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I served in the US Navy from 1971-73 as a boiler technician. I was assigned to a destroyer (USS Warrington DD-843) and a heavy cruiser (USS Newport News CA-148). I was aboard the Warrington when it went over two American mines in 1972 during the Vietnam War and had to be removed from service and scrapped as a result of the damage. The Warrington was the single most expensive weapon lost during the entire Vietnam War. I was also aboard the Newport News when one of its forward 8 inch gun mounts suffered an internal explosion killing 21 sailors.
The most enjoyable cruise I participated in was the North Atlantic (England, Denmark, Holland, Norway and Sweden etc.) cruise during the fall of 1973.
As a result of my service time, I do not remember my high school days/friends as vividly as my service time aboard both two ships and my fellow shipmates especially those that made the ultimate sacrifice. Memorial day is more than a holiday once a year.
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