Tom Moran to me, Ron Ron: What a gem to have. It was like that North Atlantic mission never took place.

To see all those young guys that are now old guys was like stepping back in time. No matter how you describe

that trip into the North Atlantic on that little ship, people cannot get the true feel of how punishing those seas were.

I remember that situation when the Brits flew over and we were in trouble because if we didn't change course

we were going to capsize. We had to ask the Russians (who we were watching) if we could come into their waters

because of the weather. They said yes, or none of us would be here today. When the dawn broke we had a

Russian light cruiser on our port side at general quarters, to make sure we were only avoiding the weather.

I remember trying to get a message out to NAM to get permission to enter Russian waters, while the guys were

having a contest to see who could run the farthest along the wall (bulkhead) of the ship as it took rolls that

bordered on capsize. The video shows the storm as it started, but no where close to what it was, as we were

not allowed on deck. I remember looking out of the portholes and felling like you were ten stories above sea

level and almost immediately looking at waves that appeared to be ten stories high.

I also remember the Russian Trawlers that were watching us, particularly the one that we called "the ghost".

It was white and seemed to appear out of nowhere. I also remember those unbelievable ports in Denmark and Norway

(which we will not talk about). I also remember the big fight at the EM Club in Rota Spain that led to us being confined to the pier.

I believe the battle started with a bunch of boot camp Marines trying to show how tough they were by picking up those

monster size bugs and putting them in their mouth and spitting them out. I forget who it was, but one of our guys not only

put the bug in his mouth, but chewed it too, then it started, fists, chairs, bottles. I also recall that we won and that's why we

were not allowed off the pier for the rest of the stay. I also remember having few in Rota and on the way back to the ship, we stopped

to take a picture with one of those Military or police guys that carried the machine guns. The guy said that he did not want to

take a picture with us. I forget who it was that told him, but the guy with the machine gun was told that if he took a picture with us,

he would get a carton of cigarettes (which we did not have). After we took the picture with him and he asked for the cigarettes,

we ran for the pier.

I also remember those cookouts on the fantail, which were usually ended by Lacey launching one of his home made rockets and

climbing up the mast to that platform and getting a sun tan at 3am. I also remember Billy Counts coming in with a load on,

waking me up and grabbing my juggler vein, estimating how long it would take him to drain my blood. I have poloroid photos of

the "Blue Nose" ceremony. That is it. I didn't have a camera on the cruise. Who ever posted that video, "you are the man".

I have two Grandson's (6 & 8) who are very interested in the Atakapa and the other two ships I was on and all the stuff that

went along with being in the Navy. They will absolutely love this video. By the way, are we allowed to even talk about this

stuff??? If not, delete this e-mail, if so see who else remembers the cruise. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! for the video.

The only thing missing was Jimmy Obrien lying on the deck surrounded by plastic zip lock puke bags....Ha Ha.

Make sure that everyone knows that after being a New Orleans cop, Jimmy became a commercial fisherman. Who would have thunk?????

Tommy Moran

*****************************************************************************

Obrien was the radioman that worked in the shack with me. The stories about his plastic puke bags is 100% true. Here's mine: As I headed for my mid watch shift, I crossed the mess deck and scabbed a freshly popped bag of popcorn. I hurriedly ate it as I made my way up to the shack. Upon arrival, I noted the AC was down and JO had stacked a few bags of what had once been chicken noodle soup (greenish) on the transmitter. No traffic for me, so I headed top side to get some fresh air (imagine the smell in the shack). Hanging onto the railing on the wing of the bridge, I was breathing deeply when JO charges up and pitches his puke bags overboard - and then started retching. I matched him blow for blow until there was even popcorn stuck in my nose! CT2 Matt aka Ken Matthiesen






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