The Big Nickel Forums

Mike Thompson aka Hotdog , Served in E division 73 - 76, many wild days with that crew back in R division.

Hi Bill. I did a lot of sea watches as helmsman, and recall your last name but don't remember whether we ran into each other on the bridge or not.  You were probably hanging out higher topside.
Photos might not help much - I didn't have a mostly white beard then. Went to MT, then ET school from DDG-5, then on to SubLant -- all in a 4 year hitch. I never worked the flags, but have done a fair amount of CW and signal lights. What was DDG-5's 4 letter flag call? I was aboard NWVC (LST-325) during a WW2 memorial cruise up the East coast and back in 2005 (as radio - electronics support) and got to hoist the signal flags a few times on that cruise. Get's windy topside.
It's still up in the air as to whether I can take time off to go to the reunion. Are you planning to be there, and do you know whether any other members of the 1962-63 crew are going? 

We've received a contact request for Norman Feeney.  He was a member of the Mixed Manning crew in Fox division.  He was an FTM3 during the MMD.  If anyone is in touch with him or knows how we can reach him, please contact  me.

The latest issue of The Big Nickel newsletter has been sent out and is now posted on the website.  You can read it on-line here.  The newsletter contains the agenda for the reunion as well as menus for the Friday evening reception, Saturday evening dinner and Sunday morning breakfast.

If you are planning on attending the reunion, to be held in Jacksonville, Florida April 30 - May 3, please get your reservations in as soon as you can.   

If you have any questions or comments, you can contact:
  Bob Haner, Carl Slack, Bob Chamerlin and/or Kirk Neuman

I was enjoying Dick Kelbaugh's photos on his website and remembered fondly that 1971 Med Cruise when we sailed to the Italian Riviera city of Finale Ligure. The story I remember was that our Captain went to college with the then mayor of Finale Ligure and the CVR was treated to a visit to this beautiful place. We anchored out and took the liberty launch to the beach, where we were greeted with a huge glass of some fruity coctail. There was a red carpet laid out for us to walk on, up the sandy beach to the street. Being the pack-rat that I am, I still have that glass as a remembrance. The glass is filled with other memorabelia such as; my dog tags, a stellite throttle valve disc from 2A1 Forced Draft Blower, my CVR Zippo cigatette lighter, my Ship's Patch, a newspaper clipping from when the CVR shelled Beruit and some other stuff I just can't seem to part with. 

Quote from: rodman597 on January 21, 2009, 05:59:57 PM
Have some pics to post.How do I do it.
                   Roddy

Select Gallery on the Forum menu.  Once there, select General, go to the bottom of the page and then select Add a picture to add a single photo or Bulk Add Pictures to add several photos.

Have some pics to post.How do I do it.
                  Roddy

Dear Captain Kirk,

I´ve got a lot of pictures of the Ricketts and the work on it.
It was old Fotos but i´ve digitalized it and now there in a good shape.
Are there Interest to see them?
It were from my father.

regards Till

Hello Folks,

my name is Till Bamberg and i ´m the son of Christian Bamberg. Crew Member on the Ricketts.

He passed away in 1995, 3 days after my brithday on a heart attack.

Long before his death he gave me the "ship book". I´m  interested if anyone knows him and tells me something about him or the work on the ship.

I´m  very glad to join this site, so I hope somebody can help me.

Regards Till Bamberg

Greetings shipmates.  Is anyone out there who was aboard through mid 1963?