USS America commissioning ceremony

[marypenny]

What an exciting day for you. And thank you for showing up kilted. In my book, your dress was highly respectful. And this is from a proud member of The Sons & Daughters of Survivors of Pearl Harbor.

[sailortats]

I think I can understand why you "Huey" guys don't feel as we sailors do. You didn't eat, sleep, work and play on your Hueys like we did on our ships. Our ships were our homes for many days, weeks or even months at a time without our ever leaving her. But I am a little surprised that you had no affection for the Hueys you served with.

[Tarheel]

Our "birds" had their function. They kept us alive, took us to and from harm and were home when all else was lost. We would even ride one to the ground instead of abandoning ship under fire when in flight. But you Men of the Waves have some special connection we didn't with your ships. I get it because my dearest friend for the last twenty five years was a sailor (first Nam tour) and a Sea-Bee "river-rat" on his second. Before he passed he gave me something to ponder. His words were, "you fly boys will never know sea legs." I believed him.
Back to topic though, the apron would flap into our eyes if we fly with the doors open while kilted. Just a thought as I never tried it.

[kiltimabar]

Sailortats:
Great pictures and I'm glad you wore the kilt! Thanks for sharing. I always like to see a kilt in public at non-Celtic events. As they say, "A man in a kilt is a man and a half."

Great name for a great ship - may GOD bless her and all who sail aboard her. I sailed aboard more than a few of those gray ladies myself. I was aboard Iwo Jima (LPD-2), the old-style helo carriers before they became amphibious. In fact I was aboard and at sea believe it or not when she was decommissioned. We were actually at sea. We were told they needed the name because the keel for the new Iwo Jima was being laid down. I was also aboard Saipan (LHA-2), the replacements for the LPDs. You know you are getting old when all the ships you sailed aboard have been decommissioned...

I served in the Navy '67-'73--every ship I served on was an old WWII ship that was decommissioned shortly after I left it. So I guess I was getting old even while still in service; maybe I would be the opposite of a plankowner. Is there a term for that?

[Dale G]

Kiltimabar:
Hmm, good question. Perhaps we should create one. How about 'Flag Bearer,' as in the last person to leave recovers the flag (National Ensign).

My first ship, U.S.S. Portland (LSD-37), was sunk as a target and is lying at Latitude 34 degrees 55' 48.9" North / Longitude 070 degrees 14' 56.3" West at a depth of 2,621 fathoms (15,726'), or so they say. One was sold to the Turkish Navy and I believe all the rest were scrapped with part of one turned into a war memorial at an American Legion post. There truly is a relationship between ships and those who sail aboard them. I felt it when I learned of each of their passing.

Here's one you might get a chuckle from. My niece asked me why ships are referred to as female. I told her because they are high maintenance, can be a real b---- sometimes, and need a strong man at the helm. Ladies don't bash me, it was just a joke.

[Jim Simmons]

I think I can understand why you "Huey" guys don't feel as we sailors do. You didn't eat, sleep, work and play on your Hueys like we did on our ships.

I know that you are very correct about the differences between you and your fellow sailors and we Huey guys, as to how we each looked at our "ships". Tarheel basically summed my feelings. Though I did sleep many a night on my ship when on "primary", many days I worked many hours maintaining and flying on it, and ate many a C-Rat there too.

[Tarheel]

Now Dale, tsk tsk. Huey's were our baby girls too for the same reasons. No shame in it. We did love them just the same.