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. I Served aboard the Denebola from Jan, 1956 until around sometime in
1959. Started on the deck force 1st division under boatswain mates Baker and
Magacinni. Learn to operate winch on #2 hole, which was a whole lot better
than handling the cargo by hand. Remember making first sea cruise to Puerto
Rico, getting seasick and swearing to fly back to the states which was
totally impossible. Made all the cruises to the Med. My best ports of call
were Spain, Greece and Lebanon when it was peaceful. Remember losing out on
our liberty in Germany due to the crisis in Lebanon. Our plane guard duty
for Pres. Ike up in the Artic waters was cold as was the stop over in
Boston. Worst liberty was in Cherbourg, France and the NATO cruise liberty
in Rothsay, Scotland. Strangest encounter was in Argus, Denmark. The
waitress in the bar had never seen a (negro) at that time and had to touch
my skin and hair to satisfy her curiosity. Also remembered having a near
collision with a tanker while I was in the shower and ran topside with a
towel wrapped around me just in time to see the fantail of the tanker just
slide by us. I could , tell some more tales but I'll saved them for another
day. so remember this ; Reveille, Reveille, heave to and thrice up, clean
sweep down fore and aft. |