The FReeper Foxhole Remembers the U.S. Merchant Marine in Vietnam - Jan. 2nd, 2003

USMM ORG ^

[manna]

Bump ...

[SAMWolf]

You're welcome, Victoria.

[Victoria Delsoul]

Hi Sam, how are you doing?

How was your first day at work after a well-deserved break?

[SAMWolf]

The late nights are catcing up with me.

Luckily it was a slow day so I could ease back into the work routine.

[Victoria Delsoul]

Well, at least you had a little break there. Hopefully you should feel better tomorrow.

[TheLion]

Got to hand it to you with these posts Sam! This is the first one I have replied to and for a very good reason.

This is how I served my country! Graduated in 1967 from Kings Point and sailed on numerous ships to the war zone.

What is really wierd, is that I sailed on the SS Badger State the year before it sank! I knew it had sunk but didn't know it had to do with the cargo.

I used to be with Masters, Mates and Pilots Union...Local 88 out of New York and just picked ships when I got to the union. There was no problem getting a berth in those days. One usually registers at the union when you get off a ship and get a number. In the Viet-Nam era, you could literally walk into the hall, register and get a job within minutes. The number gets better as time goes by. The lowest number (earliest registration) has dibs on any ship they want. Many jobs went begging. We were missing a mate on more than one ship. The Captain even had to stand watch on some.

You could also Night-Mate out of the union....stand watch between 4 PM Midnight or Midnight and 8 AM, to relieve ships officers who don't work nights in US ports. That used to be a nice, sought after job.

Thanks again for the trip down nostalgia lane.

[SAMWolf]

Thanks for your service to our Country and for sharing your story.

Glad we were able to provide you with a trip down memory lane.

[The Real Deal]

Great story Phil, and I really like your message to Saddam. LOL

[The Real Deal]

That's right!

[HiJinx]

I've just received info regarding the memorial service for General Foss on January 9th in Scottsdale. If anyone would like the details of that, sending cards to the family, or the family's wishes regarding donations in lieu of flowers, FReepmail me tomorrow. I'm headed for bed now, but will respond then.

HJ

[E.G.C.]

BTTT!!!!

[Nowhere Man]

Thanks for your reply. Yeah, Muffin had her problems exactly a year ago. Took her to one emergency vet who said she had "kidney failure" and had an infection. He said that she would not make it past February (2002). We took her to our vet and he treated her for the kidney infection and although he said there could be a little damage there, she is doing excellent. We feed her special kidney food although she does cheat a little. The vet said that's really no problem as long as she eats SOME of the kidney food to balance things out. She has 90% of her weight back, likes to run around, and even chases the younger cats around. She'll be 16 this year in August. Muffin is special because my aunt asked us (my mother and I) to take care of her a few days before she died of cancer in 1995. Muffin was born in Texas. I know it is a dirty secret that pets will leave us one day (or we leave them), but it is no excuse to write them off at the crack of a bat. We paid $800 to $1000+ for Muffin and would do it again.

We have another cat who will turn 16 in August, Pansy, a green eyed, grey, tan, and white calico. She is doing quite well too, likes to run around a lot. The only issue with he is every three months like clockwork, she gets upper respitory infections due to some allergy. We know every three months, she goes to the vet for medicine.

[Nowhere Man]

Thanks for your reply. Yeah, Muffin had her problems exactly a year ago. Took her to one emergency vet who said she had "kidney failure" and had an infection. He said that she would not make it past February (2002). We took her to our vet and he treated her for the kidney infection and although he said there could be a little damage there, she is doing excellent. We feed her special kidney food although she does cheat a little. The vet said that's really no problem as long as she eats SOME of the kidney food to balance things out. She has 90% of her weight back, likes to run around, and even chases the younger cats around. She'll be 16 this year in August. Muffin is special because my aunt asked us (my mother and I) to take care of her a few days before she died of cancer in 1995. Muffin was born in Texas. I know it is a dirty secret that pets will leave us one day (or we leave them), but it is no excuse to write them off at the crack of a bat. We paid $800 to $1000+ for Muffin and would do it again.

We have another cat who will turn 16 in August, Pansy, a green eyed, grey, tan, and white calico. She is doing quite well too, likes to run around a lot. The only issue with he is every three months like clockwork, she gets upper respitory infections due to some allergy. We know every three months, she goes to the vet for medicine.

[kilowhskey]

I sailed for two years in Viet Nam in the Army's navy aboard a 338-foot, 2,000 ton displacement ship functionally similar to a Navy LST. Because of the shortage of dock space, we would often come alongside a Victory ship at anchor. They would offload a portion of their cargo onto our deck, and we would carry it onto the beach at Cam Ranh or any number of landing beaches up and down the coast. On one of these runs, we tied alongside the SS Berkeley Victory (Most Victory ships were named for colleges.) I decided to have a bit of fun at my Mom's expense. I had a photo taken of myself standing alongside her name board. I sent it home with a letter subtitled "Mario Savio Is Alive and Well in Cam Ranh Bay." The scathing letter I received in return was the source of uproarious laughter throughout the crew.