Bitch books Department: Rx Author: Flounder Era: 1985 Date: 12/21/05 Hi Joe - You probably saw my name all over the bitch books in the RARs and switchgears. For some reason I was pretty legendary... After leaving the Ikeatraz I (gag) re-enlisted and went to the Carl Vinson; qualified LD pretty fast, so they made me EX02 AWCS then EX01 WCS and then put me on the drill team. The lieutenant from RT who ran the drill team wrote me up for a commendation because 1) we were both avid bicyclists, and 2) I was the only one who didn't spend half an hour every night arguing with him over how to run the drills.

The price of re-enlistment Department: Rx Author: Flounder Era: 1985 Date: 12/21/05 Yes, I got out then re-enlisted, and will never, ever forget how much SRB (Selective Re-enlistment Bonus) I got. I was sitting in the MEPS station in Tampa getting ready for the bus to NAVET training in Orlando; a rather attractive secretary was typing up my paperwork. She looked at the papers once, then again; then she took a long slow look at me and with a pleasant Southern accent said: "Are they really giving you twenty seven thousand six hundred nineteen dollars and twenty cents to re-enlist?" "Yes ma'am, they are." "Will you marry me?"

Cruisebook Transvestites Department: Rx Author: Peter Era: 1980 Date: 12/21/05 Quiz: Which USNavy vessel featured transvestites in its Cruisebook? Answer: IKE's 1980 Cruisebook pg 111. PS. If you ever want to include a photo along with your story, please post the seastory and then email me separately your photo.

Elmo Department: Rx Author: Johnny V Era: 1982 Date: 12/21/05 On an earlier post my fabled 'got carried home' by Swoveland story was chronicled. That was the only time I was ever incapacitated by demon rum. But there is more to the story... Elmo was one of my steamin buddies... Dave Berg and I were the guys that made the Elmo moniker stick (somehow it fit). Anyway we were in Tarento, I had duty the first day in, and as usual an RE duty day meant no sleep. The ship uped the ante by serving particularly inedible food inport. OK 24 hours no sleep and no food! So Duty is over and I am bushed I hook up with a guy and we head to shore to get a decent friggin meal. We walk all over and finally find a place open (some kind of holiday that day). We order a fantastic meal and decide after some time to have a little house wine. The owner comes by with a 2 quart bottle of wine and we down it, the second bottle went down even better. At this point I must point out all of my liberty stories with any entertainment value involve wine.

Elmo part 2 Department: Rx Author: Johnny V Era: 1982 Date: 12/21/05 So we head off to Fleet Landing to go back to the IKE get some much needed sleep. Across the street we see what we referred to as 'reactor cafe' full of loud noisy drunks... we were there in seconds. Elmo was there by himself, in uniform as usual (did you EVER have civilian clothes privileges Elmo?) He spoke the words that still make me cringe to this day "John! I got some gin, wanna get plowed? They have tonic water at the bar". OK so here's Elmo with what appears to be 3/4 of a gallon of Beefeater Gin and a shit eating grin. So I buy tonic water (8 oz) and we proceed to kill the gin. I was watching sailor after sailor get carried back to the ship (that won’t happen to me!).

Elmo part 3 Department: Rx Author: Johnny V Era: 1982 Date: 12/21/05 Soon a familiar urge struck... where do you go pee??? "Ahhhhh John, just go around back and pee on the dirt pile". Details were never Elmos strong suit, he didnt mention the sheer cliff back there. But the mission was a success no harm done. Additional details became fuzzy after that, but I seem to remember seeing the only guy in a white uniform laying on that muddy pile of pee out back later on. (Tim, you know somebody had to tumble down that damn hill glad it wasn’t me, sorry to hear it was skullfucker) After we killed the gin the only mission I had left was to get back to the pig with tunnel vision. Thanks to Flounder and Shovel-head for getting me back... you shouldnt have shoved that slider in my mouth though, power puking is not a lost art. BTW this is also Shovelheads only sea story, I must have heard him tell it 30 times over the next 4 years. At least it didnt involve an arrest this time

Where in the world... Department: Rx Author: Flounder Era: 1980 Date: 12/21/05 1980? Pete, that must be Bugis St. in good ol' Singapore!! Before they cleaned it up!

loose ends Department: Rx Author: Schrooms Era: 1983 Date: 12/21/05 answers to previous sea story questions: Joe Ryan was an E-3 due to his strong belief he was eligible for 59 days leave a year. He was Reactor Departments Bull SN for several years. I think he made ET3 2 times in 5 years, ET2 once and ETSN twice. He was a great guy. Glad to hear Ian 'the fashion-plate' Forbes is still with us The full name was John 'Rooster' Fenton from Rooster Run KY- I would show up a half hour late for a party and Rooster would be passed out on the floor. 2 hours later he would be downing drinks again, just to go down again in an hour or two, amazing Yes this is John Vrooman AKA shrooms

Another planet heard from Department: Rx Author: Flounder Era: 2005 Date: 12/22/05 John the Shroom, the man, the legend! It's good to hear from you! How are your wife and kids doing? They must be college age by now...You still live in Tidewater, I think; do you ever see Joe Skull or any of the other mutants? Hmmm...who haven't we heard from yet...Mike Seidler (think he's lurking), Big Bob Amante, Pete Ryan, Adrian Houston, Rick Elder, Nelson "Ace" Acevedo, Mike Iuliucci, Tim Putnam, Mike Mulka (saw him a while back), Tony Lee, Kevin Dorweiler, Don Grove (followed me to the Vinson), Dave Blow, Mark Pietroboni, Vic Maldonado, Al Hawkins, Tom Rickenbach, Chris Klentzman, the list goes on and on. Dave "Davy Navy" Deshotel (ex - E-1 div guy) is no longer among us; he passed away in early '98. No cause of death listed on the SSDI.

loose ends Department: Rx Author: shroom Era: 1983 Date: 12/22/05 I work at NGNN (Newport News Shipbuilding) as does Arnie Fisher, Joe Skullion, Daryl Creech (THE laziest man alive), MMCM (ret) Shaw, Rick Elder was there but I think he moved on, Dave Sims and Tom Baragona too. I saw a post that referenced steaming hats, man that was the coolest tradition, I think Ike may have been the only ship doing it. I went to BEE, EM 'A' school and to IKE with EMFN Lem Lee (E-2), when I retired the presiding officer at my ceremony was LT Lem Lee. Life is funny that way. Lem was and is a great guy to this day. Remember Vladimir getting his picture taken for the Cruise Book reading the 'RC DIV BITCH BOOK'... what a witch hunt to find that damn book (I have lots of Vlad stories). Pete I loved the war-hero medals you wore for official photos and other formal events, the diver helmet was my favorite. I still keep at least one Hawaiian shirt in my closet, you never know when you will need it.