Can you believe it!!!!!! They took my ship out and sunk her!!!!!
USS Fletcher DD-992 was commissioned in the summer of 1980. I served aboard her Radioman from before the commissioning in 1980 to June of 1984. I lived on that ship for 4 years. I made two major deployments to the Western Pacific and Middle East. I have been off hostile coastlines such as the Soviet Union (Bering Sea), Central America, Vietnam, and Iran & Iraq (Persian Gulf).
I had great times on that ship. Had hard times also. Typhoon in South China Sea. Heavy seas in the Sea of Japan. Founded friendships that thanks to email, still carry on today. So many stories you could write a book about it.
I was 18 years old when I reported at the shipyards in Pascagoula, MS in January 1980 to the Pre-Commissioning Command of Fletcher. I was 23 years old when I signed out of ship's company USS Fletcher in June 1984 to go on to college.
Life on the Fletcher was an amazing time which I will always cherish for the rest of my life. I did a lot of growing up on that ship. I saw many amazing things and travelled all over the world.
It was real sad to see her blow up and sink. I don't really have the words for what I feel every time I watch the video clip. Here it is.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7523147.stm
http://optuszoo.news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=602985&rss=yes&_cobr=optus
