Welcome to the USS Newport News CA-148 Guestbook Forum

Years Served: 1968-1972…This new guestbook is really nice for looking up old friends. Hope to see some guys that I haven’t seen in a long time. Will check back later .

Years Served: 1965 1969…:D

Years Served: 1967-1968…I was one of five Staff Marines assign to Adm Kinney with ComCruDesFlot11

Years Served: 1969-1973…Served on the USS Newport News CA-147 1969-1973

Years Served: 1963-1965…Would love to hear from and Radio crew 1963-1965

Years Served: 1971 – 1972 B division…The 2007 was graet, I would like to see more of the 1971 -1972 crew.

Years Served: 59-61…Serving on the Newport News was the most memorable experience of my life. And now thanks to a bunch of great shipmates those memories are being kept alive.

Years Served: 1971-1972…It was love at first sight when I approached pier 7 for the first time and saw the magnificent USS Newport News. Prior to that I had only seen her as a picture in Janes Fighting Ships. I was on Treasure Island in San Francisco Bay when I received my orders to the Newport News. The first thing I did was go to the library on base and look up the details on her. I was excited then but totally unprepared for what I actually saw as I walked up along side her. I treasure my memories of having served on what I and many others feel was the greatest, most beautiful US Navy ship to sail the seas. I’m thankful that out of the 3 Des Moines class cruisers, she was the one picked to be modernized otherwise I would not have been able to serve on her. Even though she is gone, she still brings those together that served on her. I have many new friends because of that ship even today. Gary

Years Served: 1972…Oct 1,1972 and Our lost Sipmates,will always be remembered !!!

Years Served: 1949-1952…I WAS PROUD TO REPRESENT THE SHIP AS A MEMBER OF THE CHAMPIONSHIP BASKETBALL TEAM. WE WON OVER NINETY PERCENT OF OUR GAMES, AGAINST ALL COMERS! I WAS IN GUNNERY DEPARTMENT’S SIXTH DIVISION. THE NEWS WAS THE BEST SHIP IN THE ATLANTIC FLEET!-

Years Served: 1959-1962…Served in OI Division Radarman from 59 -62.

Years Served: Nov,1970 until Feb,1974…It seemed like a lifetime back then a lot of men just counted down the days . I wouldn’t trade any of those days I was living on a Beautiful and Proud USN ship,the last of her kind really,The Lonely Bull. I still find it a crime that the city of Newport News couldn’t swing a little cash,how much have they reaped from the Navy over the years. Quite a bit of Blood,Sweat and Tears have been shed by and for the Gray Lady and her crew over the years she was in service to our Country and she deserved better then a coffin of razor blades. Shame on you city of Newport News for not saving her. She is missed but lives on in her crew memories. I did visit the USS Salem about 2 years ago and saw the Newport News Memorial and displays,it was very nice. Take care shipmates.

Years Served: April 1972 through June 20th 1975…I came on board just prior to pulling out for the WESPAC Cruise from the USS Hawkins DD-873 as a MMFN. I worked in Engine 2 with Stoner, Dennis Sipe, Peter Nairn, Kenny Powell, Sampsel, Pappy Breen, Rose, and others. I transferred to E Division before we got back to Norfolk. I was with the IC gang with Bob Maki, Hugh Mahone, Phil Thompson, Michael Poole, Terry Lewallen, Michael McCall, Ron Gordon, Tim Weddington, Chief Newton Robinson, Zek, Smitty, and others. Like my favorite movie these were The Best Years of Our Lives. I got out IC2, because I was to short to get IC1 unless I shipped over. All my friends were gone and a new duty station just didn’t appeal to me. I went back home to Blessing, Texas after spending time in Ravenswood, West Virginia with Hugh Mahone (Ruble). I went to Angola, Africa for a while and fought the Red Peril. I bought a bar and went to college majoring in Law Enforcement. I’ve been a peace officer for 30 years now and am currently a Patrol Sergeant for the Clute Police Department, Clute, Texas. I was with the Beasley Police Department for 15 years where I was Police Chief, hence the E-mail moniker BeasleyChief. I have 4 children with my first wife; David II (24) (Patrol Deputy with Brazoria County Sheriff’s Department), Amy (19) (lives in Austin, Texas manages aChik’fil-A wants to be an architect), Matthew (16) Football player, Power Lifter, over 1500 lbs.), Michael (14) (Marine JROTC and loves it). My current wife, Candy and I have a son Aaron (10) (in G&T at school). Hope to hear from old friends and shipmates.

Years Served: …very nice,dad would have been proud.

Years Served: 1968 -69 Vietnam Tour…Great memories running the Print Shop with Roan, Fowler, Muller, and Reilly. Proud to have served on the best ship in the Navy!

Years Served: 1970-1971…It was a pleasure to serve on the best ship in the Navy. Only on board for 10 mos., but they were 10 of the best months of my life. I will always cherish my time on board and the friends that I made.

Years Served: 1953 to 1961…hi my tour of duty was 1956 to 1957 s-2 divi comm’s storekeeper sk-3 great ship and duty also. ty all. andy fair winds and following seas.

Years Served: Four (4)…Will never forget my time on the NEWS

Years Served: 59-61 3RD.DIV. THEY CALL ME DOC…WHEN WE HAD OUR SECOND REUNION IN BOSTON, AND I SAW OUR SISTER SHIP THE SALEM , IT WAS LIKE COMING HOME FROM A LONG LEAVE. I HAD TO KEEP MY BACK TOWARDS MY WIFE SO SHE COULD NOT SEE THE TEARS THAT I SHED . BECAUSE I HAD TO MISS THE NN LIKE SO MANY OF MY SHIPMATES, SEEING HER GONE. BUT I,M STILL LOOKING FOR MY SHIPMATES THAT WAS IN THIRD DIV. DOC ’

91 years old from Chattanooga, TN and served in the Navy from 1951 to 1955. Began in Memphis, Tennessee and ended from the USS Newport News.