MY FASCINATION WITH NAVY SHIPS WAS TRULY SATISFIED WHEN WE VISITED IN DETAIL THESE TWO VIETNAM ERA WARSHIPS OF THE 7TH FLEET, THE USS OKLAHOMA CITY, WHICH WAS DOCKED AT PIER 13, DURING XMAS SEASON 1970, MY FATHER ASK ME TO GO WITH HIM TO BE THE CAPTAINS GUEST FOR LUNCH IN THE US S OKLAHOMA CITY, WE WERE GUIDED THRU OUT TE SHIP FROM THE STERN TO THE BOW FROM STARBOARD TO PORT SIDE TO THE BRIDGE TO THE KEEL
LATER WE HAD TURKEY FOR LUNCH WITH THE CAPTAIN AND 4 OTHER OFFICERS , AS WE BID FAREWELL, WE WERE TOLD THAT THE OFFICERS AND MEN OF THE USS OKLAHOMA CITY WILL DISTRIBUTE TOYS FOR OUR CITY INDIGENTS ON 24TH DEC AT OUR HOUSE, WITH IN 24 HOURS 5 TRUCKS 6X6 OF US NAVY FROM SANGLEY BASE PARK IN FRONT OF OUR HOUSE TO UNLOAD THE TOYS FOR THE CHILDREN FOR DISTRIBUTION
"the uss Oklahoma city was a light cruiser and very large compared to Philippine Navy coastal patrol boats, back then I'm always day dreaming of riding the CL5 to Correigidor Island."
ANOTHER SHIP WHICH WE TOURED IS THE USS OKINAWA, AGAIN IN PIER 13, THIS TIME WE TOURED IT NOT SO DETAIL AS THE CRUISER OKLAHOMA, THEY SAID THAT DURING THE VIETNAM WAR THE PASSAGEWAYS ARE FULL OF CASUALTIES...
" One time we were able to travel by ship from Philippine Navy HQ to subic bay on a very stormy sea. we used RPS Mt Samat #21 ( use to be the presidential ship of President Magsaysay"
" i was able to go to Mindoro island via PT boat"
" I was frustrated one time when we went to see a US Navy submarine dock at pier 13, but we were not allowed below deck because of security concerns, i just have to be contented with the conning tower"
" i was able to go inside a full mock up German U boot or U boat at Fisherman's wharf and at the Imperial war museum in London" that was my closest thing in to a submarine.
" when the USS America had a Goodwill visit here, my father was invited again but i was not able to join them because of school, how i wish i have toured that carrier of the US navy, they said it was a test bed for new types of aircraft... "
later i just bought a scale model of USS America by revell
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