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: I served from 07/14/70-06/11/71. I was an ENFN and stood watches in the AC Generator Room and watch on the famous #4 Ship's Service AC generator and its stack fires. We never did find the cause if I remember correctly. Went on to stay for a career and retired as a Senior Chief in 1989. I like to think Askari was my pivot point. I met Paul Bonser (the B-40 chest) and we spent a lot of time at the same schools and homeports.
Added: October 18, 2016
Submitted by Name: ray bergbower From: texas E-mail: nip1919@aol.com
Comments: I was there Aug. 69 Aug. 70.i think a lot about that old green bucket from time to time.iam proud that we can call ourselves brown sailors
Comments: I'm Vinny Jermainne and served on the Askari in WW 2. I picked up the boat in Jacksonville FL. and stayed with the boat until after the war. I would like you to get in touch with me, either by my son's email and would prefer you to call me on my phone at 860-575-2673. Thanks so much and looking forward to hearing from you.
Added: October 6, 2016
Submitted by Name: Terry Sater From: St. Louis, Missouri E-mail: terry.s8er@yahoo.com
Comments: I served with Riv Ron 13, March of '68 to 'March of 69. I went to ET school, with Don "Corky" Martin, who was from Texas and worked in your E.T. Shop. I washed out of E.T. school and reconnected with Corky, in March/April of 68, outside of Dong Tam. I've been trying to find him, ever since! Does anybody have contact info, or know what became of Corky?
Name: Gary McGuire
From: Middletown, OH / Nashville, TN since 1985
E-mail: murphydog2009@gmail.com
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.