| Chow in Korea Email Chat V, on Monday, March 19, 2007 |
| GRENEDA POSTAGE STAMP ON KOREA |
Sent: Monday, March 19, 2007 08:00:26 -0600
Now we're talking. When I left Oakland Army Terminal in 1965, I crossed
on the USS Gordon. It took eighteen days with a short delay in Hawaii and an
overnight in Sasebo, Japan. I found out later that it was pretty fast. It was the last
trip to Korea for the Gordon, Mitchell, and Mann. Later they made several trips in
and out of Vietnam. BTW - Bob Hope started going to Vietnam in 1965.
The Gordon normally carried about 2,500 troops, but for that last trip they
stacked the racks four deep, which brought the capacity to about 4,000. When you
put that many guys in close quarters, you're going to have trouble. The captain
spent most of his time administering article 15's. There was a bigger line outside
the brig than could fit inside. Four hours was about the longest punishment for
anyone.
One of the OLD troopers told me, "Don't get a lower rack." Well, I ended up in
compartment 4-4, just below the galley and everyone there caught KP duty or
server in the food line.
The food was pretty good, but hard to eat for the first four days, because we
cruised straight into a huge storm as we left San Francisco Bay. We ate standing
up at counters, so when the ship was tossed around your food tray had a
tendency to move to other parts of the counter.
One night we got fried chicken (oh, of my favorites). The cooks asked some of
us if we wanted to take leftovers with us. They packed two five gallon pots with
warm and delicious fried chicken. When the smell of that chicken wafted through
that compartment, I knew what the OLD guy was talking about.
The tide change in Inchon is so dramatic that we anchored off shore and carried
us to a pier by landing craft. It was a bit scary transferring from the Gordon to a flat
bottom landing craft that wouldn't quit moving up and down, especially for a
non-swimmer like me.
Such bitter-sweet memories.--Tim L. Coulter
Now we're talking. When I left Oakland Army Terminal in 1965, I crossed
on the USS Gordon. It took eighteen days with a short delay in Hawaii and an
overnight in Sasebo, Japan. I found out later that it was pretty fast. It was the last
trip to Korea for the Gordon, Mitchell, and Mann. Later they made several trips in
and out of Vietnam. BTW - Bob Hope started going to Vietnam in 1965.
The Gordon normally carried about 2,500 troops, but for that last trip they
stacked the racks four deep, which brought the capacity to about 4,000. When you
put that many guys in close quarters, you're going to have trouble. The captain
spent most of his time administering article 15's. There was a bigger line outside
the brig than could fit inside. Four hours was about the longest punishment for
anyone.
One of the OLD troopers told me, "Don't get a lower rack." Well, I ended up in
compartment 4-4, just below the galley and everyone there caught KP duty or
server in the food line.
The food was pretty good, but hard to eat for the first four days, because we
cruised straight into a huge storm as we left San Francisco Bay. We ate standing
up at counters, so when the ship was tossed around your food tray had a
tendency to move to other parts of the counter.
One night we got fried chicken (oh, of my favorites). The cooks asked some of
us if we wanted to take leftovers with us. They packed two five gallon pots with
warm and delicious fried chicken. When the smell of that chicken wafted through
that compartment, I knew what the OLD guy was talking about.
The tide change in Inchon is so dramatic that we anchored off shore and carried
us to a pier by landing craft. It was a bit scary transferring from the Gordon to a flat
bottom landing craft that wouldn't quit moving up and down, especially for a
non-swimmer like me.
Such bitter-sweet memories.--Tim L. Coulter
The following emails were replies over replies and dates were lost
in cyberspace or somewhere:
Does anybody remember the DJ that went by the name of Dave 'The Walrus'?--
67/68 Ken
AFKN introduced me to country music..Merle Haggard (Branded Man) and Tammy
Wynette..David B., even a Michigan kid appreciated good music.
I recall hearing the big NCAA basketball game between UCLA (Lew Alcindor)
against Houston (Elvin Hayes) broadcast live in the middle of the night for us. I
was a battalion RTO on the night shift and riveted to the radio listening to the
Houston upset of UCLA at the Astrodome. It brought the states back to me, if only
for one night.--Dave LaForest
in cyberspace or somewhere:
Does anybody remember the DJ that went by the name of Dave 'The Walrus'?--
67/68 Ken
AFKN introduced me to country music..Merle Haggard (Branded Man) and Tammy
Wynette..David B., even a Michigan kid appreciated good music.
I recall hearing the big NCAA basketball game between UCLA (Lew Alcindor)
against Houston (Elvin Hayes) broadcast live in the middle of the night for us. I
was a battalion RTO on the night shift and riveted to the radio listening to the
Houston upset of UCLA at the Astrodome. It brought the states back to me, if only
for one night.--Dave LaForest
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