fmrUSMC_0844
Bronze Member
- Sep 4, 2008
- 1,567
- 1,104
- Detector(s) used
- Whites MXT Pro, Whites TDI, Keene A52, Calsluice, Gold Hog Piglet
- Primary Interest:
- Metal Detecting
U S Navy, 1955/1958. I was a boatswain mate striker on board the USS Merrick AKA 97. The vessel was identified as an attack cargo ship. We were in the amphibious navy, the amphibs, the gator navy, ship to shore, we delivered the Marines and all their gear through the surf to the beach. My job was coxswain of of an LCM, (Landing Craft Mechanized) which was a boat 56 feet long, weighed 55 tons, and was powered by twin grey marine diesel engines.
A boatswains mate (pronounced Bosn) was the deck force that sailed the ship and manned the landing craft. A coxswain's (pronounced coxn) job was to drive the boat. Trust me, it's a heck of a rush to take a 55 ton boat through the surf, deliver the cargo, and then back off the beach. While in the Navy, there were some hen house times, but I remember the good times, and I'm proud of being a sailor, so chose my user name BosnMate, and my avatar is a picture of an LCM with the bow ramp down on the beach in Subic Bay, Philippine Islands, hence no surf in that picture, more like in a lake than an open ocean beach. I was in the still WWII Navy, although jet aircraft were coming on strong, and change was in the wind. There is still an Amphibious Navy, but not the same as the one I was in. Helicopters and hover craft are now what is used to take troops and cargo to the beach.
Here is a video that will show you what I've been talking about. This video was shot in Sesabo, Japan, so again there is a lack of surf adding excitement.
I spent some time on LCU's aboard the now decommissioned USS Nassau. I was on the 22ND MEU in 2000 to 2001. You guys brought ashore a lot of our vehicles and artillery pieces!! Without you guys we would never make it to shore!! Semper Fi!!
My username is I am a FORMER (Not ex) Marine and 0844 was my MOS. Field Artillery Fire Direction Controllman. We had towed M198 155MM canons.