Cruise Book 1966 - Operation Deckhouse V

Submitted by Richard Draves ET3

Rich Draves, ETR3 - CE Div - 66-67 - Submitted 3/4/05
I remember, as a relatively new crew member of the Estes, we were crossing the Pacific in 1966. I was working on the mess deck, when my "good" friend, Rich Cherry, came down all excited, and said "Hey Draves, we are about to cross the International Date Line. You should go up and see it!"
Being the newbie, I was halfway up the ladder, before I realized my "friend" was sitting there laughing. He still reminds me of this incident.

Rich Draves, ETR3 - CE Div - 66-67 - Submitted 3/4/05
One of my favorite photos:

This was taken at Alava Pier in Subic Bay of the Philipine Islands near sunset in 1966.

Rich Draves, ETR3 - CE Div - 66-67 - Submitted 1/27/06
Make the Coffee!
Being the newbie in the department, I was requested to make the coffee. OK! I didn't drink coffee, but I could make it. I knew the procedure: Wash the pot, fill with water, put the grounds in the basket, and plug it in.
It only took one pot to realize that my coffee wasn't satisfactory to the department. It was declared to be "dishwater", or otherwise too weak. I then negotiated a plan. I knew I had to be involved - just because! Since the problem was with the strength of the brew, I offered to do everything except add the grounds. This let those who drank the coffee make it to their taste.
The plan worked until someone else came along to be the newbie.

Rich Draves, ETR3 - CE Div - 66-67 - Submitted 1/27/06
Really Bad Coffee!
Our ET Shop was located forward, between the two passageways. There was a head just forward of our space on either passageway. When making the coffee, we always used the faucet in the head on the starboard passageway. Don't know why, it was always done that way, so no need to change.
That is until a new person came onboard. He used the faucet in the head of the port passageway to fill the pot.
The pot was set and plugged in, we went to morning muster.
Upon returning from muster, I still remember the face of the first person to take a drink of that coffee pot.

Now, we know the reason for always using the head on the starboard side.

The port side head faucet, was SALT water!

BBQ - Afterdeck 1966
Submitted by Richard Draves ET3

BBQ somewhere in the Pacific Ocean - August 1966 Attendees: Ben Latuperisia, Rich Cherry, Bachisn, John Liebig

Working in Radar1
Submitted by Richard Draves ET3

Rich Draves working in Radar 1

Shellback Initiation 1966
Submitted by Richard Draves ET3

After crossing the Equator - All Polywogs are initiated into the Royal Order of the Shellback

Shore Patrol
Submitted by Richard Draves ET3

Rich Draves Shore Patrol - Olongapo, PI Compare this photo with the Radio Tech Gang of 1945 - both are taken in the same location, just 25 years apart

Cherry RF, ETR3 - OE Div - 1965-1966 - - Submitted 1/30/07

Last year my wife and I had the pleasure of going on a cruise out of San Diego to Vancouver.

When we left San Diego my wife, sister-in-law, and brother-in-law couldn't wait to get down to eat dinner, even before we passed Point Loma.

Well, I said, I'll be down later and I just stood there and enjoyed watching San Diego harbor go by amd remembering all the times we had left port to go to various places. THAT was the BEST part of the whole trip for me!

Ahoy Swabs............

Nowadays you always get an escort out of the harbour........

Cherry RF, ETR3 - OE Div - 1965-1966 - - Submitted 4/27/05
Maintained Radar 1 - AN/SPS-43 air search radar atop forward kingpost
My favorite places:

1. the Bow with a cup of coffee early in the twilight morning off the coast of Viet Nam watching an aircraft flying towards us, LORAN?
2. atop Radar 2, AN/SPS-30 room high near the stack on a stormy windy night listening to my transistor radio searching for good skips while in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.

Cherry RF, ETR3 - OE Div - 1965-1966 - - Submitted 4/21/05

Check out that sewing job!

Submitted by Donald Karr

Donald Karr SF3  1965-1967 - R Div- Submitted 11/18/07

After 42 years since I was on the ESTES, going back in time for the V.A. I got my records and found out I was on board from 1965 to 1967. 1 year 9 months 17 days on the ship. Also I was in Romeo div. I also found my year book and articals and pictures about Deck House 5 and DaNanag. I wish i could remember better, but i wanted to forget.

I would like to find any crew members who went on shore in DaNanag. I went on shore to hall garbage to dump site south of the city. I had a Navy drivers license, I remember driving with some one who was an escort. What I don't remember is if it was one of the Marines or someone from the Gunners Div. If some one remembers this or did this - contact me.

I also would like to hear from some of the Romeo div.

Donald A Karr
e-mail: DKarr10095@aol.com
or call me at 319-390-4614.

Submitted by Richard Levang

Richard Levang  Seaman  OE Division 1966 - - Submitted 2/25/07

After 41 Years - I still Remember

Please add me to your list.   I came on-board in January 1966. I am surprised that anyone remembers that old bucket. I just emailed Charlie Porter, funny I remember him and the jg's and Hartnett, after all, it was 41 years ago.  My name is Richard Levang and I think my rate was either SN or ETSN, I'm not sure because it was my first duty assignment out of Great lakes and I seem to recall being on-board for maybe six months...I'm not sure.  I know that I got transferred to the Eldorado AGC-11, next pier over when the Estes pulled out and I think that was because they were sending me back to Great Lakes to go to A school.  It's a little fuzzy so if you can provide any info, I'd appreciate it.  As I told Charlie, I hope I wasn't a pain.  If I was, I apologize...although a little late.  My email address is copter7@yahoo.com  and I'll be getting a new phone in a couple of weeks, so I'll update then.

Best and warmest regards shipmate...thank you for the site.

Sincerely,
Richard Levang

Submitted by Joe A. Ramos

Joe A. Ramos  Seaman Aprentice 2nd Division 1966-1967 - - Submitted 4/12/07

First assignment out of Boot Camp; Deck Hand; Worked on the aft part of the ship and the flight deck. Wanted to be a Boatswain Mate; Left the ship early because I received orders to go to Hospital Corps School.

Joe A. Ramos
700 Emeraldwood Drive
Austin, TX 78745
jramos31@austin.rr.com
(512) 444-0276 Home
(512) 589-2175 Cell

Joel Canfield  - - Submitted 8/28/07

Hello,

While scanning albums of family pictures I came across the attached letter that was in the photo album from Gold Beach, Oregon. Sometime between June 1965 and June 1967 my mother found a letter in a bottle while beach-combing for Japanese glass floats. The letter states that the note and bottle were from the Estes, and asks the finder to contact EPDOCONUS.

On a whim, I decided to do an internet search and was amazed to discover that the USS Estes is the name of a real ship. The second search indicated that EPDOCONUS is short for "Enlisted Personnel Distribution Office, Continental United States".

Although I have memories of my parents being quite pleased at finding the fun note in the bottle, I do not remember what the bottle looked like. I thought I would scan the note and send it to you, on the slight chance that someone at the next reunion might recognize the handwriting on the note.

Thank you,
Joel

If anyone can add further information about this note: Who put it over the side? When? Where?

Send an e-mail to Dick Draves

Murray A. Mcafee  DM-SN - 1965-1966 - Submitted 2/24/09

I was there when the guys tossed it overboard.... we all read it... and thought it would be a good laugh for any one who would find it.... INCREDABLE... to see it again!!!!!!!!!!!!!! my god.

Well it was 43, years ago!!!!!...
However, as I recall we were about two days out - destination Pearl Harbor, Hawaii in 1966. I do not remember any of the guys, I know they were not in the AFT boswans division (where I was stationed), or I would probably have heard about it earler in the day. The bottle went overboard on the port side, just forward  of the AFT deck.

About 4-5 guys, including myself, I had nothing to do with the letter or the bottle,but I think it was written on the aft deck somewhere, as it was created after some input from "the Guys". I was just there, on deck, and wandered over to see what the hell everyone was laughing about. It was funny!

Murray Mcafee

Submitted by William McGary

William McGary SM-3  1964-1967 - CS - Submitted 10/13/07

Entertainment

Welcome Aboard Booklet

Rich Draves, ETR3 - CE Div - 66-67 - Submitted 5/22/09
Photos from Westpac 1966

Tom hammond, LI3 - OA Div - 66-67 - Submitted 4/29/18
Shellback Initiation 9/7/1966

Send any photos of the Estes, or life and times while aboard.

We prefer digital images, but can accept original photographs or documents. Originals will be returned unless you indicate otherwise. We will make our best efforts in returning things safely, since we use public carriers to return items, i.e. US Postal Service, we cannot guarantee safe returns. We would feel more comfortable if you had items scanned into digital images.

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