Thanks, Master Chief. I was never ship's company, but I am an honorary crew member of the USS Charles R. Ware, DD 865. I was aboard her briefly off Spain, and spent 43 days aboard in the South Atlantic, oddly enough to cover a Polaris launch. Your essay brings back memories; we went hrough a gale on the way down. I spent my time on the signal bridge. One night when the weather was really bad we could look out and see the Gunnery Officer holding on to the range finder on a five inch mount. The Signalmen said he was prone to seasickness, but toughed it out. On the way back, the Captain wanted to transfer me to another destroyer, as it was going directly back to Norfolk, by whale boat. It being pretty rough and choppy, I reminded him I had about a $100,000 worth of camera gear, and would just as soon stay aboard, with his permission. He saw my point, and I went to Hamiltin, Bermuda, with the Ware. Stan