Memories Jouett/ 1980-1984
Posted by Jim Di Buono on January 19, 2009, 16:21:34
I just finished reading most of the messages left on this post from the 1980's and I must ask 2 questions: Why was I so lucky to be on the USS Jouett? How did I survive? The answer to both questions I think is Divine intervention. I actually came to the Jouett by some accidental administrative foul up in boot camp. While everyone in my company had been marched over with there dream sheets to pick up there orders, I had to take an emergency phone call from home. When I finally got a chance to pick up my orders they could'nt figure out what happened so they told me to pick a ship. I had a girl friend in Irvine, Ca. and I asked her where the nearest Navy base was and she said Long Beach. So I picked a cruiser because an aircraft carrier was to big. I was sent packing to the Jouett at Long Beach Naval ship Yards while the ship was going through a baseline overhaul(This was the Navy?)I lived in the Barracks across the street from the chow hall and every morning after breakfast we would all pile in to cattle car that would transport us to the pier.(MOOO)My first exposer to the Jouett was being taken down to main control as part of M division where the ship and engine room was literally in pieces. I can't remember everyone's name but I'll try: MM1 Papus.Everyone called him "PAPPY". MM3 Reither(SCRUFFY),Charlie Hurt(Texas), Tommy Scalf(Little Texas), John Taormina(Slush King),Bernie Devera(DEVO),Luckinbill (Nuke school dropout),Jarnot(JIMMY J),Baker(SIMON BARSINISTER),Schwarts,Ronny Lloyd,Wayne Quaas, so many others.Seemed like everyone had a nickname. When they found out I was from New York they instantly hated me. I spent the next 2 years trying to switch to become a HT. That did not sit well with the hard core MM lifers. They even threw out my 1st cruise book photo so as to strike my memory from the m division record.That's o.k. I can be seen on page #80 in the 82'-83' cruisebook as the 1st person off the launch to Pattaya Beach, Thailand. Anyway, while in the yards I became friendly with someone from every division because they put me in fire watch division. Most of the welder yard birds were Vietnam Vets and whould tell us scary stories of the war.If you had duty, the common berthing compartment was B Division back aft. B Division was hard core, some nice guys though thy had there troubles. Remember Frank McDole? He showed me and Le Deux the tatoo's he had on his Penis! A Bumble Bee and Two Cherries. Me and LeDeux fell out of our seats! Then there was Wilkie from M Division. He owned a Volkswagon Bug that was painted like a Zebra. We would ride around Long Beach cruising for Girls with Lyle McPeek and Blauvelt. Sad to say that they all died young. Wilke crashed his Triumph Bike in Minnesota 6 months after he got out. Blauvelt died in a car wreck, and poor lyle shot himself over a girl. Gregg Mills in R division married a pretty young thing in Long Beach and moved back to Oregon after he got out. I've got 4 1/2 more years of memories to tell if any one wants to listen to the rest of the story. All the Best, Jim Di Buono mmfn/Ht3 Larchplumb@aol.com
|
|