USS Askari ARL-30 Guestbook

Submitted by
Name: William "Doug" Turner
From: Albuquerque, NM
E-mail: wdtdawg@yahoo.com

Comments:
I guess I got lost off the list,but I am back Shipfitter/2nd class Diver 5/67/-5/68. Miss all of my shipmates wish I could remember all their names. Getting long in the tooth LOL. God Bless American and the great men that have and are now serving now.

Added: February 27, 2017

Submitted by
Name: Lee Daley
From: Orlando,Fl.
E-mail: Leethebaker@gmail.com

Comments:
JUST TO SAY ALL MY SHIPMATES AND HOPE TO SEE YOU ALL AT THE M.R.F.A.REUNION THIS YEAR, ON THE SHIP 7/67-7/68 SHIP BAKER................LEE DALEY

Added: February 25, 2017

Submitted by
Name: Steve Chase
From: Tucson, AZ & Excelsior, MN
E-mail: spchaser8@gmail.com

Comments:
Served on USS Askari from late 1951 to Dec. 1953 .... During the Korean War. Worked as toe an in ships office....and battle station on 20mm. Met many wonderful people. I

Added: February 13, 2017

Submitted by
Name: Thomas J. Marko
From: Statesville NC.
E-mail: markothomas1@yahoo.com

Comments:
I was the 2nd class EN in the main engine room (Main Control)when left VN and took her to Guam. All the crew got new orders when we got to Guam and me, gunny, and a bosom were the last 3 on her when we trained the Indonesia navy that we turned her over to. The Indo Captain tried to get me to go to Indonesia on her but was denied by the American captain. All 3 of us spent around 3 weeks in guam till bumming a ride on a Aussie plane back to Saigon. We than went to our new command NSA Viet-Nam. I miss my service on her and my Main Engines and all the Shipmates that I served with.

Added: February 6, 2017

Submitted by
Name: Gary McGuire
From: Middletown, OH / Nashville, TN since 1985
E-mail: murphydog2009@gmail.com

Comments:
Hello all. My Dad's name is Harlan Clay McGuire. He served on her during the operation "Sandstone" era. He was born June 9, 1927 in Middletown, OH. He passed away Saturday, December 12, 2009 at Atrium Medical Center in Middletown, Ohio.

I found the USS Askari website and emailed to see if anyone knew of her location. I was just trying to find out the location of her so I could go see her for myself. From that email, I was in communication with Pete Seitz. I told him a story about my dad and he said I should share it here with everyone, so here goes:
I was with my family while my dad was in the hospital during his last few days. One day a nurse came in and started asking him quite a few questions of his past. One of the questions was "Have you ever been exposed to radiation". His reply was "Yes". I looked at him and said "Dad, when & how were you exposed to radiation"... as if thinking he was just joking around. He proceeded to tell me that he was aboard the USS Askari and participated in the Nuclear Bomb testings at Eniwetok in the Marshall Islands.(I have also heard it called and spelled like this-Enewetak Atoll) Anyways, I asked "Why have you never told me this". His reply was "I didn't think you would be interested". Really,... a part of history and he thought I wouldn't be interested. I have seen pictures of him and his Navy buddies but never really heard any stories. At the time of all of this, I was 42 years old and had never a word of this from him or my mom. I did not even know the name of his ship up till then. He then said that everyone aboard her were handed sunglasses. When they finally got around to him and a few others, they ran out of the sunglasses, so they were instructed to just turn around, face away and do not turn back around at all during the detonation. So when the bomb detonated my dad decided to actually turn around and look. I cannot imagine what it must have looked like. I guess you can say he saw it in color. A friend of mine said "They don't make 'em like your Dad anymore. True heroes don't brag about their past or accomplishments". My Dad never did either one, that's for sure.

So that's it. If anyone happens to know the location of her, please let me know. I feel that I really just need to see her in person. The last thing I have on her is that she was in Indonesia. If that's the case, then at least my Mom still has all the pictures of her from his days of serving, not many, but some. Thanks for your time, interest and service.
Gary McGuire.

Added: January 24, 2017

Submitted by
Name: Pete

Comments:
HAPPY NEW YEAR to all.

Added: January 24, 2017

Submitted by
Name: Robert Lynch
From: Nokomis, FL
E-mail: Lynchre68@yahoo.com

Comments:
My late brother, Richard, served aboard in 1970. I was an Army captain and visited him. I was invited to eat in the wardroom. When I asked if Rich could join us there was shock. I said if it was all the same I would eat below decks with my brother since I'd traveled from Da Nang to see him.
Getting there was an odessey. No one inSaigon would tell me where the ship was. It was "classified". How you could hide the location was beyond me. I solved the problem by calling the MACV Chaplain 's office. I hitched some help rides to Nha Be and spent the night with some SEAL classmates from the SF Qual course then a ride on aRVN Navy river boat.
It was great to see Rich and have a few beers on the barge. The Chiefs put me up for the night in the radio room where I almost froze.
Rich later came to Da Nang where we had a family reunion with our other brother, Tom, who came up from Chu Lai.
Interesting times. Rich passed away from pancreatic cancer almost 9 years ago.. I will check for picture I took aboard.
Regards,
Rob Lynch
COL(Rey) USA

Added: December 22, 2016

Submitted by
Name: Charles W. Mehltretter "A GANG "
From: harvest, Al.
E-mail: mehltrc@msn.com

Comments:
MERRY CHRISTMAS & HAPPY NEW YEAR..

Added: December 18, 2016

Submitted by
Name: Roderick C. Allen
From: GEORGIA
E-mail: craigie_lea@netzero.net

Comments:
MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A SAFE GOOD NEW YEAR :D

Added: December 18, 2016

Submitted by
Name: David Glenn
E-mail: Chiefglenn@gmail.com

Comments:
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all who have served

Added: December 12, 2016