Shortly after I reported aboard Bache DDE-470 for duty, I made a big hit (?) with the Executive Officer by submitting a formal request for transfer to shore duty. I had spent about 7 years in the Navy, all at sea. The normal rotation period was three years sea duty and two years shore duty. Since I had never been station ashore, my turn was surely at hand. I knew that it was only a matter of time before I would be leaving Bache after submitting my request.

Pier space at the piers on NOB during the Christmas holidays were at a premium, so since we had a lower priority than others, We were shunted to the C & O Railroad coal piers in Newport News. There we spent the Christmas holidays. In order to get to and fro the ship each day necessitated a ride on the ferry to Newport News, and then a long walk through the coal yard. or else a cold ride on a liberty launch, when they were provided.

It was a terrible way to spend Christmas, but then who can complain when they are able to go home at night, not me. I was lucky, and I realized it. I continued to be lucky enough to spend Christmas with my family throughout my ENTIRE NAVAL CAREER.. To be in the US NAVY and go without missing Christmas at home for 15 years is almost unbelievable.

While there, we had several good and memorable things happen. We celebrated Laura’s first Christmas (1956) there, with Daddy in attendance. Dad had ridden a Greyhound bus from Akron to spend Christmas with us, and while on his way down, had met a lady who captured his fancy. That is another story, but as a result of that trip, he married a lady from Charlottesville, Virginia.

During one of our periods at sea, we were assigned as plane guard for the USS Bennington off Mayport, Florida. When a carrier is launching or recovering planes, they have to turn into the wind in order to increase the wind speed across the deck. This makes it possible for planes to land on carriers. The Destroyer (which in this case, was us) has to be on the same course and speed as the carrier in case a plane crashes and the pilot has to be retrieved from the water (helicopters do that now). While steaming into the wind like this, Destroyers tend to climb to the top of the swells, then make a fast run downhill into the troughs, plowing into the water, and come back up, throwing water over the bow, while climbing to the top of another swell to do it all over again. To say the least, it is very uncomfortable and rough for the crew members of the tin-cans.

This particular plane guard assignment happened at the exact time the Fleet-wide Petty Officer advancement exams were scheduled. But this date and time was an auspicious occasion, because I was due to take the examination for Electronics Technician 2nd Class. To earn more money, you have to get promoted. To get promoted requires you score high on the Navy-wide advancement examinations, because you are in competition with a large number of ET3’s for a certain number of ET2 slots. Of course, promotion brings more money and more money brings better jobs for you, and enables you to feed, clothe and house your family better. So, for me, there was a lot at stake.

I was prone to sea-sickness, and everyone knows what destroyers do when heading into the wind (see above). Well, you guessed it. Sitting in that tossing mess hall while taking that test, I became deathly sea-sick! As the ship pitched and rolled and hit bottom and did it over and over again, and as the ship tossed, my stomach was tossing also. I took that test with a slop bucket between my legs. I would answer a few questions, and heave up my guts, then go through the whole routine again. Let me tell you, that was a tough morning. I can still see it in my memories, very vivid. I don’t believe anyone ever took a test with so much riding on it, in such poor conditions. To let you in on a secret...I passed the test and in due time, was promoted!

In early 1956, the Israeli and the Egyptians (Nasser) and other Arabs got into one of their never ending conflicts. After Israel had smashed them in 5 or 6 days, the Bache received orders to conduct patrols in and around the Red Sea. Nasser had got his ass whipped, but as always, proclaimed the Arabs had scored a great victory over the Satan Israeli again.

Just prior to our leaving, I (wrongly) decided that Ann should stay with her mom while I was overseas because she was pregnant with Chuck and I didn’t relish the idea of leaving her alone. At the time I thought it the best thing to do but in retrospect, I screwed up again. She has said many times since then that she would rather have stayed in Norfolk and would have been better off being around other young Navy mothers who were experiencing the same problems. I found out that Ann is a very tough and smart girl and can survive in just about any situation. This has proven to be true throughout our married lives, through rain and shine, and yes, even hurricanes. But not knowing better at the time, I took her to Findlay, Ohio to spend the time with her family while I was cruising around Africa.

We departed Norfolk, heading for the Red Sea via the Cape of Good Hope. I really enjoyed the cruise, especially the trip there. We first made port in Terciera, Canary Islands for a few days, and then on to Freetown, Sierra Leone, on the western bulge of Africa. After a few days in port for refreshment, we departed for Cape Town, Republic of South Africa. After an uneventful though hilarious crossing of the equator, with appropriate ceremonies to pay homage to Davy Jones, we passed under Table Rock and rounded the Cape of Good Hope to moor at the Royal Dockyard at Capetown.

We spent several memorable days in Capetown. Capetown is a wonderful city. I really enjoyed and found the city and the people very civil, clean and hospitable. It is so different from the rest of Africa, so clean. It is like no other African city that I had visited. I have been in Dakar, Senegal; Freetown, Sierra Leone; Monrovia, Liberia; Mombasa, Kenya; and Massawa, Eritrea. They are mostly are dirty, with poor plumbing, if any, and abject poverty, brought about evidently by the corrupt governments. Anyway, the food and refreshments in Cape Town were well received, and we enjoyed them to the utmost.

When we departed Cape Town, we set sail up the east coast of Africa, passing to the west of Madagascar, en route to Mombasa, Kenya. Mombasa is the port city of Kenya and a jumping off point for safaris into the big game ranges of Africa. We didn’t get to sightsee in the bush, but we bargained for several small hand carved trinkets from the Swahili tribesmen on the streets and at their sidewalk stalls in Mombasa. Some of those carvings are still a part of our "art" collection. I purchased our first 35 mm. camera just prior to entry into Mombasa, so was were able to get color slides of the city and some of the street vendors.

After a few days in Mombasa, we departed for Aden, which is located on the tip of the Arabian Peninsula and is now in what is known as Yemen. At the time, it was a British Crown Colony, but it is now a Communist country. It is reputed to be one of the hottest spots in the world and I would not dispute it. During the time we were there, we had to sleep topside under awnings if we wanted to sleep. All work was done in the early morning hours and after 1200 hours, we flaked out on our mattresses under the awnings in order to keep cool. I took plenty of pictures there that will bear out my tales of Aden.

While in Aden, I received good news on two separate occasions! First, I was notified I would be transferred to US Naval Air Station, Cecil Field, Florida as soon as we arrived in Palma, Mallorca. Secondly, I received notification that I had passed the fleet-wide examination for Petty Officer 2nd Class, and would be advanced to ET2 on 16 June 1957.

Finally, the Suez Canal was reopened to US shipping interests. We were in the first group of US ships to transit the Canal upon reopening. We could still see burned out tank hulks, leftover from the skirmishes between the Israelis and Egyptians. Upon departing the Suez, we set sail for Palma, Majorca, a Spanish island just south of Spain in the sunny Balaeric islands. On arrival in Palma, I sent the following telegram to Ann. It is reproduced verbatim from the original telegram.