Submitted by Richard Draves ET3

Rich Draves, ETR3 - CE Div - 66-67 - Submitted 9/5/07
Dependent Cruise '67

I was aboard the Estes, when we took dependents from San Diego to Bremerton in 1967.

We had just returned from WestPac and were to then undergo an overhaul. Rather than leave dependents in San Diego, we used our spaces to load Autos and Family and took them along.

Submitted by Richard Draves ET3

Rich Draves, ETR3 - CE Div - 66-67 - Submitted 11/14/05
When Estes was undergoing an overhaul at Bremerton, WA in 1967, most of the electronic equipment had been removed from the ship. Taken for its own overhaul at the local Electronics Shop. This left the ETs with little to do. In true Navy fashion, "When there is nothing to do - go chip paint!"
I can remember still, being on the after kingpost with pneumatic hammers chipping paint (and then repainting) early on crisp mornings, especially at high tide. From the top of the kingpost, Mt. Ranier would majestically appear from behind the local hills.
It was beautiful!

Shipmates
Submitted by Charlie Porter ETN2

Bob Radebaugh

Charlie Porter & Don Piefer

Charlie Porter & Steve Burke

Doug Perault

Perault, Ben Laturperissa, & John Brown

John Chadwell, RM3 -   - 66-68 - Submitted 12/2/05
I was aboard when the ship was in Bremerton Naval Shipyard - 1967. I was one of a few dozen radiomen aboard ship, and I remember looking down at four smaller vessels that were in front of the Estes, and we found out that there were radiomen and CTs onboard. Some of us thought that would be swell duty, only to find out several months later that one of those ships was USS Pueblo. I was on watch the night she was taken by the North Koreans. I believe we were about 600 miles from the Pueblo when she was captured.

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

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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