by Bert Royster - STG2 1964-1966

• The day you first reported aboard the 'Dirty Ernie'?
• The feel of her moving at flank speed? The excitement when general quarters alarm was sounded...followed by the announcement "This is no Drill"
• The ship shuddering as six five inch guns were fired in salvo after salvo?
• Days of riding her over stormy seas and the wetness that then permeated everything?
• The heat of the South Seas?
• The Mess Deck that was our Living Room, the Crew Quarters our Bedroom and sharing 'space' with everyone?
• For those like me, getting to meet the Captain...up close and personal...at Captain's Mast?
• Standing port and starboard watches?
• "Unrep"?
• The days of boredom when all there was to do was to see the sea?
• Drinking canned milk, Jungle Juice and gallons of coffee?
• The taste of mid-'rats?
• Sending "Free" mail?
• Buying 10 cent packs of cigarettes and using MPC?
• Movies played the 01 level aft and how hard the deck was to sit on?
• Painting almost everything...over and over?
• The word to "Single up all lines" in preparation of getting underway and the sweet sound of Liberty Call when returning from weeks at sea?
• "Steaming" ashore?
• Saying good bye to your closest friends in the world...on the day you walked down her gangplank the last time?

 Ahh yes, I remember it well...along with those men and officers served aboard her!

 WETSU shipmates!