Pacific Crossing
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What fun it was for me to read Jim Barber’s account of sailing on the good ship Breckinridge. I, too, shipped to Japan on her January, 1958. His tales of the challenges in the forward head were honestly right on. I want to add how difficult it was maneuvering safely on the slippery liquid and other matter on that sloped tile floor in typhoon conditions. He didn’t mention the joy we experienced when the above deck dependents of other services carried their pets down the ladder to do their business on the tiny deck space the marines were mounded, gasping for fresh air. Overall, it was a fine 23 day cruise with the screw out of the water about half the time. To you and your other marine subscribers, Semper Fi.
6 comments
You bring back my memories of my trip to nam in(66) I think it was 28 days on a merchant marine, GEN>LEROY ELTINGE The rough seas. I never got sea sick so at chow time I pigged out I really liked s.o.s at breakfast,when some guys saw it they would turn and run to the head or to the deck whichever was closer. standing on the aft deck was cool when the ship would fall and rise out of the water.
Sailed out on the Breckenridge in ’62 during the Cuban Crisis. Took us over 18 days to reach Okinawa after stopping in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii and Yokohama. Japan. Believe we had about 3000 Marines aboard. The only times the mess lines were short was during ruff weather. I remember the ship rocking back & forth and up & down then the screws (props) at the rear came up to the surface of the water and really jumped around allot. If you were in the aft head you really got a ride. The water on the head deck was one inch deep if the ship was steady & 6″ deep at the sides when rolling over the waves. Got a Navy certificate for crossing the international date line. The bad news was we came back the states on the same ship 13 months later. Good times on the high seas. Semper Fi Marines.
I went over the pond in May or June 1961 on the Brenckinridge rough water the first day out. I ate lots of soda crackers, never got sea sickness. I also stood guard in the dependents quarters. Stood by a door , walked down a corridor checked another door then came to the original door.?
Went across the big pond in Oct of “64” on the Sulton. Hit typhoon a day outside of Hawaii. For nearly 3 weeks faced mean big dark waves, over 60 feet and pounded our ship until it eased up in Yokohama. Then back out towards Oki again with the storm. Pulled fan tail watch in those three weeks at Sea. Anyone who had fan tail watch went on watch dry and relieved all soaking wet. I’d do it again !!
I went over on the Hugh McGaffney…………in 1964 to Japan. We hit a typhoon out of Hawaii and I thought we were gonners! The waves came over that ship and it looked like the “Perfect Storm”. I laugh when I think about the “trough” toilet facilities……guys would roll up newspaper and send it down the trough for fun……..We had Army’s 1st. Cav. on board and we didn’t get along; started when my Corporal told me to ask a Army guy in the mess hall why they tuck their ties in their shirt……………They eventually honored their colors in Vietnam and could leave their ties outside of their shirt. I lost 18 pounds going over and again coming back to the states. Funny now but not then………………Semper Fi! Paul
Somewhere in my photo collection (maybe even in some 8mm movies), I have photos/movies of APA’s with their screws in the air…I was on an old LPH and our compartment was in the stern…I remember trying to fall asleep…..and tossing and turning all night long….