Bob Rohlfs : here is a picture of me standing beside the first Mercury capsule that the U.S. orbited and recovered in the Caribbean. Sept 13, 1961.  I was on the USS Decatur DD 936 at the time as a young Ensign.  As an example of the Cold War mentality back then, there was such fear that the USSR would try to capture the capsule that we were at full General Quarters with all gun mounts, etc fully loaded - just in case as we steamed for the capsule.  Of course, nothing happened. We later took part in the Cuba Missile Crisis Blockade.  I was in the Navy from 1961 to 1967, spent time at the now famous Guantanamo Bay Cuba Naval Station, was on 2 Mediterranean cruises, and sailed through the Suez Canal to the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden & back.  From 1964 to 67 I was in the Navy Nuclear Power Program.

The other photo is one I took while in the Bosn's Chair being highline between the destroyer on the right and the aircraft carrier on the left.  The rigging between the ships is for refueling the destroyer and transferring cargo between the ships.

Posted By: Administrator - 04-09-2008
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