"While aboard the Providence I had the opportunity to visit many interesting places, such as Cairo and Alexandra, Egypt, Beirut, Lebanon, Nice, France, Tangiers and Algiers in North Africa, ........"

James L. Measom shares some photos and experiences aboard Providence in the 40's. Click here to read his bio and to go back in time to the days of CL82.

Sam

3/27/05

"This moment's mixed with sadness,
and loneliness returns,
But sadness stays not long with me;
As I survey the ocean sea,
I know my dear one waits for me,
And love's bright light still burns."

These are a few lines from the poem "Night Watch." A sailor aboard the USS Taylor DD 468 wrote and published it in All Hands Magazine in June 1967.

The poem brings back memories of Osredkar and myself many a time smoking and drinking coffee on the Missile House in the middle of a storm or in the quiet tranquility of a glassy ocean.

I took the liberty of adding images to help enhance the feeling of being out in the middle of the ocean in quiet thought. Hope it brings back some memories for you too.

Click here for "Night Watch."

Sam

03/17/05

Here are some great shots of Providence firing her guns off Vietnam. Ray Rudy ETR2 shares some of his photos from his WESTPAC tour. (11/66-69)

http://star77.com/fire1a.html

USS New Jersey joined us in Vietnam. Here are some photos of NJ taken from the Providence. I remember that the crew always took the opportunity to take a good look at the New Jersey. She was an awsome sight. Rudy also got some good photos of the Vietnam coastline.

Some of the images show that we got pretty close to the shore. My understanding is that it could get shallow fast. La Roque (CO) in later years wrote of this concern and the carrying of nuclear weapons aboard Providence at that time. We sometimes had to get close to shore for Naval Gunfire Support effectiveness and that created the possibility of going aground.

http://star77.com/rudy2/index.html

Thanks Rudy,
email: (rrudy@newportnet.com)

Sam

02/24/05

For those of you that miss San Diego, here are a some photos that include images around the Laguna Mountains, San Diego Bay and early morning at the Marina Village docks.

Trip to the Laguna Mountains after fire (12/2003)
Sailing with my friends in San Diego Bay (9/2003)
Photos of early morning San Diego 01/2005

(12/6/04)
I am planning to visit the USS Midway Museum soon and should have more photos to share.

(1/10/04)
Today the USS Midway made its way to the "G" Street Pier which will be a Naval Museum. It is to open sometime in late spring or early summer. Take a look at these photos that I took with my handy digial camera. (photos)

(7/2003)
Now in July 2003, we are seeing the decommissioning of the Constellation, the commissioning of the USS Ronald Reagan and the USS Midway coming to San Diego as a museum.

(3/3/03)
Today on T.V. we saw the USS Nimitiz and its battle group deploy from San Diego. We wish the best to all you guys.

Since then the USS Abraham Lincoln returned after first being visited by President Bush. A BZ to the officers and crew for a job well done.

(11/2/02)
Linda and I saw the USS Constellation depart San Diego Harbor this morning on its last deployment. It was a proud moment. This morning was rather hazy but something happened for a few moments that approximated a miracle. The City of San Diego, Coronado and the Connie were all a silvery haze gray siloquette at the same time. It was as if God were paying tribute to this grand ship. Best of luck and Godspeed.

Photo of Linda waving to Connie...

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