Sheldon Toomer shares some memories from 1961 through 1965

Since 12-02-03

Sheldon Toomer, 1961-1965;

I remember in Pearl Harbor when the tidal wave was supposed to hit.  I remembered moving all the ships to the other side of the Island.  Then there was the Christmas Island Nuclear tests.  I remember being in the upper handling room for the 5" guns and they told us to get down and brace ourselves.  I thought there was going to be a big shock, but nothing happened. 

Then they turned on the sprinklers for the wash down of the ship and it didn't even work.  A lot of experiences on the old "Rammin Sammy".   I think, not real sure, but the first WesPac Cruise in 1962, with Captain McCabe, we had to stop in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii for one month, because the wrong water got into a boiler and the BTs (Boiler Tenders) had to go and clean and fix them.  It took a month.  

 Commander Bolken might have been the Captain It could have been late 61 or early 62.  That was a lot of dirty work for the BTs and I heard that the Captain was very upset.