Schlog....thanks for the positive feedback, and I also wish that there was a better means available for contacting old shipmates and having them post to the forums.

Oh, and the De La Hoya vs Casteleijo rumble doesn't go down until Saturday 6-23-01 evening on Satelite HBO, or HBO pay-per-view channels.

Growing up, I never thought I was very tough as compared to my best competition in the Dallas Golden Gloves, but my dad/coach always tried to instill in me that I was just as good as anyone and better than most. As it stands now, and especially with the crazies that the X generation produced, I firmly take the stance that I'm not tough at all, because with age, experience and wisdom I've come to know that all the tough guys are either 6' under, or in prison. GMG Sal

schlog, Thanks.... I go days trying to remember things. The good thing is that Sal can still remember the days gone by . I was just a boot when I first met Sal. He was a tough S O B back in the day but there was alot of respect there. Not too many people really understood the man. People tend to see people the way they want, but fear takes its place when they notice that we are all different.Even though we all come from different places we are all similar inside.
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I remember that they gave Sal a hard time at chow when he had arrived after a watch and they refused to let him eat. "Sal" Is my memory correct?

Sweepers sweepers man your brooms, sweep all ladderbacks and passageways now sweepers.

I remember what was inscribed on the plaque Martha Raye presented to the ship. Do You? Do you remember what shape it was?

Wes

I only remember that she came aboard. About 2 or 3 years before she died, we went to see her in a play at a dinner theater one night. I wrote a note and gave it to the waiter to telling her that I "met" her while in vietnam, and thanked her for coming aboard on behalf of all of us. I didn't hear another word, but think the waitor laughed to himself as he threw the note away.

I remember setting up a PA system on the fantail for Martha Raye to give us a pep talk .
When it was time to test the PA for volume she walked up to the microphone , opened her cute little big mouth and put the whole thing inside .
She turned to me and said "yep , it works just fine son".

Come on, think about it. It was in the trophy case on the mess deck. Okay, it was heart shaped, now what did it say?

Wes