1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

Subject:
FW: Heard from you
Date:
Tue, 31 Aug 1999 14:25:07 -0400
From:
"Osredkar, Florian" <fosredkar@mrcoffee.com>
To:
"'samvilla@home.com'" <samvilla@home.com>

And here's the other one!
Sam, do you have L'heureux's address? I lost track of him in the last few
years and would like to get in touch with him again.

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Osredkar, Florian
> Sent: Tuesday, August 17, 1999 3:48 PM
> To: 'samvilla@home.com'
> Subject: Heard from you
>
> Hey Sam,
> Sure was a pleasant surprise to come in to work this morning and find
> your reply on my e-mail. I have a computer at home but am not plugged into
> the net yet. I suppose that makes me kind of an anachronism in this world
> of instant communication but as I get older I feel less and less eager to
> stay in touch with the world. Of course the downside of this is that I
> would lose the ties with friends (and shipmates); and those I would not
> want to give up. So one of these days I'll connect into the ether.
> I do have four kids( the oldest one being 25 and the youngest 16
> years old) but I'm not a grandfather yet and, to be honest, am in no hurry
> to become one. Bob Wein has 5 children, close in age to mine and none are
> married either. It'll be a shock one day to be going to bed with a
> grandmother. Bob's oldest and only boy was in the Navy aboard the USS
> EISENHOWER working on the flightdeck. From what he said I could tell that
> the Navy you and I knew is no more; and the change has not been for the
> better.
> Yes, I do remember vividly and fondly the hours we spent topside up
> in AA aft. My favorite time was in the morning right after reveille. I'd
> get a fresh cup of coffee from the messdeck, go up to AA aft and watch the
> day being born. There is nothing like the solitude of a morning at sea.
> I'm sure you experience that on your sailing jaunts along the California
> coast. And yes, I can still hear Jim Franks' voice singing along with his
> Irish records. In fact, I remember a lot of the words to the songs he
> played. Has anyone heard from or of Jim? I'd sure like to get in touch
> with him. The poor guy went off the deep end after his wife left him. He
> became a different person. I would not be surprised if he ended up in a
> drunk tank somewhere with a ruined liver.
> Your PROVIDENCE web page is really a sight to behold and it is
> obviously a labor of love. I sense that for you as for me also the
> memories of the PROVIDENCE are bittersweet- sweet because they are from
> our youth and bitter because we can never go back to those days. The best
> we can do is savor the memories of them with those of our shipmates who
> were part of that glorious time. Thanks to you, Sam, we don't have to wait
> for reunions and chance meetings to do so.
> The reunion was an incredible experience for me and I've vowed never
> to miss another one. I think FM division far outnumbered any other group.
> You know all of them: Mike Matteson, Lee Ingraham, Corry Tromp, Ted
> Petruna, Larry Kurtz, Bob Wein and yours truly. The four days went by in a
> flash. Even my wife had a great time. She remembers you from the time she
> visited the PROV back in November of '69 at North Island's pier Juliet. I
> really felt a kinship with the guys from previous crews, some of whom are
> now well into their old age. I spoke at length with Bob Somerville who
> flew one of CL-82's scout planes and Ray "Judge" Lappe who was on the
> catapult crew. They had lot of spellbinding stories to tell.
> When you reply, tell me a bit about what you've done in the past 30
> years. Do you still have your parents? I have a faint memory of being at
> your house and meeting your dad and , I believe, your sister also. How
> long have you been married? Your wife looks like a real beauty- you always
> did have an eye for good looking women and I see that has not changed.
> My career has been a series of technical jobs, in the manufacturing
> field mostly. Thanks to the GI Bill I got a mechanical engineering degree
> after interminable years of night school. Both my parents have died and it
> scares me to think that when I entered the service they were the age that
> I am now and how incredibly quickly the years between then and now have
> passed. Makes me think that I shouldn't be making too many long range
> plans.
> My son is on the internet and Bob Wein and I will visit your web
> page this evening over a couple beers and, who knows, maybe even a few
> tears. We both get mushy when we mix alcohol with Navy memories.
> I'll be talking again with you, soon.
> -- Ozzie

Sam, do you remember or still have nightmares about our drill team's first
performance at the San Diego YMCA when during one of our routines someone's
bayonet hit some cymbals behind us on the stage. We akll lost our timing and
the routine turned into a jumbled mess. I recall that Hux was nearly in
tears. But I think we more than redeemed ourselves during later events. Bob
Wein was a member of the team at that time and we still discuss that fiasco
but are able to laugh about it now.
Talk to you soon, my friend!
-- Ozzie

-----Original Message-----
From: Sam Villa [mailto:samvilla@home.com]
Sent: Thursday, September 30, 1999 3:20 PM
To: Osredkar, Florian
Subject: Re: JPEG image 426x335 pixels

Ozzie
That's right! Now I remember you taking a
convertible ride in the coleseum with a beautiful
girl of the court. Don't know how you talked your
way into that situation. You were such a "Romeo."
Sam
--

Sam Villa
P.O. Box 161182
San Diego, CA 92176
619/692-0478
http://members.home.net/providence

Sam,your memory for detail is phenomenal. Yes, I still smoke a pipe
occasionally but not nearly as much as in the service where, I think, most
of us smoked 'cause we thought it made us look more manly. Come to think of
it , I haven't seen corncob pipes on the shelves either. I wonder if someone
decided that they were carcinogenic and the EPA pulled them off the market.
Are you a pipe smoker, too? There is a charm to smoking a pipe that sucking
on a cigarette just does not have.
Adios for now.
-- Ozzie

-----Original Message-----
From: Sam Villa [mailto:samvilla@home.com]
Sent: Saturday, October 02, 1999 1:15 PM
To: Osredkar, Florian
Subject: Re: JPEG image 426x335 pixels

Ozzie
Just last year or so, my wife visited Nebraska and
I requested she send me a corn cob pipe since
there is a lot of corn in Nebraska. Would you
believe she had a tought time finding one. I
remember that you used to smoke a similar type of
pipe. It seemed to give you a lot of
contentment. Do you still smoke a pipe?
Sam
--

Sam Villa
P.O. Box 161182
San Diego, CA 92176
619/692-0478
http://members.home.net/providence

Hi Sam,
Many thanks for the correction on my roster goof.
Your idea of info on rates/jobs sounds good. There is a navy website where
you can get a 'thumb-nail' sketch of duties of the various navy ratings:

Go to: www.chinfo.navy.mil/navpalib/.www/subject.html

This site has a wealth of info, but to get info on duties of ratings, click
on "R", then under 'Ranks, Rates, and Ratings, select 'Navy Rating Insignia
and Duties'.
This might give you some ideas, or you may want to just add a link to this
site. In any event, the duties described are very general -- and certainly
vary greatly from seaman to master chief petty officer -- and from small ship
to large ship (or, for that matter, from ships of the same class)!

In my case, as a Senior Chief Personnelman on Providence, I was the leading
Chief of the "X" Division. The "X" Division worked directly for the
Executive Officer and consisted of personnel assigned to the Master-at-Arms
force, the captain's office, the personnel office, the training and education
office, the post office, the print shop, the legal office, the chaplains
office, the photo lab, and the public affairs office. In other words, we were
the 'administrators' of the ship. My specific job involved assigning all my
people to the watch/quarter/station bill (general quarters stations, etc),
assigning newly reporting crewmen to the various ship departments/divisions;
obtaining school quotas for sending people temporary duty to service schools;
overseeing transfer orders, reenlistments/discharges; ordering and
administering advancement exams for the ship and checking their eligibility;
writing up their requests for transfer (or whatever); receiving shore patrol
requirements from higher authority and assigning SP requirements to the
various divisions and making sure their orders were prepared -- and same
thing with beach guard requirements, etc. In other words, I kept the CO and
XO 'out of jail' with anything that had to do with administering the ship's
crew -- and hopefully added to crew morale by trying my damndest to get them
what they wanted. That's just it in a nutshell. After serving the first 3
years of CLG-6's life in this capacity, I was selected for, and commissioned
as a brand new Ensign in the captain's cabin and was transferred to the
then-new nuclear-powered guided missle cruiser USS Long Beach where I was the
"X" Division Officer and Personnel/Training Officer -- doing essentially the
same thing I had done aboard Providence plus standing deck watches and other
'details' as an Ensign/LTJG for a couple years before moving on to bigger and
better things, like for example a voluntary tour of duty with the Naval
Advisory Group in Vietnam as a LT (ha).
If you have questions, or there is anything I can help you with, just drop me
a note.
Have a nice day.
Warm regards,
Lloyd
Reply made to your
"Lloyd
Change made in Roster.

Thinking about making a section about rates.

This is a test.

Can you tell me about your rate and what job your rate requires and some
the duties and so on.(years on Prov and Job)
This is just for my eyes and evaluation to see if a section on rates
would be interesting. Just thinking. My end up asking different crew
members about their rate and job. May make up a small questionnaire.
Not sure yet.
Sam"

Sam, I too, wish you a very enjoyable Thanksgiving holiday. I want to thank
you again for founding and maintaining the PROVIDENCE website. For me it's a
time machine which allows me to revisit some of the best years of my life.
I must tell you also, Sam, that I marvel at how profound you've become- so
different from the hell raiser I so well remember. I do hope, though, that
when we meet again there will still be some of the old Sam Villa left so
that I won't feel too self-conscious when I get a bit pie-eyed and raunchy.
All the best to you, old friend, and to those that matter to you.
-- Oz

-----Original Message-----
From: Sam Villa [mailto:samvilla@home.com]
Sent: Tuesday, November 23, 1999 8:20 AM
To: Don; Florian Osredkar; Kurtz, Larry; Michael Matteson; Victor
L'heureux; Victor L'heureux; Sam Villa
Subject: Happy Thanksgiving

Crewmembers and Friends;
Want to wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving. This year has been a great
one especially because of the Prov Website. It has made it possible to
meet many new sailors from my past and to re-live many old experiences.
It has been a unique thing for me. The Prov site has not been getting
many "hits" lately but it's okay for the Prov site exists and has a
presence for crewmembers to one day discover. I will be at the next
reunion for sure and look forward to it. I have much to be thankful for
and on this special day I will stop and reflect on how good life is.
Your friend
Sam

Sam,
Happy Holidays to you!!!

OK, who is Linda?? Any Pictures??

Things are going well out here. We received our first snow on Saturday and
it has been between 30-45 degrees ever since. I still have a few wisps of
snow in the shadows of the house left on the ground. Up to this weekend,
the weather has been balmy - in the 60's and 70's - unheard of in this area
this time of year.

We did it - we purchased our first artificial Christmas tree! The guys are
too busy to help decorate and I'm getting tired of dragging all the stuff
out to decorate myself. The one we purchased is a 7-1/2 foot tree with the
lights pre-attached to the limbs - just open the box and instant tree
(almost). Looks good and I don't have to check the water level in the tree
stand each night.

Marc (23 yrs. next year) is keeping himself busy.
He is working as a LAN support and telephone System Specialist at an
Insurance company.
... goes to night school at DeVry Tech for is BS in Telecommunications.
... is a badge-carrying reserve deputy for the Lake County Sheriff's
department
... is a youth advisor for an Explorer Post (a youth group sponsored by the
Police & Fire Departments for 14-21 yr olds)
... is my Technical consultant for the church Technology Group (Computer
LAN system & telephones)
... is an adult leader in the Boy Scout troop sponsored by the church
... commutes to upper Michigan frequently to visit his girlfriend (860
miles R/T)
... drives a '98 silver-grey Malibu
Even though I see him every morning when he drives me to the train station,
I spend more time with him via email!

Nicolas ( 20 yrs. next year) is also on a busy schedule.
He is working part-time as a camping specialist for Galyan's, a high-end
sporting equipment store in town. He is an avid rock climber and caver
(spelunking).
... goes to school at the local Junior College majoring in Graphic
(Computer) Art - hopes to transfer to a College in Michigan to complete his
degree.
... is planning to thru-hike the Appalachian Trail in 2002-2003 with a
group of four friends. He is a knowledgeable hiker and an experienced
camper. (Deep down I would like to go along - how can I quit working for
three months for the trip?
... drives a '95 white Jeep Cherokee.
With Nicolas' shifted schedule, he is the night owl of the group, sometimes
sleeping until 10 o'clock and getting home after work around 2300 hrs,
communicating with his climbing buddies via email chat lines until 0100
hrs. (The nearest buddy is 2 hours away)

Timothe' (16 yrs next May) is anticipating getting his driving permit and
is drooling over which car he will be able to use.
Even though he is a full-time High School Sophomore, he still keeps busy.
He is in the band - plays tuba and baritone.
... is an officer in the Explorer Post
... is a senior leader in the Boy Scout Troop
... goes climbing with his brother whenever he can

Penny and I are active in Scouting, sometimes there are activities and
meetings each day of the week. It gets a little hectic at times. We
purchased property on a lake a couple of years ago and plan on building a
"summer home" within five years. Ultimately retiring there sometime later.
My financial advisor says if I don't pay more attention to my investments,
I may not retire until I'm 70! Actually we are looking pretty good right
now, it's just that our land purchase and 2nd house plans were not in our
original long-range plan set up some years ago by our advisor and it makes
her work a little harder to fit this into our plan!!

As much as I would like to, it doesn't look like I will get back to
California any time soon. I miss the San Diego area with its warm climate
and great water activities, I miss the San Francisco area for the many
friends and neighbours still there and the scenery. Time seems to slip
away... (That's what my accountant says anyway...).

Sam. I think of the times we had in days past often. I still have my trophy
for the Drill Team earned at the parade in Santa Rosa. I believe you have
the matching trophy for the Color Guard. My trophy sits on a shelf in my
study along with a picture of the team performing on the CLG-6 fantail
enroute to Portland, OR. We had some great times...

Vic

Victor C. L'Heureux
Order Fulfilment
IBM Global Services
Tie line 461.3592
Fax 312-394-4684

IBM internet mail: LHEUREUX@US.IBM.COM
Comed internet mail: Victor.C. LHeureux@UCM.COM

Yes I did. As I recall, it was a non-event. There were teams from all
over the country at the facility. We stayed in dorms overnight, and toured
the town of Annapolis, MD. There were three of us (I don't recall names),
the Commander, a seaman from the deck crew (short guy with curly hair) and
myself. I believe you have a picture of this trio. The Saturday morning
was foggy and very still. The races didn't start until later in the day
due to the poor conditions. We practiced for about an hour, getting used
to the sailboat we were to use for the race. I don't recall the model, but
is was a sloop-rig boat about 16 foot. Lido? I don't remember. The race
started in chaos because there was no wind. I believe it took us almost
five minutes just to cross the start line. Sails were luffing in the air
mostly caused by us moving around in the cockpit. I recall having some
pictures of the event, although the fog made everything look rather
uninteresting. The most exciting part of the trip was boarding the new
fiberglass 44' Ludder Yawls use by the cadets. They were sharp --Royal
blue hulls with white decks & racing stripes! There must have been 10 of
those babies docked in the harbor. There were a few of the older wooden
models in the water and some in dry-dock on chocks sans mast. Remember our
trips on the yawls in San Diego harbor? I sure do, in fact I look at the
pictures of the races we were in on occasion. I should scan them in to the
computer and email to you. I guess I got to dust off the old photo albums
and locate the pictures!

Anyway, we left Annapolis that evening for the airport and our trip back to
the West Coast. A rather uneventful trip but happy for the experience.
Why didn't you go?

Victor C. L'Heureux
Order Fulfilment
IBM Global Services
Tie line 461.3592
Fax 312-394-4684

IBM internet mail: LHEUREUX@US.IBM.COM
Comed internet mail: Victor.C. LHeureux@UCM.COM

Sam Villa <samvilla@home.com> on 01/13/2000 12:55:49 PM

To: VLHEUREUX@BIGFOOT.COM
cc:
Subject: Sailing

Vic
Did you get to compete in sailing at Annapolis?
Never did have much feedback on that event.
Sam
--

Sam Villa
Real Estate Broker
P.O. Box 161182
San Diego, CA 92176
Phone: (619) 998-5870
http://members.home.net/providence/
http://members.home.net/samvilla/

Yeah Sam,
I remember we all had "civvies" lockers down at Seven Seas in San Diego. I
remember the first "dragon liberty cuffs" I had them put on my blues, and how San
Diego shore patrol cancelled my liberty. I missed the last boat and had to wait
down on that bench at the water taxi "nickle snatcher". I saw Jack Jost's name on
the roster. He was the big tall swede RM2 in CR division. I heard he made Master
Chief. Don't know if he is still in though. I am on terminal leave and loving
civilian life finally. Hell I never thought I would live this long. Especially,
considering some of those westpac liberty nights.
Tom

Sam Villa wrote:

> Tom
> Oh yeh, I had a fu-man-chu mustache for a while. Officers did not like
> that at all. I was young. I remember when we could finally wear
> civilian clothes off the ship for the first time. To be different I was
> the only one who wore whites on liberty call in Subic Bay. I was
> brought back to the ship by shore patrol for a dirty uniform. Did you
> ever eat a "galoot" in subic bay. Not sure about some spellings above.
> It was another time that can never be again, no more base in Subic.
> Sam
>
> Tom Miller wrote:

> > Sam Villa wrote:
> >
> > > Tom
> > > Thanks for your input. Placed you on the roster.
> > > By the way what is a bunny tube?
> > > Sam
> > > FTM-3
> > > 1968-72
> > >
> > > Tom Miller wrote:
> > > >
> > > > Hi Sam,
> > > > I was on watch in radio when the helo carrying RADM Robinson, Captain
> > > > Taylor (his COS) crashed. I had just gone up to the bridge with the
> > > > message board (yeah, I know we had bunny tubes), because the watch supe
> > > > RM2 O'Brian (Obie) wanted the OOD to chop this message. The helo was
> > > > just about to touch down, and as I recall the ship heeled over (to port
> > > > I think), causing the blade to strike the combing. The bird then seemed
> > > > to veer off and hit the water. Memories fade, but that is the way I
> > > > remember it.
> > > > Tom (then RM3 Miller)

"RM1" Ray Miller is working for San Diego City College, and who could ever
forget Tomasello "the Frito Bandito". Yeah, those were definitely the best
and worst of times. Talk to you later shipmate.
Tom

Sam Villa wrote:

> Tom
> I remember your face. Funny how names fade but a face remains in the
> the memory banks. I remember LCDR Williams, B.R. Taylor, R. Linker, RR
> Miller, and for sure J.R. Tomasello. You were aboard the Prov for a
> long time. Zumwalt was a friend to the average military guy and will be
> longed remembered.
> Sam

The "bunny tubes" were the pneumatic brass (I know because I had to shine
them) tubes that ran to critical points. There were holders that you put
messages in and fired throughout the ship to the bridge, radio, cic, etc. to
deliver messages. I always found it fun to send left over midrats to the
bridge hehehe. By the way, I remember seeing your picture in the cruisebook.
Damn, we were hairy back then, thanks to Zumwalt
Tom
RM3
1969-72

> Tom Miller wrote:
> >
> > Hi Sam,
> > I was on watch in radio when the helo carrying RADM Robinson, Captain
> > Taylor (his COS) crashed. I had just gone up to the bridge with the
> > message board (yeah, I know we had bunny tubes), because the watch supe
> > RM2 O'Brian (Obie) wanted the OOD to chop this message. The helo was
> > just about to touch down, and as I recall the ship heeled over (to port
> > I think), causing the blade to strike the combing. The bird then seemed
> > to veer off and hit the water. Memories fade, but that is the way I
> > remember it.
> > Tom (then RM3 Miller)

Hello, Sam,
You are really taxing my memory regarding Nip and Tuck. I can't even
remember the skipper's name. We had an Admiral aboard also, since we were the
flag ship.
I remember one night in the early hours of the morning, I was
desperatly trying to make contact with the Little Rock via UHF ( it was very
new at the time) . The Admiral was interested in what I was doing and we
shared a short chit chat over real bad coffee.
As to the two dogs: they were tawny to white, full size boxers,
friendly to all, had their sea legs, were allowed on deck only in port and
billeted with a couple of BMs. Any other information would be pure
speculation on my part.

Bill

Howdy Sam,
You've done a fantastic job on the website! My wife (see profile)
emailed me the site yesterday (haven't found out where she got it, but
will), and have spent WAY too much time checking it out. I've got three
or four boxes/suitcases packed with photos and memorabilia from the
Providence in the garage, and plan on browsing through with my son to
see if there's anything you might want to use on the site.
I was on Providence from 10/70 to 10/72, and one of my most vivid
recollections is the helo crash. I was just below the fantail deck in
my office as the blades tore through the skin of the ship, and was the
only crewmember reported missing because I was one of the first on deck
(the ladder and hatch to the fantail was right outside my office, PAO
across from the Post Office, and didn't make the muster station. Got in
deep shit for that.) It was by far the most surreal thing I've ever
experienced, hearing the voices and seeing just the red lights coming
out of the dark.
Anyway, I'd love to hear from you (you're in San Diego, yes?),
because I live in Poway and am the owner/operator of a termite & pest
control company (my pest control technician/oldest friend was stationed
on the Providence as well, I can hardly wait to show him your site).
You may even remember me, or at least knew I was aboard. I was the
ship's journalist. I produced the monthly Providence magazine, and the
daily newspaper that was in the mess hall most every morning, while at
sea.
Hope to hear from you.

MY PROFILE:

1. Name: Larry L. Larson
2. Wife: Celeste
3. Date: February 5, 2000
4. Name of Ship/Station: Providence/Public Affairs Office
5. Chat Room Nickname: None yet
6. Date Aboard Ship: Oct. 1970 to Oct. 1972
7. Rate & Division: JO3 & we were shuffled around alot (nobody wanted
us?)
8. DOB: 10/16/50
9. Age: 49
10. E-Mail Address: bugmanlarry@earthlink.net
11. Mailing Address: PO Box 1138/Poway, CA/92074-1138
12. Home Phone #(858) 486-9406
13. Comments:

Hi Sam:

I was reading the sea stories and thoroughly enjoying them, especially the
one from Mike Matteson on the screw with Admiral Moorer. I'm sure he got a
smile out of it as I remember Admiral Moorer was an old shipmate on the
Providence when he was 7th fleet. He said if he ever had a seagoing command
again it would be on this ship.

I also remember when BM3 Don Hackler came back from liberty early one morning
to relieve the watch on the quarterdeck, he however was rather sauced from a
night of frolic. He was sitting in the shack half awake when the OOD called
out Bos'n Mate Providence arriving bong him aboard. Hack could not
immediately find the bong so frantically he picked up the mike and in his
best bos'n mate voice said "BONG BONG BONG BONG PROVIDENCE ARRIVING" I don't
remember all the details after that but the Skipper came aboard and I believe
he told the OOD I want to speak with the BMOW. I'm sure Hack told me what was
said but I just don't remember what it was. I'm sure the old man was a good
butt chewer though

Take care

John MacBride

You haven't met some of these guys. A clown would be outclassed. I talked to one guy last
night for about an hour that told me that he got drunk at a christman party in Italy right after the
war. When he saw the admiral at the party, he slapped him on the back and said "How's it
going, George?" He wasn't court martialed for that, but the admiral gave orders for him to be taken
back to the ship and given a salt water shower. He broke free as they were about to throw him in
the shower and went streaking forward into officer's country. Did I mention that he was stark
naked?
He made it into the wardroom where there was an embassy party in progress with dignitaries from
several nations before he was tackled by the escort and taken back to the shower. He didn't
remember any of it until the captain read it to him at mast the next day.

By the way, mention the "Gooney Birds of America" on your home page to see if you get any
response. Apparently there was a drinking group on the CL-82 by that name. If anyone of them
got caught without their "gooney bird" card, they had to buy drinks for whoever caught them for the
rest of the night.

Also, ask if anyone has a picture of the dog that was on board in the Med. during her cruise.

Jack Reighley

I have worked for the State of Kansas as a Programmer/Analyst for the past
23 years. Anxiously awaiting to retire in about 3 years. I have been married
twice before have a 22 year old daughter from my first marriage, and a 5
month old grandson. I and my bride of 8 months plan to retire to Tampa/St.
Pete area.
I have a lot of memories, seems like bits and pieces now. Memories of a
commemorative 6" shell that was lost, misplaced, surely not stolen. Hauling
down the Admiral's flag (I think that was the 1st Fleet Admiral, I still
have it). Sweating in the 6" powder room and 6" turret. Drinking powdered
milk (seems like we added LOTS of sugar to it to make it taste good).
Standing bridge watches under Capt. McWethy. Running liberty launches
from Prov to San Diego.
Jeeze I could go on and on. Thanks for producing a great web site. I have it
book marked and will return often.

Paul Lewis
KDHR-Information Systems
Application Programmer/Analyst III
(785) 296-5061
plewis@hr.state.ks.us
-----------------------------
Name: Paul L. Lewis
Website:
Referred by: Net Search
From: Topeka, KS
Time: 2000-06-09 19:02:49
Comments: What a great surprise when I opened my email at work this morning to find one from John Reighley with an
invitation to visit the USS Providence web site. I have just spent all morning looking at it. Enjoyed looking at the photo's of the
"POWDER ROOM" that was my first GQ station. Look forward to coming back many times. Thanks again.
----------------------------
Paul
That was my old FT gang working down there. Those working parties were
something else. Sure glad we didn't have the 16" guns.
Shipmate
Sam
----------------------------
Sam,
On more then one occasion I was glad we didn't have 16" guns. In late 70 or
early 71 I had gone down to the 6" shell hoist prior to a practice fire of
the guns. Me, and probably one of your guys, were loading up the tray just
before general quarters was sounded, just to be ready. I was manhandling a
shell when the ship took a roll, my right hand slipped off the top of the
shell and all I could think of was oh s&%# this thing is going to hit the
deck and blow us all up. With my left hand I started pushing it toward the
tray. I got it in the tray but I caught my left ring finger between the
bottom of the shell and the lip of the tray. Needless to say the corner of
my finger was smashed off about 1/2" down. Anyway got down to sickbay where
a great doctor sewed it back on.

Paul Lewis
KDHR-Information Systems
Application Programmer/Analyst III
(785) 296-5061
plewis@hr.state.ks.us

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