Served on board her April 1974 to June 1976 then went back again from June 1978 to October 1982, worked V-1 Flight Deck, V-3 Hangar Deck, X-1 CCU staff, and finally Master at Arms.
I served 92 on the independence. I started as a private and worked my was up to captian. I not only drove the boat but also could fly all of the planes. One time I landed Air Force One with six living presidents on board.
VA-87, yep, you guys had the Indian heads on the tail of your A-7's. I did the same time period in VAW-122, Steeljaws........... Nothing like a man overboard drill in the middle of the night, lol Jeff
There are times I get to feeling down in today's economy no jobs for some of us, this video reminds me of who I am and the things that we have done for our country and that I am still good as I once was, God bless all of you, your families and friends who have served the USA
Served on her from july 64 to Dec 67. Two Med and one West Pac trips. Flight deck electrician C&E shop E3 div. Hated it while I was there but looking back it wasn't so bad. Lots of good memories about the crew and the places we visited.
@588158 Hay Chuck, how the hell are you? I remember you. At my age that's something. Watching the videos of flight ops. I must have been young and stupid to work on the flight deck. You can get seriously killed up there.
i was onboard from 89 to 91,made the west pac and change of homeport before EAOS in yokuska,any of my old deck division shipmates out there give me a holler,i would love to here from y'all,also would like info on bosn gadsden or capn T.S.SLATER
I remember Dec 7th 1980. It was a sunday morning and we were passing the Cape of Good Hope on our way to the Iranian neighborhood of Ayotollah Khomeini.
Was aboard the Charles F. Adams DDG-2 during 69-70 and recall the Independence and the Roosevelt during that Med Cruise.
Also recall us and the Destroyer Woods being detached when the Russians sent the Moskva and the Leningrad out of the Black Sea into the open waters of the Med. We shadowed them for weeks.
Was an RD in OI Division and worked in CIC mostly on ECM gear.
Had a buddy from home named Tommy Chambers aboard the Indie during that same time.
What a damn good ship she was and I am truly proud that I had the privilage to serve on her in 97-98, before she was replaced by the Kitty Hawk in Japan. The old girl was rusty as hell after 62 years of service....we didn't call her USS Rust Bucket for nothing. Great Ship and Great Crew!
I was with VF-32 during Grenada & the North Atlantic cruise too, I still have some Blue Balls certificate somewhere. All these pot references, god we must of been some stoners back then, I remember hittin it on the fan tail on night shift.
@gtc1961 Hey gtc1961, I was in the Line Division, and after that in Airframes. I was on a Sigonella detachment and roomed with a Photog mate, taller dude with a beard, can't remember his name... the years just fly by.
Barry Hoskins. Me, him, and some crazy drunk AO were in a room together. I was one of those who 'skated' ( haven't heard that term in yrs) on the Sig Det, but made the following cruise.
@trotp3 yeah, had to pull that term out from the cobwebs of my brain...that first cruise really sucked! It was boring as hell, NOTHING going on we just did bagel circles off of Lebanon. The second cruise, the one you and Barry made, was much more interesting....haven't been able to find Barry, looking for him on facebook for a while.
@gtc1961 Wish I would have made the first cruise to be honest, SIg was ok but my sea duty memories stand out to me more than Sig, Norfolk, or Oceana, plus I caught some shit for 'skating' out on the Bagel cruise. Good luck finding Barry, I haven't tried to find anyone, came close with Gary 'Willy' Williams, an AD I worked with on the Line, but his e-mail addy was dead or something. Cool chattin with you gtc!
@trotp3 I remember a Williams, wasn't it "Guy" Williams? For some reason I can see his face clear as day. I have to say, you line guys had a tough job. I considered my self very lucky, we were in a space on the 02 level where the tech guys were and it was air conditioned and we even had a fridge, a bathroom and a tv.
@gtc1961 The one I'm thinking of was Gary, but went by Willy, probably some other Williams in the squadron. I'm going to have to dig out my cruise book now dude! I guess I'm gonna have to get a face book account to. The line was scary at the time, but now I think it was pretty cool.
ET on Indy 82-86. 3 Med cruises including "Bagel Station" and who can forget "Operation Urgent Fury". Hated it then but would never give it back. Some of my best life stories are from that era.
Yeah, I was on around the same time, 82-84. I thought they had it in for us on that 83/84 cruise. The world was a very scary place back then. As much as I hated it, I've come to like the memories. It was the best of times, it was the worst of times....
made 3 med cruise's, one was an I.O., and a North Atlantic above the Artic circle. Found alot of pot seeds in my rack, not mine. lol.... Never hated anything so much in my life, but looking back, it was the time of my life.. 82 - 85. VAW-122 Steeljaws. Jeff Jones
Served on board her April 1974 to June 1976 then went back again from June 1978 to October 1982, worked V-1 Flight Deck, V-3 Hangar Deck, X-1 CCU staff, and finally Master at Arms.
Wafflecv11cv62cv66 1 month ago
Served on her from 89-91 one of the best times of my life!! i would do it all over again.
EnVaderz 4 months ago
USS Independence, a ship that does not deserve the nickname mighty I, the intrepid had that nickname before this one did.
maximaldinotrap 4 months ago
V-2 '95 to DECOM in Bremerton!
libssukk 5 months ago in playlist Naval Aviation
I served 92 on the independence. I started as a private and worked my was up to captian. I not only drove the boat but also could fly all of the planes. One time I landed Air Force One with six living presidents on board.
jmthomp123456 5 months ago
VA-87, yep, you guys had the Indian heads on the tail of your A-7's. I did the same time period in VAW-122, Steeljaws........... Nothing like a man overboard drill in the middle of the night, lol Jeff
subron6er 8 months ago
VA-87, yep, you guys had the Indian heads on the tail of your A-7's. I did the same time period in VAW-122, Steeljaws...........
subron6er 8 months ago
I served on the Indy 82-85 part of VA-87
attacksquadron87 10 months ago
1981-1983 V4.
gilmourwannabe 11 months ago
Served on the Indy 78-81,ships company,,in the jetshop
DeftReaper 1 year ago
I'm also in touch with John Schrader. Do you remeber him from the lighting shop?
herbrampe 1 year ago
There are times I get to feeling down in today's economy no jobs for some of us, this video reminds me of who I am and the things that we have done for our country and that I am still good as I once was, God bless all of you, your families and friends who have served the USA
dnnylee 1 year ago
Served on her from july 64 to Dec 67. Two Med and one West Pac trips. Flight deck electrician C&E shop E3 div. Hated it while I was there but looking back it wasn't so bad. Lots of good memories about the crew and the places we visited.
herbrampe 1 year ago
@herbrampe I served with you. I worked in distribution and the Power shop. Charles McKenna EM2.
588158 1 year ago
@588158 Hay Chuck, how the hell are you? I remember you. At my age that's something. Watching the videos of flight ops. I must have been young and stupid to work on the flight deck. You can get seriously killed up there.
herbrampe 1 year ago
Nice job That brings back some memories. I posted a video from some 1979 operations. watch?v=y2-s39nCXF4
4Freedomrider 1 year ago
I was on the Indy from 77-80. I was in the AC&R shop A Gang...my bunk was aft starboard next to the chow hall (The Hilton) now Im fat ;)
JUSTACHIPN 1 year ago
i was onboard from 89 to 91,made the west pac and change of homeport before EAOS in yokuska,any of my old deck division shipmates out there give me a holler,i would love to here from y'all,also would like info on bosn gadsden or capn T.S.SLATER
slinginguitarman 1 year ago
when you title a video "ON board" you would think that it would be a VIDEO not a stupid slide show.
andrewm153351 1 year ago
82-85 I remember the movie Conan The Barbarian being shown on the flight deck, great memories, glad they are behind me .. lol.. Jeff J. VAW-122
subron6er 2 years ago
I remember Dec 7th 1980. It was a sunday morning and we were passing the Cape of Good Hope on our way to the Iranian neighborhood of Ayotollah Khomeini.
38knots 2 years ago
AIMD Jet Shop 73-74 and 74-75 Med cruises. Those were the days. Thanks for posting!
JonMichael001 2 years ago
Lots of memories OI Division (Combat Information Center) 79-83. Agree shipmates best of times, worst of times and wouldn't trade it.
I remember movie night on the flight deck "Star Wars"... Fair winds and following shipmates....
BRAVO ZULU to a great ship and outstanding crews
TheFleetSailor 2 years ago
Was aboard the Charles F. Adams DDG-2 during 69-70 and recall the Independence and the Roosevelt during that Med Cruise.
Also recall us and the Destroyer Woods being detached when the Russians sent the Moskva and the Leningrad out of the Black Sea into the open waters of the Med. We shadowed them for weeks.
Was an RD in OI Division and worked in CIC mostly on ECM gear.
Had a buddy from home named Tommy Chambers aboard the Indie during that same time.
BZ for the video.
Engus1 2 years ago
What a damn good ship she was and I am truly proud that I had the privilage to serve on her in 97-98, before she was replaced by the Kitty Hawk in Japan. The old girl was rusty as hell after 62 years of service....we didn't call her USS Rust Bucket for nothing. Great Ship and Great Crew!
gabe1377 2 years ago
I was with VF-32 during Grenada & the North Atlantic cruise too, I still have some Blue Balls certificate somewhere. All these pot references, god we must of been some stoners back then, I remember hittin it on the fan tail on night shift.
Peace Bros.
trotp3 2 years ago
@trotp3 Where did you work in VF-32 during that cruise? I was in the TARPS department, a Photographer's Mate.
gtc1961 1 year ago
@gtc1961 Hey gtc1961, I was in the Line Division, and after that in Airframes. I was on a Sigonella detachment and roomed with a Photog mate, taller dude with a beard, can't remember his name... the years just fly by.
trotp3 1 year ago
@trotp3 That man would be Barry Hoskins! He skated out of the '82 cruise at Sigonella but we were together on the '83-'84 cruise!
gtc1961 1 year ago
@gtc1961 YOU ARE RIGHT!!
Barry Hoskins. Me, him, and some crazy drunk AO were in a room together. I was one of those who 'skated' ( haven't heard that term in yrs) on the Sig Det, but made the following cruise.
trotp3 1 year ago
@trotp3 yeah, had to pull that term out from the cobwebs of my brain...that first cruise really sucked! It was boring as hell, NOTHING going on we just did bagel circles off of Lebanon. The second cruise, the one you and Barry made, was much more interesting....haven't been able to find Barry, looking for him on facebook for a while.
gtc1961 1 year ago
@gtc1961 Wish I would have made the first cruise to be honest, SIg was ok but my sea duty memories stand out to me more than Sig, Norfolk, or Oceana, plus I caught some shit for 'skating' out on the Bagel cruise. Good luck finding Barry, I haven't tried to find anyone, came close with Gary 'Willy' Williams, an AD I worked with on the Line, but his e-mail addy was dead or something. Cool chattin with you gtc!
trotp3 1 year ago
@trotp3 I remember a Williams, wasn't it "Guy" Williams? For some reason I can see his face clear as day. I have to say, you line guys had a tough job. I considered my self very lucky, we were in a space on the 02 level where the tech guys were and it was air conditioned and we even had a fridge, a bathroom and a tv.
gtc1961 1 year ago
@gtc1961 The one I'm thinking of was Gary, but went by Willy, probably some other Williams in the squadron. I'm going to have to dig out my cruise book now dude! I guess I'm gonna have to get a face book account to. The line was scary at the time, but now I think it was pretty cool.
trotp3 1 year ago
Thanks for posting.
The Indy was home 1976-1980 FOX Division.
4Freedomrider 2 years ago
My dad was on the Indy during the Cuban missle crisis. I bet that was a scary damn time for everybody.
cjc921 2 years ago
ET on Indy 82-86. 3 Med cruises including "Bagel Station" and who can forget "Operation Urgent Fury". Hated it then but would never give it back. Some of my best life stories are from that era.
Jim Stiles 0E-09
jimbalaya62 2 years ago
Yeah, I was on around the same time, 82-84. I thought they had it in for us on that 83/84 cruise. The world was a very scary place back then. As much as I hated it, I've come to like the memories. It was the best of times, it was the worst of times....
gtc1961 2 years ago
made 3 med cruise's, one was an I.O., and a North Atlantic above the Artic circle. Found alot of pot seeds in my rack, not mine. lol.... Never hated anything so much in my life, but looking back, it was the time of my life.. 82 - 85. VAW-122 Steeljaws. Jeff Jones
subron6er 2 years ago
95-98 hated it then but i miss it now, japan was awesome and so is the indy!!! :)
beefstroganof 3 years ago
Made 3 cruises between 78-81 attached to VA-176. You've done the Indy proud!
Prodigalson77 3 years ago
My boat in 1969...smoked a lot of pot on her sponsons and had a lot of good liberty on that Med Cruise that year
rickcee 3 years ago