The NAFTS Guest Book is a place for sailors and families of sailors to ask questions or make comments about Fleet Tug sailors, ships, reunions or related topics.
449 entries.
USS Papago ATF-160 Pre-Com crew 1986-1989, Little Creek, VA. IC1
USS Cree ATF 84, 1967...1971 EM2
USS UTE ATF 76 1969...MIDDLE EAR PROBLEM MADE THE EXPERIENCE HELL. ALWAYS SEA SICK. NAVY DIDN'T REALIZE THE MIDDLE EAR ISSUE. IC MAN, PEARL HARBOR BASED. GOT EARLY OUT...NO PLACE FOR ICMAN ON SHORE.
Greetings. I served aboard the USS Current (ARS-22), which sailed out of Pearl Harbor. I was a deck ape on the Current from April 15, 1966 to Nov. 26, 1967 when I was then transferred to Da nang Viet Nam to work on river boats. While on Current I experienced working close with the divers and we completed several salvage ops that were everything from lifting the engines of a crashed US Air Force C-141 Starlifter to pulling merchant ships from reefs to patching a hole and re-floating a Shell Oil Tanker. I have to say that life was never boring on board Current and I fully enjoyed my tour on a fleet tug. Current was also assigned the duty of towing a living barge, (APL-26) to Vung Tau Viet Nam to be the home of US Navy and US Army personnel assigned to the Mobile Riverine Force. During this tow from Bremerton, Washington to South Viet Nam, Current encountered a force 4 typhoon which was another exciting event. We were in wave troughs that were 20' higher then the signal bridge and taking rolls of 55 degrees. At one point the wind had pushed our tow ahead of us and while cutting it loose was not an option, it was considered. God rest the souls of all the Fleet Tug Sailors who have passed before us. We'll sail together again some day.
Hello, My Uncle, Bud Scott, who lives in Salem, Oregon, served aboard the Ajax when it helped save the Canberra. He also served on another tug. He has told me a little about the sort of things you did... but after reading a lot of sites today... it is pretty clear that he is being very low key abuot what an incredible job you all did. I am partial to the story about the Canberra's engine swap... LOL. I have a photo of my husband and his buddies when the Canberra was in dry dock... I don't know if it was before or after the bean counters nightmare of the wrong engine numbers... but it sure was a long time ago... and that was onlly 1960. Oddly enough, my husband served on the 1960 Canberra "Good Will Tour"... LOL ... the one with all the missiles. He would not have been on the Canberra if it weren't for my Uncle and the rest of the amazing men and their "little ships that could" that did such an incredible job, under impossible conditions. They should have issued you all capes and shirts with Red S's on them. I wish I could have seen more of the site, it must be great. I wish my Uncle did computers so I could send it to him. My Uncle, and two brothers were in the Navy... my husband was a Sea Going Marine on the Canberra. Not enough credit is given... not enough honor for the men who served. Thank you, every single one of you for what you have done for the us. Bonnie
aboard USS Shakori ATF-162 1973-1977 HT-1
Aboard the USS Molala ATF-106 from 1973 to 1975.
Served Aboard U.S.S. Moctobi (ATF-105) NAVSTA Long Beach, California as a QMSN (DRILLRES) from 1980 - 1982.
Ahoy. 1964-68 USS Reclaimer ARS-42 EM3
Served onboard preserver (ars 8) from Oct84 till decommissioned in Sep86.
served aboard uss papago AFT 160 1964-1965 electricians mate 3rd class would like to hear from others that served aboard the papag we were out of little creek va.
This site was reccommended by a good friend. I appreciate the ooportunity of perusing it, although I wasn't in the Navy--I was stationed at BAMC in San Antonio, Texas for my stay with Uncle Sam, and have many friends who were in our Navy's service! After all, EVERYONE doesn't look good in Army greens! LOL
My father served on YTB 549 somewhere around 1946-1948. He will be celebrating his 88th birthday soon, and enjoys talking about his Navy memories.
My dad, George Moural, served on the Pawnee, ATF-74, 1943-44. He was trained in San Diego in Company 42-498, then stationed at the USN Ammunition Base in San Espiritu, N.H. He later served on the USS Robert K Huntington DD 781. I have 38 photos of sailors and ships that have no identification. Any help will be appreciated. Thank you for your wonderful website.
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all. See you in Vegas Dennis
Served as an RM3 on Preserver (ARS-8), from 9/73 until discharge 9/74. In the Med the summer of '74 and got caught up in the Cyprus civil war.Great ship and great crew. Still have many fond memories of those times. Great website! Keep up the good work.
Went aboard the Cocopa 101 in Jan 1956 as a FN Ringgaard was getting out so decided to try my hand as an EM Got off in 1959. Good ship and crew.
I served aboard the ATF 158 from 09/1950 to 08/1950 Engineman Apprectice.
My father-in-law, Leo John (Jack) Mack went to boot camp at Farragut, Idaho, December 1943. He was on the crew of the USS ATR-32. We are looking for crew members, information about the vessel and pictures. Thank you for the Web site. 🙂
I served aboard USS MATACO ATF-86 1975 to 1977 I would like to hear from any other ship mates 🙂 🙂
Served on USS Luiseno ATF 156 from March '55 till October '57. Anyone around that served at that time???
Was a crewmember in Shakori (ATF 162)from Sep 79 to Feb 80. Was on decommissioning crew and one of the last off her. Best shipboard duty I ever had. I retired as PN1 in April 81.
Hi All anyone out there from the atf94 58,59
Hi all at N.A.F.T.S I had a great time in Providence really well run the service on USS Massachusetts was well done I was greatly honoured to cast wreath on the day many thanks hope to meet up again in Las Vegas? best regards to all at N.A.F.T.S
I was stationed aboard the USS Cocopa ATF 101 from 1970-1973. I served my entire hitch aboard her (as a Seamen second class through QM2). As I look back on the experience, I loved the ship and the crew. We cruised to Adak,AK.(2x's), Panama and Westpact. I'm open to anyone that would like to correspond about those days. I remember typhoons, reindeer hunts, Cook Inlet and pie eating contest off Danang.
Hello All and Thank you for your service to your country
JUST A NOTE TO LET YOU KNOW WHAT A PLEASURE IT WAS ME TO HAVE BEEN YOUR GUIDE AT YOUR RHODE ISLAND REUNION. THE FIVE DAYS SPENT IN YOUR COMPANY WAS REALLY GREAT AND I ENJOYED LISTENING TO YOUR MANY SEA STORIES. THE MEMORIAL SERVICE ABOARD THE USS MASSACHUSETTS WAS REALLY SPECIAL. I WAS TRULY SADDENED TO SEE IT ALL COME TO AN END. YOURS IN LOYALTY, PROTECTION AND SERVICE: ERNIE PINA NCC, USN-RET
my father George Washington Earley served in the South Pacific. Several of the ships on which he served were sunk. He spent some time in Australia between ship assignments. We know he was around the Coral Sea at some point. He would never talk about the events but did write one article for the magazine about his experiences. If there is any one out there that remembers a George Washington Earley from western North Carolina I would appreciate hearing from you Thanks Gale Earley
I was an ET (the only one) on the Munsee ATF-107 from Nov 56 until Sept 58.
Served aboard the USS Munsee ATF-107 (1963-65). Unforgetable experience and some of the most memorable events in my life. After 44 years I just ran across a guy off the Munsee on the internet. Looked at the guest book, not too many Munsee sailors signed in. There out there some where I'm sure! Anyway, I just joined and hope to run across more on this site. GREAT SITE!!
LT 1977 US Attleboro. I'am trying to find out the history of this tug, or anybody who served on her. Was in southampton for a while at hythe, then sold off 2003, she is now on the Medway Kent, UK.
I would like to hear more on the Bolster RS-38.
served on the USS Cocopa ATF-101 from 1970-1973 during that time the ship sailed to Panama from San Diego,ca and then to Alaska.
My father, Eddie Bendickson was a first class gun pointer on fleet tug ATF-87 (Moreno) during WWII. My father passed away in 1997 and I am trying to find out more about his service on ATF-87. I know the Moreno received three battle stars for World War II service. I think my father was on the Moreno when they went to Odessa Russia to provide American soldiers released from German POW camps with cargo, food,clothing, and medicine.My father was wounded on the Moreno. I think it may have been on 6 July, while still at Bizerte, she was caught in an air raid during which a near miss injured three men and damaged the superstructure and rigging. This may have been during the invasion of southern sicily. I am not sure if my information is correct. I would love to hear from anyone who served on ATF-87 Moreno. I am going to bury my father's ashes at the National Cemetry in South Florida in November. I want to honor my father with his service in WWI and specifically his service on ATF-87. I plan to give a short talk about my father's service on ATF-87.
THIS IS AN INTERESTING SITE I WISH I KNEW MORE ABOUT COMPUTERS I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE SAME FOR THE DEEP SEA RESCUE TUGS ASSOCIATION IN THE UK. UNTIL THEN I WILL PARADE THE SCOTTISH STANDARD FOR THEM. SOME DAY I WOULD LIKE TO ATTEND ONE OF YOUR REUNIONS IN MEMORY OF MY FRIEND AND MENTOR - DEANNE WYNNE - WHO WILL NOT BE FORGOTTEN BY US. TILL THEN KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK.
Great Website. Thank you Artie Colabella for providing info for site. Artie and I met in 1967 on the USS Sagamore ATA 208. Plan is to become a member.
I was a QM3 on the Chowanoc ATF-100. I remember my very first day I reported aboard....the yeoman took my packet of orders, glanced at'em for a minute, then threw them straight in the trash. So many great experiences on that old tug! Only made one WestPac, though and got transferred to Subic Bay before they sent her to ADAC.
Tom, this new site is awesome!! I'm still looking for shipmates from the the USS Ute 57-58 .
Served on the Mahopac ATA 196 until she was turned over to the taiwanese Navy. Great duty!
Served aboard the Mataco ATF86 from 1952 thru June 1955.. Greatest duty in the Navy, spent my entire time of service aboard her. And saw most of the Pacific bases..
A good site. I like, make sure you check yet.
Served on the U.S.S Utina Atf 163 from Feb/64 till July/68.....Felt so bad when I found out that the Utina is now the felipe larrazabal r21..in Venazuala..I saw pictures of her and she looked terrible. I'd rather see her on the bottom of the Atlantic then seving that Psyco chavez..
Was on the ATF Utina from March 1962 to March 1964.
My paternal grandfather William J. Wilson was a sea captain on a tug and family history is that his tug towed the USS Maine to sea for burial. We have the star from the captains cabin door and the barometer from the Maine so we believe it is true. The only name I can find is the Osceola but no mention of captain or crew. Can you help me or tell me where to look. I had his captaincy papers but they have been lost in our move. Appreciate any help you can give me.
was stationed on the uss paiute atf 159 from 87-90
Just found your web site. Was attached TAD USS Achomawi ATF 148 4/46 to 8/46 during Operation Crossroads (Able and Baker A Bomb Tests). Also attached to USS Hoist ARS 40 4/52-8/53. Great looking web site.
Change aboard USS Allegheny ATA 179 From May 1959 to Dec. 1962
I served aboard the USS Allegheny ATA 179 from May 1959 to Dec. 1969. Home ported at the Brooklyn, Navy Yard. I served on 5 different ships and the Allegheny was the most enjoyable. We did underwater research work for Colombia Univ. and Hudson Lab. We made a lot of runs to the Caribbean Island's in our mission's. The ship went to Bermuda for some "Rum Runs". We had a great crew that worked hard and played hard.
Anyone out there serve aboard USS Salinan ATF161 in the 60's out of Key West Florida.
USS Moctobi and Quapaw are in the process of being taken overseas for refit. The Moctobi will be the tow vessel. The repair crew would like any help from prior engineers, manuals etc that may be available. please call Ben at 281-932-4082. Thanks Tom 510-215-4605