.  How do you begin to talk about such a great ship and crew? I guess just talk. We were all on a great and powerful warship that defended her namesake (INDEPENDENCE) very well. We all know that a ship is only as good as her crew and the crew on INDY instilled a "can do attitude" in everyone who came aboard. Some of you may have been "rebels" at the time you were aboard (it was a time of rebels) BUT YOU DID YOUR JOB!!! Case in point: some of you might recall. We were anchored in Gitmo Harbor and at about 2AM we heard "FIRE FIRE FIRE". Well that in itself isn’t a big thing as you know we have FIRE PARTIES, so as I drift back to sleep the next thing I hear is "GENERAL QUARTERS". Now GQ sounded right after FIRE at 2AM is SERIOUS BUSINESS. And as I rolled out of my middle bunk I stepped on the guy rolling out of the bottom bunk and the guy from the top bunk hit me in the back as he rolled out. GQ was manned up in record time (remember this is 2AM) and as I sat in FACCON wondering what was going on I saw..... (The jest of this little story) ... one of the biggest "rebels" (name escapes me) sitting there shaking his head and saying "IT WAS JUST LIKE IN THE MOVIES". I asked him WHAT IS LIKE THE MOVIES? In a rather testy voice and he looked up at me with tears in his eyes and said "GOING TO GQ, IT WAS JUST LIKE IN THE MOVIES". When the chips were down........EVERYONE did their part. Now that little story may not be appropriate for this web page but I believe that it demonstrates the "CAN DO" attitude that INDY had until her decommissioning day.

 We took that attitude literally around the world. Naples, you could smell it before you could see it, but the BAR ROSE, and TONY BAR were always open. Athens, POD said "Don't go to JOHN BULL'S", so where does everyone head? You guessed it. JOHN BULL'S. Or two old crusty 1st class take the TRAIN to the end of the tracks and have souvlakis and cucumber and tomato salad, drink a couple of amstel beers and come back. Haifa, Great food (nothing like a "HEART" sandwich) and girls on the beach with DENTAL FLOSS for a bikini. Barcelona, GREAT GUT, Loved the paella and the "Spanish Scotch Bars" had the most beautiful women that this sailor has ever seen working in them. Toulon, THE WORLDS BIGGEST GUT, Half gallon sized beer bottles, SMASH SANDWICHES, and a LONG WAY from the main gate to our BERTH. Yes the only place the INDY tied up in the Med. Rota, what can I say? INCHOP/OUTCHOP and the start of an adventure via Madrid, New York, Norfolk for Ron and "Boot Chief" Ken (someone had to carry Ron's fishing gear).....................So many memories.........So many names and faces... All of you signed up in the USS Independence CV62 CR DIV Yahoo group were a part of this as were many more or the Radio crew that we have not found yet. So many good times to talk about in Oct 2003, heck we might not have time to drink a beer????? Nahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

Ken Loomer, RMCS (Ret)