I'm pretty sure @BrianFromWA is serving our country right now. And @BlazerWookee wore some stars and stripes. Hell, even @HCP did his time. I know there are more I can't think of...
It was the 70s and followed the Whole Earth Festival....now you'll understand if the details are blurry
We were actually on the same ship...I got transferred just before your dad came on board...small world
"See, I did join the army, but I joined a *different* army. I joined the one with the condos and the private rooms."
I just now read that the Blue Ridge is currently the oldest operating ship in the US Navy. Now THAT'S crazy......she was the sea going version of a brand spanking new, fully loaded Cadillac when Riverman and I were on her. Time flies......
I just read she was in Hong Kong when the Chinese blocked the port. I spent months watching the sunset and Dolphins leaping after flying fish on the fantail of that ship...man she does look old now. Was sparkling new when I first got on board.
A "jeep" carrier. And a flaming coffin even in a minor battle. There's some really interesting history and related war stories behind this class of ships.....Kaiser shipyards at their best...and their worst......
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_off_Samar This was one of the most intense naval battles to include Jeep Carriers.
My great-grandfather was on one of those liberty ships that transported cargo and troops in WW2. My mom kept his journal and he talked about how the Aussies were 40 years behind the times and how people in Brisbane were a bunch of thieves, lol.