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OT: Manning the rails

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View of Mt. Etna from NAS1 Sigonella. Kind of weird how the photo turned out. I believe it's just steam heat that is escaping through the encasement around the condensate lines. This kind of heat is common on our military bases.
 
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There she is! My first encounter with an aircraft carrier while underway. You can see the helo approaching the America.
 
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Approach of USS America (CV-66). I look at the first pic and imagine a Somali pirate saying, "That's no moon!"



 
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All-American
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Here, the USS Boone (FFG-28) joins the Kennedy and Sylvania in manuevers. Way cool! Think of it as synchronized swimming, but instead of people you have warships.

 
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All-American
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Here, the lines have been shot over to start Underway Replenishment with the America
 
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All-American
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Helo landing on our flight deck. I was able to climb on top of the helo hanger to get the vantage shot.


 
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All-American
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So, we have the USS America on the port side and the USS Boone on the starboard side
 
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All-American
Sep 4, 2004
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Forward view from the air traffic control tower. Notice the pair of phalynx CIWS guns. Those are last resort used on anti-ship missles. They fire 3,000 rounds a minute! You don't want to be outside when those go off or you'll lose your hearing.
 
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All-American
Sep 4, 2004
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Saying goodbye to the America. Plus, a shot at the superstructure and the big 66.

 
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All-American
Sep 4, 2004
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EM3 Starks and OS3 Fetters pulling shore patrol duty


ET3 Kinkead, SA Antonio. That's got to be a bathroom in the upstairs at McDonald's. Buddies waiting down below for boxes. I don't really like McDonald's, but when you are overseas it's awesome.
 
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All-American
Sep 4, 2004
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A pic of the stairs I had to climb down to get to the beach. Man, I wish it wasn't late fall. @litespeedhuskerfan knows what I mean. Still cool.


Unique rock erosion on the cliffs


Costa del Sol is where you want to be in the summer. Wish I would have went here when I was 18. :p
 
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All-American
Sep 4, 2004
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Spent an afternoon at the Red Parrot, an English pub drinking draught Strongbow in bowler pint glasses. Had a great time. We ordered some hamburgers and "chips" to end the day. I don't believe we were charged.

BM3 Acosta, SA Taylor, OS3 Fetters



BM3 Lamson, LT Weniger
 
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All-American
Sep 4, 2004
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FN Stocker passes out at bar. So, I took his pic. It was either that or draw on his face. I think he got off light. :D
 
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All-American
Sep 4, 2004
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We stop in Rota, Spain to ready ourselves for the Atlantic crossing and to celebrate the New Year's. I partied at the base club and had a fun time. I was told that my Chief asked around to find out if I was ok. They said I had a big smile on my face. I never complained the next day and just did my work. That night I set my watch to go off at 2am and went to watch the Huskers play Florida State in the 1994 Orange Bowl on the Armed Forces Network. We were in port and hooked up to communications. Game ended about 5:30 am. As I readied for my daily muster, I was greeted in the galley. They knew I was a Husker fan and told me that NU was for real. Lots of Miami, FSU and SEC fans. They all said the same thing. They knew FSU was lucky to get that victory. Even they could see our dominance coming.

ET3 Kinkead, FC1 Gray - Champions Sports Bar


Back at the pier on NYE. Sodas were a quarter and beer was a buck. If you dug deep enough in the tri-wall you could usually find a Heineken.


RM3 Moler passed out. You know the rules. Smokin
 
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All-American
Sep 4, 2004
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Kibler, Chief Parrigan. Not sure of their rates as they were airmen and not attached to the command.
 
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All-American
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After the crossing we were approaching Bermuda and we had some mail waiting there. We fired up on of the helos to retrieve it. I volunteered to ride with them for the task. Wouldn't have missed it for the world!

Kibler


EN1 Ladnier working on hanger bay door
 
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