USS Durham (LKA-114)



Charleston Class Amphibious Cargo Ship

Additional links for USS Durham:
http://www.navsource.org/archives/10/02/02114.htm
http://navysite.de/lka/lka114.htm
http://www.hullnumber.com/AKA-114
My Duties with USS Durham
Aug 1982 - Apr 1984
Home ported out of San Diego, CA, USS Durham was a Reserve ship with a regular crew complimented by a Select Reserve Crew (SelRes).  I was a QM2 and for 7 months I was both the Senior and Leading Petty Officer.
In Mar 1983,  Durham was transfered back to the regular fleet and we received additional personnel, including a QMC. (I was still LPO)

Refresher Training (RefTra) - During battle stations everyone is required to tuck their pants into their socks.  (This cuts down on loose clothing and protects against flash burns, etc.)  Since this was a training exercise the instructors warned that for those of us wearing Wellington boots, the pants should be in the socks, not just tucked into the top of the boots.  The instructors then noted that we had all done it correctly, but the comment got the attention of the Master at Arms and he noticed that I was the only enlisted (actually the only person) wearing Wellington Boots.  Somehow the MAA got it in his head that that Wellingtons were only authorized for officers only and he decided that I was out of uniform.  I explained to my chief and to the MAA that uniform regs authorized Wellington boots for both officer and enlisted with all uniforms, except for Dress Inspections.  I knew the chapter and verse of the regulation, but no matter.  The MAA refused to believe me and my QMC didn't have the balls to back me up, so I had to remove and surrender my boots to the MAA.  A few days later the MAA called me into his office and in a very grudgingly manner told me I could wear my boots.  "But," he warned," keep your pants on the out side or everyone will want to wear them."  Hmm, other than at battle stations, pants are always worn on the out side of boots and since Wellingtons were specifically authorized in the uniform regs, what is the big deal?  This was the oxymoron of "Military Intelligence" at it's best.

 I  let my self be naive and didn't want to believe that not all QM's watched each other's back and not all QMC's were competent.

 June 1983 we departed for WestPac.

Arrived at Pier Kilo in Perl Harbor and rode out Hurricane Iva.

My friend , Rick Burris, from the USS Hamner was on shore duty on Ford Island.  After ridding out Hurricane Iva, I spent the 4th of July '83 behind Rick's house, cracking open coconuts on the bollards of Battleship Row as we watched the Pearl City fireworks burst over the Arizona Memorial.  It was an incredible 4th of July!

During WestPac we made port visits in the Japan, Philippines, Australia and participated in Team Spirit, an amphibious exercise off Tok Sok Ri, Korea.

In Sep  1983 I earned Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist.  Only about 15%-20% of sailors ever earn ESWS.  Most are 1st class (E-6) or above.  I earned it as a 2nd class! (E-5)  At the time  only two 2nd Class Petty Officers had ever earned ESWS on USS Durham.   I was the second.  The first was QM2 Westall, who earned his just one month before me.

Oct 1983 Durham was returning from WESTPAC and pulling into Pearl Harbor.  I was on the helm, as usual.  Just as Durham was passing the tightest part of the channel the relief master helmsman demanded that I give him the helm and said that I was to report to the starboard bridge wing.  This was not proper turn over and it was a tight dangerous channel - it was all wrong!  I was about to protest, but the Helm Safety Officer and JOOD just told me to go.  When I reported to the bridge wing the OOD pushed me to the rail where I saw my father, my friend, Rick and his wife Margie waving and welcoming us to port.  I almost cried.

Tiger Cruise 1983
My father was a retired US Army Major.  I made sure that I was on the quarterdeck when he came aboard.  I saluted, rendering proper honors, and then said, "Sir, you are out or uniform."  and presented him with a USS Durham ball cap with proper Army Major insignia.  (A marine officer helped me find the correct Army insignia)
Dad hooked up with another Tiger (a retired Gunnery Sergeant) and the two of them shook off the guided tours.  They went everywhere and did ever thing.  Dad said that they would just open a door and if no one told them to get out, they just went in and started asking questions.  They had a ball!
(note:  Dad died in Dec 2009 and one of his prised possessions was his USS Durham ball cap.)

Normally when sailor earns ESWS they are pinned and honored within a day or so after passing the board, however the Command knew that my father, a retired US Army Major, was going to be on the Tiger Cruise and delayed the pinning of my ESWS by a month so Dad could be there.  When the command finally decided to pin me during the Tiger Cruise, Dad was busy checking out the ship, and missed the pinning ceremony anyway.  I was really pissed, not because Dad missed the ceremony, but because I should have been pinned over a month earlier.  The Command was more interested with kissing up to a retired Army officer rather than giving the honors due to one of their own Junior Enlisted.

Nov 1983, returned from WestPac

March 1984 made QM1 on the first increment.
Advancement results were in and I knew that I had made rate and I put my new stripes on half of my shirts.  We were just finishing REFTRA. (again)  and as usual I drove the ship to anchorage off Harbor Island in San Diego.  As the observers disembarked, the CO addressed the crew to tell them what a good job they had done and officially announced the advancements.  Although we were still at Sea Detail, I dashed to the chartroom and changed my shirt. When the CO finished his announcement, the first thing he saw was me standing at the helm sporting my new first class stripes.  My seniors immediately wanted to "tack on" my stripes when the CO called them off.  "Don't hurt his arm - he still has to drive us back to our berth!"
Additionally, as a joke during refreasher training I wore a green sock on my right foot and a red sock on my left foot. The CO could have ordered me to wear regulation black socks, but he just shook his head and enjoyed the joke.

Apr 1984 transfered to USS Excel (MSO-439).

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