[Right Winged American]

Jeez, slinger—we have more in common than I thought; top rack under #3 wire, against bulkhead next to starboard water-break wheel for said wire. (Think paddle wheel in large, stand-up bathtub...

Served aboard a War II Essex (USS Intrepid CVA-11) of Yankee Station in '68, so racks were really racks; aluminum tube w/grommented canvas & cotton rope. Foot-and-a-half under flight deck armor, not even any pipes to muffle the sound!

Only A/C space available to us was the Library; Chaplain's writer walked around with sawed-off broomstick to whack shoes if you dropped off while "Reading"; next shot up side of head if heavy sleeper...

When we got back to The World at Norfolk, buddy showed me around the America; A/C in berthing! Shiny-clean decks, racks with extra storage under, stacked 3-high so you could almost sit up in them... I mean, talk about the OLD navy!

Turned out had an Uncle who served aboard Intrepid as 40mm gunner in '44, when things were REALLY tough!

Need more coffee... (Colombian!) getting that shakey feeling agian...

[Unrepentant VN Vet]

Hey, stranger.

Long time no see.

(Good sea stories for this old permanent shore duty sailor.)

[magslinger]

At least we had A/C, when we did have. An IO cruise with three quarters of the cooling capability down is not much fun.

Didn't the America have transverse racks? I recall one of the First classes griping about that. Apparently they were no fun at all in weather.