MikeK
Gold Member
Oh, brother -- are you bringing back memories.I was a field radio operator when we practiced wet net landings off troop ships climbing over the side into the little Mike boats my wireman was always immediately sick. The poor guy would position himself downwind in the back of the landing craft where his puke would not hit anyone and the circling sharks got a free meal.Some people are exceptionally prone to seasickness -- and I am one of them!I was a FMF Marine and I spent about a month on an old tub the USS Boxer LPH 4 (at that time) with about a thousand other Marines. I remember salt water showers when they ran low on fresh water. For my money life on a LST (USS De Soto County) was better but the flat bottom was a killer if you were prone to sea sickness.
I was among the first to board a Japan-bound APA, which got me routed to a bottom rack in the very bow, which is the worst possible place to be for one who is prone to seasickness. Because the rise and fall of the bow in rough weather is literal torture for one who is sea-sick. And I was so miserably sick I recall seriously thinking about jumping overboard if I were able to climb the ladders and find my way to the main deck -- which I wasn't. I was suicidally seasick, and that's no lie.
I eventually learned that, in addition to Dramamine tablets, downing a whole sleeve of saltine crackers will prevent or quickly relieve the misery of seasickness. I did that every time I boarded a ship after that horrible experience and it always worked.
Saltine crackers.
Those goddam net drills. Bad enough on calm days, but when the weather was even slightly rough the landing boat would drop, then come up and hit you hard enough to knock you off the net.
I recall a fellow next to me on the net looked up at the same time as the web sling clip on the B.A.R. came loose and dropped off the shoulder of the Marine right above him. That 16lb weapon hit him square on the nose, breaking it and knocking him off the net. He ended up with a broken nose and a broken wrist (from falling).
Memories. When were you in? I was '56 to '60. Japan, Okinawa, and LeJeune. MOS 1345: Engineer, Heavy Equipment. I got out before 'Nam (Thank God) .
Semper Fi.