Criteria The Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal may be awarded to service members who, while serving in any capacity with the Navy or Marine Corps, distinguish themselves by heroism, outstanding achievem... The Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal may be awarded to service members who, while serving in any capacity with the Navy or Marine Corps, distinguish themselves by heroism, outstanding achievement or meritorious service (but not of sufficient nature to warrant a higher decoration). MoreHide
Criteria The Navy Good Conduct Medal (NGCM) is a decoration presented by the United States Navy to recognize members who have completed three years of honorable service. Medals awarded before January 1, 1996 r... The Navy Good Conduct Medal (NGCM) is a decoration presented by the United States Navy to recognize members who have completed three years of honorable service. Medals awarded before January 1, 1996 required four years of service. MoreHide
Criteria The Meritorious Unit Commendation may be awarded by the Secretary of the Navy to any unit of the Navy or Marine Corps that distinguishes itself under combat or noncombat conditions by either valorous ... The Meritorious Unit Commendation may be awarded by the Secretary of the Navy to any unit of the Navy or Marine Corps that distinguishes itself under combat or noncombat conditions by either valorous or meritorious achievement which renders that unit outstanding compared to other units performing similar service, but not sufficient to justify the award of the Navy Unit Commendation. MoreHide
Criteria The Navy Good Conduct Medal (NGCM) is a decoration presented by the United States Navy to recognize members who have completed three years of honorable service. Medals awarded before January 1, 1996 r... The Navy Good Conduct Medal (NGCM) is a decoration presented by the United States Navy to recognize members who have completed three years of honorable service. Medals awarded before January 1, 1996 required four years of service. MoreHide
Criteria The National Defense Service Medal is awarded for honorable active service as a member of the Armed Forces during the Korean War, Vietnam War, the war against Iraq in the Persian Gulf, and for service... The National Defense Service Medal is awarded for honorable active service as a member of the Armed Forces during the Korean War, Vietnam War, the war against Iraq in the Persian Gulf, and for service during the current War on Terrorism. In addition, all members of the National Guard and Reserve who were part of the Selected Reserve in good standing between August 2, 1990, to November 30, 1995, are eligible for the National Defense Service Medal. In the case of Navy personnel, Midshipment attending the Naval Academy during the qualifying periods are eligible for this award, and Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps (NROTC) Midshipmen ae only eligible if they participated in a summer cruise that was in an area which qualified for a campaign medal. MoreHide
Criteria The Navy Good Conduct Medal (NGCM) is a decoration presented by the United States Navy to recognize members who have completed three years of honorable service. Medals awarded before January 1, 1996 r... The Navy Good Conduct Medal (NGCM) is a decoration presented by the United States Navy to recognize members who have completed three years of honorable service. Medals awarded before January 1, 1996 required four years of service. MoreHide
Criteria The Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal may be awarded to members of the Armed Forces in the grades of lieutenant commander (or major) and below. It is awarded for meritorious service or achieveme... The Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal may be awarded to members of the Armed Forces in the grades of lieutenant commander (or major) and below. It is awarded for meritorious service or achievement in either combat or noncombat based on sustained performance or specific achievement of a superlative nature but which does not warrant a Navy Commendation Medal or higher. It may not be awarded for service involving participation in aerial flight after January 1, 1969. MoreHide
Criteria The Meritorious Unit Commendation may be awarded by the Secretary of the Navy to any unit of the Navy or Marine Corps that distinguishes itself under combat or noncombat conditions by either valorous ... The Meritorious Unit Commendation may be awarded by the Secretary of the Navy to any unit of the Navy or Marine Corps that distinguishes itself under combat or noncombat conditions by either valorous or meritorious achievement which renders that unit outstanding compared to other units performing similar service, but not sufficient to justify the award of the Navy Unit Commendation. MoreHide
Criteria The Navy Good Conduct Medal (NGCM) is a decoration presented by the United States Navy to recognize members who have completed three years of honorable service. Medals awarded before January 1, 1996 r... The Navy Good Conduct Medal (NGCM) is a decoration presented by the United States Navy to recognize members who have completed three years of honorable service. Medals awarded before January 1, 1996 required four years of service. MoreHide
Criteria The Navy Good Conduct Medal (NGCM) is a decoration presented by the United States Navy to recognize members who have completed three years of honorable service. Medals awarded before January 1, 1996 r... The Navy Good Conduct Medal (NGCM) is a decoration presented by the United States Navy to recognize members who have completed three years of honorable service. Medals awarded before January 1, 1996 required four years of service. MoreHide
Criteria The Navy Good Conduct Medal (NGCM) is a decoration presented by the United States Navy to recognize members who have completed three years of honorable service. Medals awarded before January 1, 1996 r... The Navy Good Conduct Medal (NGCM) is a decoration presented by the United States Navy to recognize members who have completed three years of honorable service. Medals awarded before January 1, 1996 required four years of service. MoreHide
In September 1972, after graduating the U.S. Navy School of Music, I was assigned to Chief Musician Bob Plant's unit band as part of the Commander Naval Air Forces Bands (COMNAVAIRLANT) stationed at Naval Air Station Norfolk, VA. Actually, I was an extra drummer assigned to the band. For my brief time a shore there, I was then assigned TAD to a DESFLOT band stationed over at NOB Norfolk, and hopped around with various other unit bands at NAS and elsewhere. In the 3rd week of October, I was informed by MUCM Larry Harrington, that I was to take this week off and get my "shot record", and put my "house" in order because I was being transferred to another band that was already deployed in the Mediterranean on the USS Forrestal. I had never met those guys in that band but I understood that it was one of the very first "ROCK BANDS" in the Navy. These guys were really good musicians and I was assigned to them after about a month of their deployment. Their original drummer had to return to CONUS on emergency leave and would not be returning. Upon arrival, they all seemed very pleased to have me there as they had been using one of the Forrestal crew members to play drums until I arrived. Again, this was a "ROCK" band, and I was not sure I was up to the job. However, when we started to rehearse, I knew I was going to enjoy this duty. The band did not go by their original moniker of a unit band number, but went by the name of "THIRD WIRE". I don't know who came up with it, but since we were on a carrier and the optimal arresting wire on deck was the third wire the name sort of made sense. I spent the next 3 years performing with them and they all became very close friends.
Best Moment
OH, we had so many fun moments on that ship... it is hard to pick one. However, one of the funniest was this. We were only a 8-piece "ROCK BAND" and were used primarily as a good will tool for the Admiral. When he would go visit the heads of the various countries in and around the Mediterranean Sea, he would take us with him and we would set up in the town square, or at a theater and perform a concert for the locals. Those were amazing times.... because we had practiced the songs that were popular in America when we deployed, but now they were just becoming hits in Europe. For them it was like having THE REAL group that recorded the song there. Great fun.
However, the most fun was when the Admiral decided he wanted to do a ceremony called a "Sunset Parade." It involved part of the crew, the Marine detachment and the band. IT WAS A PARADE on the Hanger Deck for visiting dignitaries. There really is NO SUCH thing as a 8-piece marching band. However, we were ordered to participate. Well, we had enough musicians and horns to be somewhat of a marching band. The keyboard player also played trombone, we had a sax player, 2 trumpets and another trombone. The bass player also played Sousaphone and we made the guitar player play the bass drum. I played the snare. Our chief in charge of the band was Musician Chief Jerry Vaughan. Now, somehow, Jerry enjoyed being in front of a 8-piece marching band and using his whistle to give commands. You know a real whistle... chrome plated with a lanyard. Well, one afternoon, prior to the "Sunset Parade", a few of us were sitting in the band space on the ship, when one of the guys (who shall remain anonymous) noticed the chief's whistle hanging on the bulkhead. He took it down and was examining it and saw that inside there was a ball and it was that ball that actually made the whistle work. He took out his pocket knife because, I believe he wanted to see what the ball was made of. (Many of us are inquisitive and have a real need to know.) Well, in a flash that ball popped out of that whistle and, well, all I can say is ... DISAPPEARED into thin air. Quckly, he hung the whistle back on the bulkhead and nothing more was said about it. Later that evening, while performing the "Sunset Parade," Chief Jerry put the whistle to his mouth to order us to march forward and the only thing that happened was a lot of air and a few blurb blurb blurb and some gargle type sounds, but NO WHISTLE. He immediately grabbed the whistle and banged it frantically against his other hand in hopes to make it work. But to no avail, the whistle was failing in its performance of its duties. Well, when that happens, you can imagine the laughing starting within the band and with only 8-pieces, when the horns stop playing, all you are left with is a bass drum and a snare drum playing. We eventually made it to the number 3 elevator with the rest of the troops, and continued playing Anchors Aweigh as the elevator rose to the flight deck level to the thunderous applause of the guests of honor and the Admiral. I remember it was already dark, and the Marine detachment and crew were dismissed, but the band was still standing at parade rest on that elevator. You can imagine how "pissed off" the Chief was that his whistle had been compromised, but me and my shipmates held tight and never ever told the whole story to the chief. I am sure eventually he figured someone had sabotaged his whistle, but for all I know, nobody snitched. It might have been the funniest moment in my entire career as a Navy Musician.
Worst Moment
We were steaming our way into Rhodes and we hit a typhoon that was a big one. We were rocking and rolling on a ship that was almost 1/4 of a mile long. In fact, we were taking 30 degree rolls on that beast. I had the watch up in the Combat Information Center on O-6 level monitoring a NTDS repeater. The only problem was, I was sitting in a chair with wheels.. In fact, all the chairs in that compartment had wheels. WHO puts chairs with wheels on a ship? I rolled around that deck like a pinball. I then tried to hold on to the actual NTDS repeater radar screen to stop rolling around but to no avail. I was getting a huge workout just trying to do my job. Finally, I turned to the commander, and requested to be relieved and that I was going to be of no use that evening because I could not even stay at my assigned station. Surprisingly, he agreed. But, he told me to get a line and secure the huge coffee urn so it would not tip over. Well, I was able to get some line and lash down the coffee pot, making it look a lot like Captain Ahab riding the back of Moby Dick tangled in the spear lines. I then managed to return to my compartment, below the water line, and as I lay on my rack I watched the mirror that was hanging on the bulkhead by one screw, go back and forth like the pendulum of a clock, only IT was not moving, but we were moving back and forth underneath it.
Chain of Command
We were assigned to the Flag. Heading over and back from the MED, we were just riding the ship, but once we picked up the "Flag" and became a flagship, we were assigned to the admiral... Commander Task Force 60.1 Being attached to the Flag Division had its perks for sure, although I don't really remember any of them LOL!
Every week, the Admiral would have a staff meeting that would involve all the men attached to the Flag Division attending this meeting. He would then proceed to show us slides of the many Russian ships and submarines in the area that were constantly watching us and we were constantly watching ourselves. The men of the staff would be frantically writing down all the information that the Admiral was giving. However, we in the band were NOT required to take notes as it was not our job to have this information at our fingertips. Now, at the end of each meeting, the Admiral would ask if anyone had any questions or concerns. Well, seems since our arrival on board, all we had to sleep on were what was referred to as "fart sacks", the cover of the mattress for your rack. We had no sheets and had not been issued sheets because we really were not Ship's Company and the ship had not picked up the flag when they left Norfolk. So the band was between a rock and a hard place. As it turned out, MU2 George Walker decided when the Admiral asked if there were any questions or concerns, he would mention to the Admiral that the band had no sheets to sleep on. YES, he indeed asked the Admiral if HE could get us some sheets. LOL. OMG! Well, the admiral turned to his aide and said "get the band some sheets!" The aide then turned to the flag LT and said "get the band some sheets!" The LT said to the Flag Chief.... well you get the idea. But NOTHING happened... and again at the next Flag meeting, George asked the same question and so it was repeated! Again, to no avail. Finally, in frustration, I remember one night noticing George and fellow shipmate Jerry Ball burning cork in the back of the compartment, to darken their faces, putting on their blue sweaters and watchcaps and taking the 2 laundry bags and heading toward the ship's laundry. They raided the laundry and came back with enough sheets and pillowcases for the rest of the cruise. Cleaver sailors these musicians.
Other Memories
One memory of being at sea and in port was learning very quickly where to sit on a Liberty Launch. As the band, in a duty status, we were authorized to ride any vessel back to the Forrestal that was heading that way... including any Liberty Launch, OMB, Captain's gig or Admirals Barge. I suppose those were some of the perks of being part of the Flag Division. That being said, when the band arrived at the landing to head back to the ship, those crew members on the pier were always glad to help load gear because the band got to go first on board the launch. I can still see all these rather inebriated sailors grabbing thousands of dollars of musical equipment and carrying it onboard to get on the boat first.
Now as a frequent "flyer" of Liberty boats, I know where to sit when returning to the ship. THE BOW. Usually right in the middle, and hopefully not with many of the hard-partying sailors who were on liberty. However, if you found yourself sitting at the bow of this luxurious form of transportation back to your ship and happened to have on either side of you some rather "green looking" shipmates, the best thing to do was grab them by their collar and put their heads over the side so they could relieve themselves of the over indulgence of Uozo and beer on the beach.
But YOU wanted to be in the bow when you did that.. because if you were NOT... it was flying aft and all over the rest of the crew who were riding that boat.
Criteria The Meritorious Unit Commendation may be awarded by the Secretary of the Navy to any unit of the Navy or Marine Corps that distinguishes itself under combat or noncombat conditions by either valorous ... The Meritorious Unit Commendation may be awarded by the Secretary of the Navy to any unit of the Navy or Marine Corps that distinguishes itself under combat or noncombat conditions by either valorous or meritorious achievement which renders that unit outstanding compared to other units performing similar service, but not sufficient to justify the award of the Navy Unit Commendation. MoreHide
Your memories of this course
I was very proud and pleased to have passed the audition in Basic Training to attend the Navy School of Music for "A" School. I remember arriving at Naval Amphibious Base, Little Creek, VA, on a Sunday afternoon to begin check in on Monday morning. We had rather new barracks at that time which were not open barracks as I was used to, but actual 4 man rooms. I was assigned to section 4 of a 4 section watch bill. We would attend classes all day, including classes for Music Theory and Music Harmony and also had to take lessons. At night we would either be on the watch bill or have to do individual practice in one of the many small practice rooms. Being a Navy Musician is one of the few jobs in the Navy where you have to have prior knowledge and skill for your rating. The Navy does not teach you HOW to play your instrument. You had to know how to play and read music before being accepted to school. What they did teach you was the "Navy Way" to play your instrument and how and what it took be a Navy Musician. At school you did acquire the skills that allowed you to then be ordered to one of the many shore station or sea going bands throughout the fleet.
The school was 6 months in duration, a very long and intense training course just for "A" School. We also practiced marching..... lots of marching, in formation as a band. Many of us had performed in marching bands in high school and college, but here we learned the "NAVY WAY" of marching in formation in a band. It was intense training, not so much physically like some "A" Schools, but they certainly worked your mind. It was very much like a college music school where you take nothing but music related classes.
The training at the Navy School of Music was superb and made it possible for me to advance and have a wonderful career as a Navy Musician.
Description A Mediterranean Cruise is a ship's deployment from her home port, usually lasting between 5 and 8 months. Ships visit different ports such as Athens, Istanbul, Izmir, Naples, Livorno and Gibralter . TA Mediterranean Cruise is a ship's deployment from her home port, usually lasting between 5 and 8 months. Ships visit different ports such as Athens, Istanbul, Izmir, Naples, Livorno and Gibralter . The ships hosted foreign militaries, performed numerous underway replenishments-at-sea and conducted general quarters drills, fire drills and maritime patrols.
US Navy provides during these deployments provocative "freedom of navigation" operations, known as FONOPS, that send warships into the disputed areas around the world on any given year.
Any cruise is hazardous with sailors injured or killed during flight, refueling, ordnance, operations or weather; day or night. Foriegn military vessels threatening by fast approach to ramming. Often at times ships are endangered by low fly overs from hostile aircraft.
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People You Remember I remember after being aboard for probably 4 months, while fighting some insomnia up in the aft gallI remember after being aboard for probably 4 months, while fighting some insomnia up in the aft galley, I looked up and saw coming of the kitchen Ron Mahon, a guy I attended high school with. Seems he was running the night bakery so that is why we never crossed paths. Well, he immediately told one of his shipmates to cut off two cinnamon buns in the next batch. The finest cinnamon buns I have ever enjoyed to this very day. Needless to say, future bouts of insomnia were spent in the aft galley with an old friend and now shipmate.... More
Memories Life at sea for me was a blast. Nothing better than being rocked to sleep by the rolling of the shiLife at sea for me was a blast. Nothing better than being rocked to sleep by the rolling of the ship. The chow is always great on the day you get underway, but when the galley runs out of fresh eggs and milk it can get pretty dicey. One thing I do remember very well is that most everything tastes like JP-5. The water, sometimes the coffee.... but then again, the Forrestal was a giant floating gas station. However, nothing better than not having to drive to work. You get up, get dressed, have chow and then down the passageway to work. No fighting for a parking space or sitting in traffic. But then again no excuse for being late either.... More
Criteria The National Defense Service Medal is awarded for honorable active service as a member of the Armed Forces during the Korean War, Vietnam War, the war against Iraq in the Persian Gulf, and for service... The National Defense Service Medal is awarded for honorable active service as a member of the Armed Forces during the Korean War, Vietnam War, the war against Iraq in the Persian Gulf, and for service during the current War on Terrorism. In addition, all members of the National Guard and Reserve who were part of the Selected Reserve in good standing between August 2, 1990, to November 30, 1995, are eligible for the National Defense Service Medal. In the case of Navy personnel, Midshipment attending the Naval Academy during the qualifying periods are eligible for this award, and Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps (NROTC) Midshipmen ae only eligible if they participated in a summer cruise that was in an area which qualified for a campaign medal. MoreHide
In September 1972, after graduating the U.S. Navy School of Music, I was assigned to Chief Musician Bob Plant's unit band as part of the Commander Naval Air Forces Bands (COMNAVAIRLANT) stationed at Naval Air Station Norfolk, VA. Actually, I was an extra drummer assigned to the band. For my brief time a shore there, I was then assigned TAD to a DESFLOT band stationed over at NOB Norfolk, and hopped around with various other unit bands at NAS and elsewhere. In the 3rd week of October, I was informed by MUCM Larry Harrington, that I was to take this week off and get my "shot record", and put my "house" in order because I was being transferred to another band that was already deployed in the Mediterranean on the USS Forrestal. I had never met those guys in that band but I understood that it was one of the very first "ROCK BANDS" in the Navy. These guys were really good musicians and I was assigned to them after about a month of their deployment. Their original drummer had to return to CONUS on emergency leave and would not be returning. Upon arrival, they all seemed very pleased to have me there as they had been using one of the Forrestal crew members to play drums until I arrived. Again, this was a "ROCK" band, and I was not sure I was up to the job. However, when we started to rehearse, I knew I was going to enjoy this duty. The band did not go by their original moniker of a unit band number, but went by the name of "THIRD WIRE". I don't know who came up with it, but since we were on a carrier and the optimal arresting wire on deck was the third wire the name sort of made sense. I spent the next 3 years performing with them and they all became very close friends.
OH, we had so many fun moments on that ship... it is hard to pick one. However, one of the funniest was this. We were only a 8-piece "ROCK BAND" and were used primarily as a good will tool for the Admiral. When he would go visit the heads of the various countries in and around the Mediterranean Sea, he would take us with him and we would set up in the town square, or at a theater and perform a concert for the locals. Those were amazing times.... because we had practiced the songs that were popular in America when we deployed, but now they were just becoming hits in Europe. For them it was like having THE REAL group that recorded the song there. Great fun.
However, the most fun was when the Admiral decided he wanted to do a ceremony called a "Sunset Parade." It involved part of the crew, the Marine detachment and the band. IT WAS A PARADE on the Hanger Deck for visiting dignitaries. There really is NO SUCH thing as a 8-piece marching band. However, we were ordered to participate. Well, we had enough musicians and horns to be somewhat of a marching band. The keyboard player also played trombone, we had a sax player, 2 trumpets and another trombone. The bass player also played Sousaphone and we made the guitar player play the bass drum. I played the snare. Our chief in charge of the band was Musician Chief Jerry Vaughan. Now, somehow, Jerry enjoyed being in front of a 8-piece marching band and using his whistle to give commands. You know a real whistle... chrome plated with a lanyard. Well, one afternoon, prior to the "Sunset Parade", a few of us were sitting in the band space on the ship, when one of the guys (who shall remain anonymous) noticed the chief's whistle hanging on the bulkhead. He took it down and was examining it and saw that inside there was a ball and it was that ball that actually made the whistle work. He took out his pocket knife because, I believe he wanted to see what the ball was made of. (Many of us are inquisitive and have a real need to know.) Well, in a flash that ball popped out of that whistle and, well, all I can say is ... DISAPPEARED into thin air. Quckly, he hung the whistle back on the bulkhead and nothing more was said about it. Later that evening, while performing the "Sunset Parade," Chief Jerry put the whistle to his mouth to order us to march forward and the only thing that happened was a lot of air and a few blurb blurb blurb and some gargle type sounds, but NO WHISTLE. He immediately grabbed the whistle and banged it frantically against his other hand in hopes to make it work. But to no avail, the whistle was failing in its performance of its duties. Well, when that happens, you can imagine the laughing starting within the band and with only 8-pieces, when the horns stop playing, all you are left with is a bass drum and a snare drum playing. We eventually made it to the number 3 elevator with the rest of the troops, and continued playing Anchors Aweigh as the elevator rose to the flight deck level to the thunderous applause of the guests of honor and the Admiral. I remember it was already dark, and the Marine detachment and crew were dismissed, but the band was still standing at parade rest on that elevator. You can imagine how "pissed off" the Chief was that his whistle had been compromised, but me and my shipmates held tight and never ever told the whole story to the chief. I am sure eventually he figured someone had sabotaged his whistle, but for all I know, nobody snitched. It might have been the funniest moment in my entire career as a Navy Musician.
We were steaming our way into Rhodes and we hit a typhoon that was a big one. We were rocking and rolling on a ship that was almost 1/4 of a mile long. In fact, we were taking 30 degree rolls on that beast. I had the watch up in the Combat Information Center on O-6 level monitoring a NTDS repeater. The only problem was, I was sitting in a chair with wheels.. In fact, all the chairs in that compartment had wheels. WHO puts chairs with wheels on a ship? I rolled around that deck like a pinball. I then tried to hold on to the actual NTDS repeater radar screen to stop rolling around but to no avail. I was getting a huge workout just trying to do my job. Finally, I turned to the commander, and requested to be relieved and that I was going to be of no use that evening because I could not even stay at my assigned station. Surprisingly, he agreed. But, he told me to get a line and secure the huge coffee urn so it would not tip over. Well, I was able to get some line and lash down the coffee pot, making it look a lot like Captain Ahab riding the back of Moby Dick tangled in the spear lines. I then managed to return to my compartment, below the water line, and as I lay on my rack I watched the mirror that was hanging on the bulkhead by one screw, go back and forth like the pendulum of a clock, only IT was not moving, but we were moving back and forth underneath it.
We were assigned to the Flag. Heading over and back from the MED, we were just riding the ship, but once we picked up the "Flag" and became a flagship, we were assigned to the admiral... Commander Task Force 60.1 Being attached to the Flag Division had its perks for sure, although I don't really remember any of them LOL!
Every week, the Admiral would have a staff meeting that would involve all the men attached to the Flag Division attending this meeting. He would then proceed to show us slides of the many Russian ships and submarines in the area that were constantly watching us and we were constantly watching ourselves. The men of the staff would be frantically writing down all the information that the Admiral was giving. However, we in the band were NOT required to take notes as it was not our job to have this information at our fingertips. Now, at the end of each meeting, the Admiral would ask if anyone had any questions or concerns. Well, seems since our arrival on board, all we had to sleep on were what was referred to as "fart sacks", the cover of the mattress for your rack. We had no sheets and had not been issued sheets because we really were not Ship's Company and the ship had not picked up the flag when they left Norfolk. So the band was between a rock and a hard place. As it turned out, MU2 George Walker decided when the Admiral asked if there were any questions or concerns, he would mention to the Admiral that the band had no sheets to sleep on. YES, he indeed asked the Admiral if HE could get us some sheets. LOL. OMG! Well, the admiral turned to his aide and said "get the band some sheets!" The aide then turned to the flag LT and said "get the band some sheets!" The LT said to the Flag Chief.... well you get the idea. But NOTHING happened... and again at the next Flag meeting, George asked the same question and so it was repeated! Again, to no avail. Finally, in frustration, I remember one night noticing George and fellow shipmate Jerry Ball burning cork in the back of the compartment, to darken their faces, putting on their blue sweaters and watchcaps and taking the 2 laundry bags and heading toward the ship's laundry. They raided the laundry and came back with enough sheets and pillowcases for the rest of the cruise. Cleaver sailors these musicians.
One memory of being at sea and in port was learning very quickly where to sit on a Liberty Launch. As the band, in a duty status, we were authorized to ride any vessel back to the Forrestal that was heading that way... including any Liberty Launch, OMB, Captain's gig or Admirals Barge. I suppose those were some of the perks of being part of the Flag Division. That being said, when the band arrived at the landing to head back to the ship, those crew members on the pier were always glad to help load gear because the band got to go first on board the launch. I can still see all these rather inebriated sailors grabbing thousands of dollars of musical equipment and carrying it onboard to get on the boat first.
Now as a frequent "flyer" of Liberty boats, I know where to sit when returning to the ship. THE BOW. Usually right in the middle, and hopefully not with many of the hard-partying sailors who were on liberty. However, if you found yourself sitting at the bow of this luxurious form of transportation back to your ship and happened to have on either side of you some rather "green looking" shipmates, the best thing to do was grab them by their collar and put their heads over the side so they could relieve themselves of the over indulgence of Uozo and beer on the beach.
But YOU wanted to be in the bow when you did that.. because if you were NOT... it was flying aft and all over the rest of the crew who were riding that boat.