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Wounded Bear

(64,552 posts)

12. Also known as the USS Zippo...

Thu Apr 23, 2026, 11:10 AM

Apr 23

lights first time every time.

Seemed like they had daily fire drills.

In spring of '72, we were in Norfolk, VA prepping for a cruise. The USS America was in the berth next to us, also prepping. One of us was destined for Yankee Station off Vietnam, the other would go east to the Med. As final preps were being made they gave some of us leave to visit home before the cruise, which we all knew was probably gonna be extended, as the Navy was stretched pretty thin at the time.

While I was gone, some sailors set a fire aboard the Forrestal that damaged a large section of officer's quarters and the Fire Control Center. We were delayed by several months, while the America was sent off to Nam. We ended up on an extended Med cruise of at least 9 months IIRC. We didn't get back to MCAS El Toro, CA until fall of '73.

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70sEraVet

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Warning: The following post is 100% factual. Sadly. [View all] 634-5789 Apr 23 OP

I'm seeing a pattern here: every time an unqualified person is fired, they're replaced by someone much worse. sop Apr 23 #1

Went from a trumper general UpInArms Apr 23 #2

The previous Navy chief had no military experience Mysterian Apr 23 #3

Hung even lower. BattleRow Apr 23 #6

"claimed that Wiccans had seized control of Monterey, California" Ray Bruns Apr 23 #4

I would love to move back there. niyad Apr 23 #5

Hey, come on - this is the best that they can come up with. Firestorm49 Apr 23 #7

This message was self-deleted by its author Firestorm49 Apr 23 #8

Veterans who 'exaggerate' details of their service in the military..... 70sEraVet Apr 23 #9

100 percent. I am also a Vietnam Era vet... Wounded Bear Apr 23 #10

I was on a Med Cruise in '74 on USS Columbus CG12 70sEraVet Apr 23 #11

Also known as the USS Zippo... Wounded Bear Apr 23 #12

Our paths may well have crossed at some point, 70sEraVet Apr 23 #13

Possibly. I was underaged at the time, but I got into most places... Wounded Bear Apr 23 #19

Unfortunately Aviation Pro Apr 23 #14

Evidently people voted for him. Boomerproud Apr 23 #15

A Borowitz Report that is 100% factual? Totally Tunsie Apr 23 #16

A couple of things stood out to me Wednesdays Apr 23 #17

"his zero-tolerance policy for competence in the US armed forces." flvegan Apr 23 #18

Borowitz is a wonderful writer, possibly a great Ilsa Apr 23 #20

"Kash Patel got arrested for public urination after a night of drinking" LetMyPeopleVote Apr 25 #21

Kash Patel blows past alcohol test deadline as critics label him 'raging alcoholic' LetMyPeopleVote Apr 29 #22