors call “the hole”.
But I can sing about this place and try to make you see,
the hardened life of men down there, 'cause one of them is me.

I've seen these sweat soaked heros fight, in superheated air
to keep their ship alive and right, though no one knows they're there
And thus they'll fight for ages on, 'til steamships sail no more,
amid the boiler's mighty heat, and turbine's hellish roar.

So when you see a ship pull out, to meet a warlike foe,
Remember faintly, if you can, “The men who sail below”
-Author Unknown


The Boiler Technician rating has been dissolved and the Boiler Techs have been absorbed into the Machinist Mate rating.  Times they are a changing (sigh).

On April 26, 1862 Civil War Cartoon about Union Naval Victories

This Cartoon was printed in Harper's Weekly on April 26, 1862. Cartoonist Justin Howard uses a sports analogy to praise Union admiral Andrew Hull Foote's victories in the Mississippi River campaign.  His capture of Island Number Ten from the Confederates is represented as a game of ten pins (a type of bowling).  Go here to read the complete article about these victories.
Search Amazon.com for civil war navy

What I've Been Up To...

Sometimes I can be quite spacey.  The week before Thanksgiving, dh and I went to visit a friend of mine from long ago when I was in the navy.  We hadn't seen each other since March 1986!  The visit went great!  There are some people that were just meant to be friends.  After not seeing her for 23 years, it was just like I had seen her the week before, I mean there wasn't a sense of unease or anything.  I brought my camera with me but as I mentioned earlier, I'm spacey at times and the camera stayed packed away.  I brought her and her husband slippers I crocheted and usually I take pictures of all my crochet projects but these slipped by; did I mention that I can be spacey? lol....
Thanksgiving was great.  Unfortunately my dil had to work and wasn't able to have the meal with us.  I had son take a plate to her so at least she was able to have some of the food.  Both of my sons, the ggd and dh's mom shared a pretty good meal (if I may say so myself :) ) with dh and me.  I didn't stress about fixing the food this year.  I started baking pies and making side dishes earlier in the week and popped them into the freezer until Thanksgiving morning.  We had  our meal a bit later in the day, 5 p.m., and that helped out a lot too.  Also, I trimmed a few extra dishes off the menu.  For years, I had tried to replicate the Thanksgiving meals of my childhood even though those meals were put together by numerous ladies in the family and not just one person (me).
I'm still crocheting.  My focus is on the traditional slippers I make for most family  members and friends every Christmas.  Instead of taking a picture of each pair, I'm going to wait until they're all finished and then take a picture of the entire batch of 'em. I'm also making a mat out of scrap yarn for the dogs to lay on the floor with to keep warm.
I hope that all of you had a great Thanksgiving.  Best wishes to all.  Hugs....

USS Kitty Hawk CV63

Here's another of Ray's ships. The Kitty Hawk was his last sea duty assignment. He was on board when the ship changed homeport to Japan from San Diego. I started looking for videos of Ray's assignments when a friend sent Ray links to videos of the friend's ships. Here it is...

USS New Orleans LPH11 in 1986

Saw this on YouTube and had to post it here. Ray transferred to this ship during this cruise. Most of the personnel you are seeing are Marines. Ray was a MM2 then and if you know anything about the Navy, you know that he was down in the hole steaming the plant. Anyway, hope you enjoy!

Oldest Ship in US Navy

On July 23, 1954 - A law is passed that states that "The Secretary of the Navy is authorized to repair, equip, and restore the United States Ship Constitution, as far as may be practicable, to her original appearance, but not for active service, and thereafter to maintain the United States Ship Constitution at Boston, Massachusetts." Nicknamed Old Ironsides, the USS Constitution is the oldest commissioned ship in the US Navy. To read a brief history of this ship you can visit this Naval Historical Center page.

On 14 Jan 1969--Explosion on USS Enterprise

On 14 JANUARY 1969--On the USS Enterprise the exhaust from an aircraft engine starter unit was directed onto a pod containing four ZUNI rockets. Heat caused a warhead to detonate. Fragments ruptured the aircraft's fuel tank and ignited a fire. Three more ZUNI warheads detonated less than a minute after the first explosion. The shaped charges blew holes through the flight deck allowing burning fuel to invade the lower decks. In all, there were 18 munition's explosions and 8 holes were blown through the flight deck. Losses totaled 15 aircraft, 28 dead, and another 344 injured. Below is a film clip of some of the damage from this explosion. If you would like more information about this first nuclear powered aircraft carrier in the U.S. Navy you may visit her official online pages.

10-10-2008 This day in history 1845 U.S. Naval Academy Opens

On 10 October 1845 the U.S. Naval Academy, known then as Naval School, opened at Annapolis. You may visit the academy online at http://www.usna.edu/PAO/welcome.htm. They offer a short history of the school at http://www.usna.edu/VirtualTour/150years/.

08-05-2008 USS Houston CA30 Sunk During WWII

I was honored to meet and correspond with some of the survivors from the USS Houston back in 2002. I wrote my college thesis on the heroes of this ship wreck. The ones I met were humble men and surprisingly did not hold a grudge against their captors. Back in 2002, the survivors received back pay from the advancements they were eligible for during their captivity. These pay raises were in WWII dollars without interest being paid. I have a cousin (once removed) and her half-brother was killed in the Battle of Makassar Strait the previous month. Anyway, before you watch this video, scan over to the music player and turn the music off so that you can hear this video without interference.

For more information

• visit the USS Houston Organization at http://www.usshouston.org/
• Or a blog http://usshouston.blogspot.com/
• University of Houston special collection http://info.lib.uh.edu/sca/digital/cruiser/cruiserh.htm
• Dive team http://www.usshoustondive.com/Dive%20Team.htm

Enjoy...

08-02-2008 On this day 1943 Pt-109 and JFK sunk

On this day, 02 August 1943 - The U.S. Navy patrol torpedo boat, PT-109, sank after being attacked by a Japanese destroyer. The boat was under the command of Lt. John F. Kennedy. National Geographic has an online article about the discovery of what is believed to be the wreckage of this vessel. Go to http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2002/07/0709_020710_kennedyPT109.html to read this article. A good article about the sinking of PT-109 is located at http://www.orwelltoday.com/jfkpt109.shtml . To learn more about President Kennedy, you can visit the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library & Museum at http://www.jfklibrary.org/ .

January 11, 09, 07, 03, and 02, 2008

Entry for January 11, 2008

Here's a handy tool for all you crocheters (knitters too). It is a yarn shop locator! Type in a location and a map will show you places to buy yarn! Handy if you're going on a trip and want to scope out yarn shops. Surprise, surprise, surprise, in my small town there is a yarn shop and it's NOT Wal-mart! LOL! I almost forgot here it is! UPDATE: The yarn shop in my town no longer exists. This locator had outdated information.
Go over to Happy Yellow House and check out the new patterns. There is an adorable duffel bag made out of daisy squares. There are new afghan patterns too. I just love the afghans here. One of these days I'm going to attempt one of them. So many patterns, so little time! Have fun!

Entry for January 09, 2008

Yippee!!! I did it! The chenille afghan is finished! I have decided to give it to my aunt. She always remembers us at Christmas time so I hope this is a nice gift for her. The pattern was a freebie on the yarn wrapper but it is also free on Lion's website. What do you think of it? Now, I am making a round ripple afghan out of shades of purple from my stash.

Entry for January 07, 2008

I'm still working on the chenille afghan. It is so easy and works up very quickly. I had bought a few extra skeins of yarns "just in case" and what I'm doing is using the extra yarn to increase the edging. The afghan just seemed a bit too small for us --dh is 6'1" and I'm 5'9". Anyway, I'm working with the last skein of yarn so in a few days I'll be able to post a picture of the completed ghan! Yippee! The last ghan I made was granny squares so it seemed to take forever to finish especially when my ADD kicked in! I don't really have ADD--my husband teases me that I do because I tend to flit from one thing to another.


Entry for January 03, 2008

Here's the project that I am working on now. I found some Lions brand quick and easy chenille yarn on sale 1/2 off. I got enough to make a throw to go on the back of the couch. The pattern is available for free here . You have to sign up as a member to see it but it is well worth it. They have many, many very nice patterns for free.
Now for some history trivia.
On this day in history 1521, Martin Luther was excommunicated from the Catholic church by Pope Leo X. A detailed article about Martin Luther is here .

Entry for January 02, 2008

Thought that I would put a picture here of dh's Christmas present. He was a little skeptical when he heard that I "made" him one of his presents. He really likes this though. I bought a fleece with the USN insignia from Wal-mart and then I did a single crochet edge around it for several rows. I "poked" holes around the perimeter with a seam ripper to start out with. Voila...a great throw for my retired MMCS (SW) navy guy!


(Above posts originally on my Yahoo 260 blog)

Entry for October 21, 2007

Entry for October 21, 2007

On this day in history 1797 US Navy frigate Constitution, Old Ironsides, launched in Boston. What is interesting about this ship is that it is still in commission as part of the navy's fleet. If you go here you can go on a virtual tour.

And to my dh today Happy Birthday!!! (Originally posted on my Yahoo 360 blog)

Entry for October 13, 2007

Entry for October 13, 2007

On this day in history 1775 - The Continental Congress establishes a Continental Navy, later known as the U.S. Navy. The Naval Historical Center has a great online article about the Continental Navy so why don't you go visit their page and read it? (graphic from http://www.history.navy.mil/library/online/continentalnav.htm)

Hey, I found a really great crochet page. It has crochet pillows shaped like the alphabet! Wouldn't it be interesting to crochet pillows spelling out your child's name and putting them on his/her bed? Here's the link for the patterns.

(Originally posted on my Yahoo 360 blog)

NOTE: The link for the pillows isn't working. I found a few patterns for letter pillows.

For J go to http://crochetingcommuter.blogspot.com/2007/07/completed-project-alphabet-pillow.html

Letter B http://eyenowhour.blogspot.com/2008/05/alphabet-pillow-letter-b.html

Letter D http://eyenowhour.blogspot.com/2008/05/alphabet-pillow-letter-d.html

You may be able to find other letters by using your favorite search engine.

Entry for June 15, 2007

Entry for June 15, 2007

A friend sent this to me. She's retired navy. I was in the navy for 15 years and this really has meaning for me. I hope anyone who reads it appreciates it too.

"I WAS A SAILOR ONCE"

I liked standing on the bridge wing at sunrise with salt spray in my face and clean ocean winds whipping in from the four quarters of the globe I liked the sounds of the Navy - the piercing trill of the boatswains pipe, the syncopated clangor of the ship's bell on the quarterdeck, harsh, and the strong language and laughter of sailors at work.
I liked Navy vessels -- plodding fleet auxiliaries like the USS Ute ATF-76) and amphibs, sleek submarines and steady solid aircraft carriers.
I liked the proud names of Navy ships: Midway, Lexington, Saratoga, Coral Sea, Antietam, Valley Forge - - memorials of great battles won and tribulations overcome.
I liked the lean angular names of Navy "tin-cans" and escorts like the USS Maddox (DD-731) mementos of heroes who went before us.
And the others - - San Jose, San Diego, Los Angeles, St. Paul, Chicago, Oklahoma City, named for our cities.
I liked the tempo of a Navy band.
I liked liberty call and the spicy scent of a foreign port.
I even liked the never ending paperwork and all hands working parties as my ship filled herself with the multitude of supplies, both mundane and to cut ties to the land and carry out her mission anywhere on the globe where there was water to float her.
I liked sailors, officers and enlisted men from all parts of the land, farms of the Midwest, small towns of New England, from the big cities, the mountains and the prairies, from all walks of life. I trusted and depended on them as they trusted and depended on me -- for professional competence, for comradeship, for strength and courage. In a word, they were "shipmates"; then and forever.
I liked the surge of adventure in my heart, when the word was passed: ''Now Hear This'' "Now station the special sea and anchor detail, all hands to quarters for leaving port," and I liked the infectious thrill of sighting home again, with the waving hands of welcome from family and friends waiting pier side The work was hard and dangerous; the going rough at times; the parting from loved ones painful, but the companionship of robust Navy laughter, the "all for one and one for all" philosophy of the sea was ever present.
I liked the fierce and dangerous activity on the flight deck of aircraft carriers, earlier named for battles won but sadly now named for politicians. Enterprise, Independence, Boxer, Princeton and oh so many more, some lost in battle, and sadly many scrapped.
I liked the scent of aviation hi-octane fuel, and now jet fuel, as the men in purple shirts hustled about to "feed" the flying weapons of war. And the crews in red shirts rearming the aircraft for their next sortie.
I liked the flight crews readying their flying machines with the green shirted and brown shirted crews ensuring worthiness. And then the white shirted crews directing the aircraft to the catapult followed by the crescendo of the aircraft shooting down the cat track and into the air.
I liked the feel of flying with a fine tuned air wing where all of the aircrews knew what to do and did it safely and well.
I liked the exciting recovery of aircraft as they returned from combat or training. It was always an exciting event whether a landing was a trap or a bolter.
I liked the names of the aircraft and helicopters; Skyraider, Intruder, Sea King, Phantom, Skyhawk, Demon, Skywarrior, Corsair, and many more that bring to mind offensive and defensive orders of battle.
I liked the excitement of an alongside replenishment as my ship slid in alongside the oiler and the cry of "Standby to receive shotlines" prefaced the hard work of rigging spanwires and fuel hoses echoed across the narrow gap of water between the ships and welcomed the mail and fresh milk, fruit and vegetables that sometimes accompanied the fuel.
I liked the serenity of the sea after a day of hard ship's work, as flying fish flitted across the wave tops and sunset gave way to night.
I liked the feel of the Navy in darkness - the masthead and range lights, the red and green navigation lights and stern light, the pulsating phosphorescence of radar repeaters - they cut through the dusk and joined with the mirror of stars overhead.
And I liked drifting off to sleep lulled by the myriad noises large and small that told me that my ship was alive and well, and that my shipmates on watch would keep me safe.
I liked quiet mid-watches with the aroma of strong coffee -- the lifeblood of the Navy permeating everywhere.
I liked the sudden electricity of "General quarters, general quarters, all hands man your battle stations," followed by the hurried clamor of running feet on ladders and the resounding thump of watertight doors as the ship transformed herself in a few brief seconds from a peaceful workplace to a weapon of war -- ready for anything.
And I liked the sight of space-age equipment manned by youngsters clad in dungarees and sound-powered phones that their grandfathers would still recognize . I liked the traditions of the Navy and the men and now women who made them. I liked the proud names of Navy heroes: Halsey, Nimitz, Perry, Farragut, John Paul Jones and Burke. A sailor could find much in the Navy: comrades-in-arms, pride in self and country, mastery of the seaman's trade. An adolescent could find adulthood.
In years to come, when sailors are home from the sea, AND SO WE ARE, we still remember with fondness and respect the ocean in all its moods – the impossible shimmering mirror calm and the storm-tossed green water surging over the bow. And then there will come again a faint whiff of stack gas, a faint echo of engine and rudder orders, a vision of the bright bunting of signal flags snapping at the yardarm, a refrain of hearty laughter in the wardroom and chief's quarters and mess decks.
Remembering this, WE stand taller and say, I WAS A SAILOR ONCE."

AUTHOR UNKNOWN

(Originally posted on my Yahoo 360 blog)

Entry for October 04, 2006

On this date in 1821 - LT Robert F. Stockton sails from Boston for Africa to carry out his orders to help stop the international slave trade. To read more about this please visit the Naval Historical Center page at http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/a7/alligator-iii.htm .

(Originally posted on my Yahoo 360 blog)

Entry for September 24, 2006

This day in history-- 1960: Launch of the USS Enterprise, the worlds first nuclear powered aircraft carrier. For an “official” look at the history of this ship, go to http://www.chinfo.navy.mil/navpalib/ships/carriers/histories/cv65-enterprise/cv65-enterprise.html
Another good site is http://www.navysite.de/cvn/cvn65.html .

We had a lot of rain here Friday and Saturday. The Internet was down for quite a while and the Dish satellite was down too. The husband and I weren't too happy. We're up and running again. Yippee!!! Tomorrow, I'll get some more crochet links posted. Take care.--Sharon

(Originally posted on my Yahoo 360 blog)

Entry for September 13, 2006

I am adding another link for the USS Houston CA 30. This link will take you to a special collection at the University of Houston. There are many digitalized resources about the ship and her crew available there. Photo is Copyright © 2000, University of Houston Libraries. http://info.lib.uh.edu/sca/digital/cruiser/cruiserh.htm

On this day in history 0122 - Building begins on Hadrian's Wall. Hadrian's Wall established the boundry of the Roman empire in Britain. This wall was ordered built by Emperor Hadrian. The wall was to establish a frontier and control access to Roman Britain. An interesting web page that is easily comprehensible for children is Hadrian's Wall World Heritage Site http://museums.ncl.ac.uk/wallnet/ A biographical article on Hadrian can be found at http://www.roman-empire.net/highpoint/hadrian-index.html

(Originally posted on my Yahoo 360 page)