1.Read RADM Cullin's transcripts. Interesting how similar events are perceived differently.

2.Joined the Rock Jan 72 in Naples as ASWO, coming from a multi-weapon DD on my second sea tour. Rock's primary ASW weapon was the sonar dome. Soon afterwards, a German pilot managed to ding the dome transiting from [someplace] in Germany down the river. Existed in the forward port JO bunkroom. Memories I have of the hurricane transit: The Ops officer [red beard] wearing a life jacket into the wardroom; Blue water breaking atop the forward mount;  watching the crack in the overhead of the officer's barbershop open and close; stopping the day before arrival and painting the sides.

3.Even tho we were homported in Newport, the Rock spent 3 weeks per month in NORVA so we couldn't draw separation pay. We had to submit daily "chit" reports as the CHT data base was developed before the overhaul.

4. Overhaul in Boston was a nightmare. Living in the abandoned base quarters, getting on the bus at 0400 daily for the transit, returning home about 1800. Duty onboard every three days. Always COLD.

5. Volunteered to go to Gaeta but only if I could fleet up to the Navigator's job. First night out, we lost LORAN and the weather was overcast, requiring me to DR across the pond. Without QMCS [???], I'd never made it. He became a father figure and inflicted my addiction [to this day] for midwatch coffee. My dog stayed in my cabin and was popular with the traffic coming and going to the bridge. Vividly recall getting the call from the QMOW towards the end of the transit regarding the rapid rise in the fathometer. Walked onto the bridge, took one look at the chart, sucked up my frocked LT courage and yelled: "This is the Navigator. Rapid shoaling. Recommend all stop, left full rudder!" The CO dropped his Rum River Crook and coffee cup and damn near ripped my head off. In '86, I was the COMNAVBASECHASN N3 and had to brief RADM Collins [CCDG2] on the new Cooper River bridge project. We reshared that moment [and I received the same icy stare]. I was on the bridge when the "What Ship? What Rock?" interchange took place as we entered the Med.

6. As the C6F navigator, was also the Honors and Protocol officer. Got to see a bunch of dignitaries and the Admiral's coxswain always managed to open one more bottle of champagne than was required to be shared with the sideboys. Busted my share of QM's who were potheads. Hated the "rap sessions" and Z-grams because they destroyed the chain of command. Recall the riot and transiting south thru the Straits of Messina at night leaving more than a "minimal wake". And the XO refusing to grant me emergency leave while my wife was miscarrying in the Naples hospital while we were in Gaeta.