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HERE
Best Moment Getting 22 Marines to extend their tour until we completed our change of homeport to Bremerton, Washington. Most the MarDet had been given BS NJP's by the previous command to set them up for expeditious removal from the PRP Program if they messed up a second time. I told them if they served well, upon transfer out I would remove their page 12s. Being promoted from a lowly pollywog to a Shellback. Being the COT for the Sunset Parade in Cannes, France. We had our own Silent Drill Team that performed. Bo Derek was one of the guests for it. Promotion to Sergeant Major!
Worst Moment #1. EA-6B crash. EA-3B was attempting to land on the USS Nimitz CVN-68 at night during blue water operations off of Lebanon. Aircraft attempted to catch the arresting gear wire 5 times to no avail. During one of the bolters the EA-3B drop out of view below the flight deck almost impacting the water. After regaining altitude the aircraft was running low on fuel with less than 800lbs left, the aircraft then meet up with the A-7 tanker which would not work because the buddy store was spewing fuel every where (No Joy). Due to the low fuel state the EA-3B was unable to make it to a shore base and it was decided to launch the KA-6B tanker. It was then determined that the A-6 couldn't be launched due to it was blocked in on the bow by other aircraft from the last recovery. After a discussion between the aircraft, CAG and VQ-2 CO, It was ruled out for the crew to bail out or ditch into the cold Mediterranean water. The barricade was rigged, then it was discovered that a big wrench used to tighten up the barricade was missing, so the barricade was sagging 8 foot. The EA-3B made a really nice approach to the carrier descending toward the barricade at a high angle, once near the barricade the LSO told the pilot to "Cut, Cut" meaning kill the engines, the pilot failed to do so flying into the barricade really high hitting the nose landing gear on the sagging barricade ripping it back and slamming the A-3 into the deck then skidding down the flight deck and off the angle into the sea. The rescue Helo hovered above the A-3 not noting any movement inside; the helo SAR swimmers did not enter the A-3. After 13 minutes of floating the EA-3B sank with its 7 men crew to the bottom of the sea.
CREWNAMES: KILLED: (7) LT Alan A. Levine, Pilot. LCDR. Ronald R. Callander, Nav. LT Stephen H. Batchelder, _Eval. LT James D. Richards, _Eval. AT2 Richard A. Herzing, ESM OP. Note: Took flight from AT2 Michael Lunde in order to get his 100 traps in the EA-3B. CTI3 Craig R. Rudolf, Intel. CTI3 Patrick R. Price, Intel.
#2. Finding out that one of our stellar Guard Chiefs - Sgt. Cuzzi was a thief and giving him a "big chicken dinner"!
Chain of Command The first Ship's CO Capt. Conner was an asshole! The second, Captain Bennett was wonderful. Rear Adm. Kihune, COMCRUDESGRU 5, was great also and loved the Marines. The MarDet CO was Capt. J.A. Haig, and the XO/Guard Officer, 1st Lt. J.D. Wilson was an interesting individual. Sgts Kahl, Williams (A.L. & R.R.) and Feddermen were good. As were Cpls Collier, Dunn, Gonzales, Hitt, Miller, Robinson, Thompson and Wise.
Other Memories Nato cruise to Norway for "Northern Wedding", Med cruise and change of homeport to Bremerton, Washington. "Blue Tile Alerts"!
