Hard Feelings: the USS Chicago CG-11 battles the USS Long Beach CGN-9
US Naval life at sea, PIRAZ duty, Shore Patrol, sea stories of the USS Chicago CG-11 in WESTPAC, with some attention to the USS Long Beach, 1972-1974
Navy Stories
Marilyn and Gary’s Courtship
By Marilyn and Gary Pickens Arriving in the Bay Area Marilyn’s version: As a background to this story, I was living in San Francisco almost by accident. The Vietnam War had been going on for several years when I had applied for the job of U.S.O. Mobile Units secretary in San Francisco. It was May …
Yes! I Gave Blood Today!
I gave blood during the blood drive at work today, because I know that my type O blood is always appreciated. I try do this minor civic duty on a regular basis, so I went out and I gave a pint of blood when the blood van visited our company. This brought back many memories …
Commendation Letters to U.S.S. Chicago CG-11 in 1972
These letters commend the U.S.S. Chicago after the 1971-1972 WESTPAC deployment, which was my first cruise. This deployment was highlighted by the success of Operation Pocket Money and the mining of Haiphong Harbor. The original documents were posted in the officers’ wardroom. The text of each letter is copied from The Old Bluejacket website. http://oldbluejacket.com/chicago.htm …
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When the U.S. Navy Mined Haiphong Harbor (Operation Pocket Money)
WESTPAC TALES: When the U.S. Navy Mined Haiphong Harbor (Operation Pocket Money) by DS2 William Gary Pickens First, let me explain how I happened to be involved in this military action…. After I enlisted in the Navy (as an alternative to being drafted into the Army) during the Vietnam War, I was sent to Boot …
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My first (ghostly) adventure on the U.S.S. Chicago
WESTPAC TALES: One night in the wee dark hours of the morning sometime in the spring of 1972, when I was a brand new sailor, with a month or so of shipboard experience on the U.S.S. Chicago CG-11 under my belt, I was awakened by a call to GQ (General Quarters, or battle stations). I …
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Naval Boot Camp Adventures
March 16, 1970 — Day One On the day when my enlistment in the U.S. Navy officially started, my parents drove me to the Federal in Building in Denver Colorado. It was a bleak and snowy day, and we had to get up very early to get me to the building on time. I had …