Welcome to the USS Harlan R Dickson DD-708 Guestbook Forum

I was a signalman from 1971 -1973 at the navy reserve force. Willie Wendy was a SM1 Quarter Master at this time.

I came right out of Boot Camp in 1971 and reported aboard the Dickson in South Boston early one dreary foggy mornig. I arrived by taxi. Down the pear I squinted through the fog and suddenly the big hull numbers became visible to me and it looked like a ghost ship to me. It looked so huge sitting high at the pier and the gangway looked like it climbed a mountain!
“Request permission to come aboard?”

I served from 1967 to 1968 as a MM3 in the main control room. During our Mediterranean cruise we earned the ships E for our officers and shipmates.

Message reply to Richard Carey (from his Feb. 1, 2024 post above): Hi Richard — I saw your Feb 1, 2024 post on the DD-708 guestbook. I served aboard USS Harlan R. Dickson (DD-708) QM3, Ops Dept, Boston-based, 1970–1972. I’m trying to reconnect with shipmates including Larry Wilson (RD3, NJ), George Simmons (Worcester, MA), and Ed Shea (RD, PA). If you’re willing, could you reply here or forward my contact info to anyone you’re still in touch with? Fair winds and following seas. My email is ilovetowriteday007@gmail.com

Next week my 41st book will be published: “Charting My Course: Four Years, Three Destroyers and a Lifetime of Lessons” will be available on Amazon. If anyone who served on the Dickson in the late 60’s and early 70’s, and would like a free copy, please reach out to me at ilovetowriteday007@gmail.com And I’m happy to offer any advice for anyone who is interested in publishing their stories. My website is ilovetowriteday.com