 |
|
 |
|
 |
| (1) U.S.S. Arlington
(AGMR-2) I believe this picture was taken as the Arlington was approaching the
pier at Midway for the Summit Conference. The
6 June 69 conference was between President Nixon, and South Vietnamese President Thieu.
The photo appeared in the Arlington publication, "WHERE THE ACTION IS .... MID-PAC
69" |
|
(2) Me in S2M Division
Berthing I started out as a mess cook and lived here my first three months. We had to be on duty by 0515 every day
except Sunday. My first job on the ship was emptying 13 mess deck trash cans off the
fantail. It was a three man job, and was done three times per day. We had to hoist the
cans from the trash room up to the hanger bay, and then carry them to the fantail. |
|
(3) Issue Room The
door to the right. I worked here after being relieved from the trash room duties. Every
morning we would issue coffee, cream, and sugar and then start working in the store rooms
or where ever else the Mess Decks Master at Arms had us to go. |
 |
|
 |
|
 |
| (4) Ship Repair
Facility, Apra
Harbor Guam The Arlington arrived here five days after leaving
the Summit Conference at Midway. We were here for a week of upkeep and then left for the
Tonkin Gulf arriving six days later. |
|
(5) Antenna Deck
The Arlington had several transmit and receive antennas on what used to be the flight
deck. She was originally an aircraft carrier (Read her history for details). |
|
(6) U.S.S. Chipola
(AO-63) This photo was taken while enroute to the Apollo 10 recovery area. If you look closely you can see two sailors being transferred
by Hi-Line to the Chipola. Mess cooks always enjoyed the "Unreps" when another ship would come along side, especially being on a large one.
Unrep is short for Underway Replenishment. |
 |
|
 |
|
 |
| (7) Crossing the line
ceremonies, 14 May 69 The Arlington crossed the equator while enroute to the Apollo 10
recovery area. This is the coffin for special cases. The neophytic "Pollywogs" of the crew were initiated into the mysteries of
the Royal
Order of Shellbacks. No one was exempt from this ordeal which was
quite an experience. A picture of my "Domain of Neptunus Rex" card is shown in
these selections. |
|
(8) U.S.S. Princeton
The Princeton was a helicopter carrier (LPH) and the primary Apollo 10 recovery ship. Here
she is being refueled by the U.S.S. Chipola while enroute to the Apollo 10 recovery area.
|
|
(9) On station for the
Apollo 10 recovery, 26 May 69 The splashdown occurred a few minutes after this photo
was taken. I took a photo of the capsule with its three parachutes but it failed to
develop for some reason. |
 |
|
 |
|
 |
| (10) Apollo 10 Command
Module, 26 May 69 This photo was taken by one of the Arlington's officers. He had a
much better camera than I did. I remember hearing the sonic booms as the space capsule
entered the atmosphere and watching it slowly drop to the water. The splashdown occurred
approximately 3 miles from the ship. |
|
(11) Apollo 10, 26 May
69 On their way to Somoa via helo, the astronauts flew past and thanked ARLINGTON for
her support. |
|
(12) Pearl Harbor Me on Ford Island with the U.S.S.
Arizona Memorial in the background. This was taken shortly after
the Arlington arrived from the Apollo 10 recovery. |
