dodgblu
12-23-2007, 06:32 PM
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all!!! I was "fortunate" to get to spend 3 Christmas' away from home courtesy of the US Navy. Christmas of 1967 was spent at Bainbridge Naval Training Center in Maryland, we had a true "White Christmas" that year. My next two were as a crew member of the USS EG Small. We were all treated to a wonderful holiday season in Sasebo, Japan in 1968. That was some Christmas and some cruise. I bought myself a Canon 35mm camera, which I still have and use to this day, even with the onslaught of digital photography. Christmas 1969 was spent in home port Pearl Harbor, we had a great Christmas Pary, Hawaiin Style. We had returned earlier from a 30 day cruise to Alaska for an under-ground nuclear test at Amchitka Island. Nothing better to get one in the "winter" Christmas spirit than patrolling the Bering Sea for Russian Subs in October. If I remember right, that was the only time the air conditioner worked in the crew's quarters!! How about that Adak, great place!! I was seperated from active duty in Nov of 1970, so I was home for Christmas that year. I have spent many Christmas' since then, with family and loved ones, each special and unique - but those 3 with comrades and shipmates away from home for the first time, will always be something very special!!! Late, dodgblu