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TSpoon View Drop Down
Old Salt
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Joined: 19 Jan 2016
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    Posted: 15 May 2018 at 2:07pm
Subject: Qualified 55 years

Fifty five years ago on 5/15/1963 at Gitmo I was awarded my Dolphins. Two days earlier on 5/13/1963 I sewed on Electricians Mate Third Class.

Thus in a two day period I went from EMFN(NQP) to EM3(SS) and found that the water at Gitmo was warm.

As they say, "What a long, strange, fun filled trip it has been".

T.Spoon, EM2(SS) at the end
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JrKrup, Skimmer View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote JrKrup, Skimmer Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 15 May 2018 at 7:00pm
Just be glad you didn't qualify in Dutch Harbor, Kiska, or Adak. Dead
Jon Krup, Skimmer - Minesweeps
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote gerry Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 15 May 2018 at 9:09pm
Next year will be 30 years for me (yeah, I'm just a pup compared to most of you old pharts). Location: near Andros Island.

How about the rest of you? How long? Anywhere interesting? Jon, did you get your SW pin? If so, when & where?
MT2/SS
USS Simon Bolivar - SSBN 641 (B)
USS Henry M. Jackson - SSBN 730 (B)
USSVI - Wyoming Base
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JrKrup, Skimmer View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote JrKrup, Skimmer Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 15 May 2018 at 9:13pm
I was in and out before the SW pin came to be. Didn't have to qual on the minesweep like a boat sailor did. 
Jon Krup, Skimmer - Minesweeps
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ftg1ss View Drop Down
Old Salt
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote ftg1ss Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 15 May 2018 at 10:00pm
Next year will be 40 years for me. During the awarding of my fish, the CO prefaced his remarks with a statement about waiting to see how many hits we got during the post-overhaul WSAT that was going on during that underway...we went 8 for 8 and I got qualified! Big week for me, got  my fish, made 2nd class and aced the WSAT!
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Dr. Stan Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 15 May 2018 at 10:40pm
On 16 April 1962 during the 0800 muster topside aft of the sail LCDR Skirm, CO of the Queenfish, SS-393, awarded to me and a couple of other fortunate sailors the coveted silver dolphins.  We were tied up in the nest alongside either the Nereus or the Sperry off of Ballast Point at Buoy 23 (I think).  There was no pier there at the time.  It was a sunny but cool San Diego morning and the diesel smoke from other boats which were warming up their main engines before getting underway, which usually happened on Mondays, wafted about us and blended with the smell of salt water.  It was great.  A glorious morning, indeed.  Earning those dolphins was one of the most significant events in my life at that time.  Still is in the top 5.

A month later I was promoted from ETRSN(SS) to ETR3(SS) and Tom Sawyer, who also had been promoted to ETR3(SS) at the same time, and I took over dual leadership of the deck gang.  Life was good and all was well in the heavens and on earth.  This state of bliss lasted about one (1) month,  Then it was off to a month long school of the boat conducted by one our chiefs in a classroom on the Recruit Training Center preparing us 9901's for nuke school.  A month later we went on to nuke school at MINSY to commence the metamorphosis from diesel boat sailor to nukie-poo.  Turned out that the time spent in the school of the boat prep was not wasted and was actually quite useful.

BTW, I never tested the injection temperature of the water in the San Diego bay.  We were inboard in the nest and being tossed overboard would have resulted in being bounced off of the tank tops.  Not good.  I did drink my dolphins at a party, though.  But it was just beer.  Thank goodness.  A guy on the Edison almost croaked from alcohol poisoning after drinking his dolphins.  And, in those days, the ridiculous custom of "pinning" was not done.  That was still a Marine thing then.  I think.


It has been my experience that folks who have no vices have very few virtues.~Abe Lincoln
SS-393, SSBN-610(B), SSBN-624(G), SSN-591
USSVI Life Member; Holland Club; Plank Owner, Smoky Mtn. Base
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Bgurls Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 16 May 2018 at 8:04am
Anniversary coming up.  May 18th, 1960, Yokosuka harbor, USS RASHER.  Cannot believe these fish are 58 years old.
SSR269,SS580(CO),SS582(XO),SSBN634,SSBN619,AS18(XO),SUBASE PH(XO),SUBSCHOOL(XO),SUBPAC(FLAG SEC),PERS42(DETAILER), CSS1(Chief Staff Officer)DAV(Life Member)VFW(Life Member)
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Sewer Pipe Snipe Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 16 May 2018 at 8:50am
From one film I saw at Swimmer's school, not only is the  water at Gitmo warm, it is full of sharks. 
Walt,
Had I done everything right throughout my life, the World wouldn't have noticed.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Tom McNulty Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 16 May 2018 at 9:03am
Received my dolphins on 12/7/1964 around half way through a patrol. The off watch missile gang, XO, and myself mustered by the WTD going into Aux space. The LT who awarded the dolphins real name was Davy Jones. The XO stated this was to be the second day of infamy, one I shall not forget. So no dunking ceremony. When we returned to Holy Loch it was off to the Enlisted Club for a sampling of the top shelf booze. Started the shots on the port side working my way to the Starboard side. Somewhere in the process the floor came up and smacked me. No recall until the next morning. Who knows what happened in between or with whom.
SSBN599B,SSBN600B,SSBN611G
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Kwn View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Kwn Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 16 May 2018 at 12:46pm
This year will be 47 years. December 1971 about halfway through patrol.

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