USS Arlington (AGMR-2)

Last Updated 08/26/06

Duclos, Roger J. RMC
Springfield, MO
E-Mail: r_duclos@hotmail.com
Main Message Center

Hey Buddy,
This is RMC  Roger J Duclos. I found your web site about the USS Arlington. This is my ship that I signed on to in 1969 and I was on her until she was decommissioned and I then went to NAVCOMSTA Japan. I am now in the Navy Reserve here in Springfield, Mo. I made Chief 2 years ago. I would love to here from you. Are you close to Springfield? I have my ships book, some large photo's of the ship and other stuff. I would also be interested in finding out if I can get a flag flown on the decks of my ship before I retire in a couple of years from now. I mess cooked
my way to the Communications Division, I was assigned to the main message center, and I monitored the distress freqs. If you will remember, we rescued that yaught with two women . One had contracted Yellow jaundice and we were the nearest ship with a Doc. What a trip!!. We had weekly bar-be-ques on the top deck. I have photos of the Hello's from the Apollo 11 mission that parked on our decks.  I would love to hear from you... RMC Roger J Duclos. Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com             Top

Corey, James CYN3
27 Calgary Lane, Binghamton, N.Y. 13901
E-Mail: marblesdog@webtv.net
Pre-Comm in Norfolk

I served on board the Arlington as a CYN3 working in the communications office for CDR J. A. Madigan.  I often wonder what happened to my friend Bob Mullins and K. E. Jorden.  K E  was from  D.C. and Mullins from Va. I was from Binghamton, N. Y. I  was  on board  from the pre-comm detail in Norfolk to Sept of 1967.

If anyone knows of the location of my friends, please call me at 1 800 572 4561 or write me .  My  name is James Corey, 27 Calgary Lane, Binghamton, N Y 13901.  Any   crew member during this time is welcome  to call.         Top

Rose, A.M. PC3
California
E-Mail: asa100@gte.net
DEC-67 TO MAY-69         Rose Photos     Road Runner Logo    Top

Gibson, Scott E-Division Striker
Tampa, FL
E-Mail: harleyview@prodigy.net
San Diego Decommission Crew

What a surprise to find all this information on the Arlington. You've done a great job. I was one of the sailors high lined over from the Chipola right before the Apollo 10 recovery. I was also one of the poor souls who stayed to the bitter end and the next to the last man off the ship...I had working clothes on at the final ceremony and still have some of the keys used in locking the hatches. I worked in E division as an IC striker, standing watches in the forward gyro and playing with the dial telephones, radio station and TV station. I was one of the guys who showed movies to the crew in the hanger deck ( remember the reel that fell off the projector and rolled across the deck...with the film? That was me. ) I was never a mess cook, but served time cleaning the E division head. Some memories are better than others. After the Arlington I was assigned to the Luzerne County ( LST 902 ) out of Vung Tau. I'll be visiting the Arlington web site often. Again, you've done a great job. Let's face it. We're all just a bunch of middle aged men who like to reminisce about their Navy days ( just like our Dads ). Thanks for the memories.       Top

McMahan, Ronald S. BTC USN (ret.)
Richland, WA
E-Mail: CHIEFRCNut@aol.com
Plank Owner

Plank owner. Served in Arlington Aug. 1965- May 1968. I have many color slides but no photos during this time period. Does anyone remember the #3 FIRE ROOM COYOTE .Your home page brought back some much needed good memories. Any other plank owners out there send me a e-mail. Ronald S. McMahan BTC USN RET.      

 Arlington Photos (67-68)    Top

Bauer, David CYSN
St. Marys, PA
E-Mail: djbmab@ncentral.com
Early Arlington Crew Member

(9-25-99) Hi Trooper: 
Found your site and thought I'd drop you a line or two. My name is Dave Bauer from St. Marys, Pa. I was on the Arlington from Mobile until just before it sailed. I went to the USS Benewah in the war zone with the MRF. I was wondering if you have any info on the following guys. They were CYN's Ed West, Mike Burdette, Tom Benedict and RM3 Ray Weaver. I was a CYN also with these guys that we on the Arlington. There's a good chance they were on there when you were there. I would appreciate your help in locating them. Enjoyed your website. My e-mail address is djbmab@ncentral.com Appreciate your help. Tks Dave Bauer

(9-27-99) Hi Bruce:
Yes, I was on the Arlington from Sept 65 thru Aug 66.. I was a CYNSN, just out of CYN school of Norfolk. I was first in Mobile waiting for the ship to come out of repair, and then transferred to Norfolk to pick up the rest of the crew. I left in Aug 66 to go to the Benewah and survival training in Little Creek, Va. I don't remember a whole lot about the ship, just those few guys that I went to school with, that I can't find any more. I was in Portsmouth Va, with the Arlington just before I left. Doesn't seem too interesting while I was on the ship, but had real good good time in Mobile. We lived like kings in Hotel with swimming pool and outside barbeque pit. Couldn't ask for better duty. Until I left the war zone and ended up in Navcommsta Greece for the next 14 months. I don't have to tell you how that was. I finished up as a RM2 for the rest of my time in the service. Use what you want of this. Tks, Dave Bauer     Top

Eadie, Art DT2
E-Mail: aeadie@sumter.net
Early Arlington Crew Member

Eadie Photos

Hi Bruce

It was good of you to answer me back so quickly. I hunted up some pics that I took during the storm we hit coming back from the North Atlantic in 67. They aren't too good as they were taken in dismal conditions, with black and white film. I took them from the port forward gun tub... I think they were 5inch 38's ???? I had to shoot and run so I wouldn't get washed overboard.. we were in condition zebra so I wasn't even supposed to be out there. But anyway... here they are for you and whoever wants a bit of nostalgia.

I came aboard in Mobile in July, 1965 and went to NOB about a month before the ship. My doctor and I worked there until the ship arrived at Portsmouth, then we set up shop aboard. I was a DT2 at the time and was aboard until July, 1967.. in fact I left the ship the very day she got underway for Westpac. I was running all over the ship looking for the XO to sign my orders before they removed the after brow. That was the last time I saw her.. I missed her in Sydney by a couple of weeks when I went there on R&R.

So that's my story of the Arlington. I'll never forget that slow, sickening roll she had in that storm. She'd roll .. stop.. those tall LP antennas would whip and then she'd roll a few more degrees. I had some pics taken in the transmitter room of 5 of us leaning to keep our balance .. looked as though we were almost parallel to the deck... but I have no idea where they went.

Post these pics if you want to... keep in touch. "Well Done" on the webpage.. thanks for taking the time to do it for all of us. Art Eadie     Top 

Hale, Richard L. DC3
Tustin, CA
E-Mail: fatfat@pacbell.net
Plank Owner

From pre-recommissioning to October 1967, Plank owner, and better yet a Pepsico Boy Scout Camp Alumni. It was a great time in my life, it had a profound effect on my personal direction and changed my life forever. Just three days ago I was getting dressed and saw in my closet a little chunk of wood that I had not seen for a-long time. It was the Plank that I had help make, along with others, as a part-time carpenter. I started thinking it was time to do some research on the Arlington via the Internet. I thought I might end up in the Navy archive of lost memories. To my surprise I found this site. My hat goes off to those of you who have contributed words, photos and time to create this "pocket full of memories". - Pipsico - A lot of us were brought to Norfolk, VA too early for the ship, because of construction delays in Alabama. Someone came up with the idea to ask the community if they needed anyone during the summer. Given that I had been a Boy Scout, knew how to swim and sail, I won the lottery. I think there were about 25 of us. It was tough duty, but I loved my country and was willing to suffer through it (does anyone remember "Five Star" wine for $5 a gallon? My head still suffers from its effect). A reunion would be fun, lets do it. I hope all of you are well and I look forward to meeting you all again.        Top

Amaral, Philip SH3
Fresno, CA
E-Mail: 33mules@compaq.net
Ships Barber

James Eret SN 
San Diego, CA
E-Mail: delftclog@aol.com
2nd Division

Hi, I really enjoyed your web page and want to add my address to the list. My name is James Eret and I served on the Arlington from about May 1968 , when I flew out to Subic Bay to catch a supply ship to be heloed onto the Arlington on Yankee Station and was put in 2nd Div. and was a SN when I left after we tracked the Apollo in 1969 and until now found it hard to find information about the ship and I am a writer and want to write about "The Roadrunner," and I remembered when we refueled and topped off , our ship's band played "White Rabbit," by Jefferson Airplane, and I "fondly" remember the Shellback ceremony and don't see my name on the roster but I'll never forget it and was glad I was a fast runner on that day.

Web Site is great and the roster brings back many names of good shipmates.
James Eret, San Diego, Ca     Top

Taylor, Edward E. CYSN
E-Mail: Ed@PlatteValley.Net
CWO Room

Hi, just got a hold of your web site for the old Arly Maru.  Served aboard from July 68 to Jan 70 and was part of decommissioning crew as well. Cynsn Edward E. Taylor, Jr., was in CWO room and participated in Apollo 8, 10 , and 11 splash-down missions as well as Tonkin Gulf.  Still have Cynsn J.M. Hunt as my "running mate" after 31 years. Ed     Top

Kaufman, Gordon LT(jg)
E-Mail: Krown007@aol.com
Plank Owner

North Atlantic gale, March 1967

After leaving Oslo, Norway, enroute to Norfolk, VA, ARLINGTON was passing north of Scotland when she tangled with a gale.  This same storm had put the SS Torrey Canyon on the rocks of the English coast near Liverpool.  For some three days it was literally rock and roll time.  At the height of the storm, seas were running 25-30 feet.

On Sunday morning I had just relieved the deck and the conn for the 08-1200 bridge watch.  The Captain (CAPT Charles Darrah) had been in his chair on the port side for some time before my watch.  I was told to keep the sea on the port bow.  A short time later we were hit by two successive waves and rolled sharply to starboard.  The starboard motor whaleboat which had previously been reported as being secured (somehow some of the lines had let go and it was swinging by its davits) was swept free and was reported passing astern upside down by the
fantail lookout.  Nobody was allowed out on the weatherdecks and the lookouts were standing their watches under shelter.  The subject motor whaleboat was a new 26' fiberglass hull inboard engine craft worth about $1000/ft. (I was later told). Upon receiving the report, the Captain and I looked at each other and he said, "Carry on Mr. Kaufman, we are not going to attempt a recovery in this sea."  A few years later in San Diego, I learned from a fellow plankowner, CWO4 Chuck O'Donnell, that some Scottish fishermen had recovered the motor whaleboat and returned it to the Navy in Holy Loch.

Other damage from the gale consisted of the chain locker being flooded, the loss of three life rafts and their racks off the starboard edge of the flight deck (I was OIC of the #3 raft), the cracking of the fiberglass casing of one of the smaller starboard antennas, and the dishing in of the watertight door between forward Officer's country and the foc'sl.  The latter put several inches of water into the staterooms of the XO, Supply Officer, Chaplain, Doctor, and Dentist. This was the worst storm I was ever involved with during my naval career (worse than running from a few typhoons
in the Pacific) and one of my most vivid memories of serving aboard ARLINGTON. Best regards,
Gordon Kaufman      Top

Arlington Photos (66-67)

Rogers, Griffin M. (Mike) BM3
Orlando, FL
E-Mail: Catfish201@aol.com
Master at Arms

1/68 - 11/69  Master At Arms..Bosun-mate-of-the-Watch..also had to guard those two females we picked from the yacht heading back to San Fran. from Hawaii...that's another story...was on the bridge when  we approached the Golden Gate....there was a little panic going on with the officers.. whether it was high tide or low tide...but we made it under..it just looked scary. Then we were quarantined for several days, just to look at the bars from the A -Deck.       Top

Hinken, Albert RM3 (Crypto)
Inwood, NY
E-Mail: alhinken@hotmail.com
Crypto

Miller, Thomas CS3
E-Mail: aprofotog@msn.com

Hughes, Jack M RMC (ret.)
11610 Rome Place
La Plata, MD 20646-4166
Tele: 301/392-3031
E-Mail: hughesjm@yahoo.com
Crypto

Jack M. Hughes RMC USN/Ret.   Top

Mike Qualls BMSN 
Dallas, TX
E-Mail: trinity4@airmail.net
Fantail/Hanger Deck

Australia (1969)     Top

Griffin, Keith YN3 
E-Mail: Txtwister41@aol.com
Legal

Arlington Photos (67-69)     Top

Martin, Ralph BT3
Jefferson, Maine 
E-Mail: rmartin@gtcinternet.com

Arlington Photos (69)     Top

Miller, Joe SN
San Diego, CA
E-Mail: jmille1835@aol.com

Arlington Photos (69)     Top

McCobb, Scott RD2
E-Mail: s.mccobb@worldnet.att.net

Arlington Photos     Top