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This was the ships store, sort of the Navy version of the PX. It
is now the ship's gift shop, though it was closed during my
visit. |
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the uniform hanging from the ceiling once
belonged to Earl, my guide. He was a quartermaster, and a petty
officer. the hash marks indicate that he served for twenty
years. |
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This, and the photo above, show the petty
officer's mess, where the petty officers hung out, and where
they took their meals. |
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The kitchen of the petty officer's mess. |
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Adjacent to the petty officer's mess, was the
day room, where the work of the chief and of the other petty
officers, would be done. |
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There were many compartments in the ship, and
much redundancy. Not all were restored to their original
configuration. This room is a memorial for the men who were
imprisoned, and in some cases never found (or never released),
during the viet nam war. It is exceptionally likely that most if
not all of these men were murdered by their captors, who then
hid their crimes by denying that these men were ever imprisoned. |
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Another memorial is to the men who fought and
won the war in the Pacific, against the Japanese, during WWII. |
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Left:
The medical section , popularly known as Sick Bay. Though
serious medical conditions were generally evacuated to shore
side medical facilities, this section was capable of performing
surgery, and of handling pretty much anything that could be
handled in any hospital stateside.
Below:
The crew's mess |
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Above:
Note the mail box, and barber pole. These ships were miniature
cities, and needed to be able to provide all of the services of
a small town, during extended cruises.
Left:
The barber shop. |
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This is the personnel office. Though it might
seem strange for a ship to have one. Unlike a personnel office
in a business, this was more a record keeping office. |
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Main street. This hallway led to the mess
areas, and featured the post office, personnel office, and the
door leading down to the fire room. The red and orange molding
on the wall to the right of the fire room door, is the emergency
shut down for the fire room. Should the fire room be blocked
off, or uninhabitable during a battle, this can be used to shut
down the engines, and prevent a possible explosion. |
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Left:
This is the officer's mess, better known as the wardroom. This
was used for dining, socialization, and meetings.
Below:
The officers mess table. |
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The ships silver and dining cutlery, are
displayed here, This might also be a sort of a trophy display
for any awards or prizes. |
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Left:
A typical officer's stateroom.
Below:
The captain's cabin |
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The sleeping section of the captain's cabin.
Note the rails for rough weather. The captain was essentially
always on call, and could never depend on an uninterrupted
night's sleep. Note the traditional sword, the phone right next
to the bunk, and the shoes and neatly pressed uniform standing
ready. |
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The desk in the captain's cabin. |
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The captain's cabin. Note the uniform, which
indicates that the rank of captain was a title of honor, and
that the actual rank of this officer was commander. Generally a
destroyer, considered to be one of the smaller ships of the
inventory, was commanded by a commander or even by a lieutenant
commander. |
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The second in command had this as his cabin.
This had formerly been the captain's cabin, according to my
guide Earl. Latter on, a large store room had been converted to
what is now the captain's cabin. |