MEMORIES - SUBMITTED BY RON HACKER

During the Med Cruise of 51-52 General Eisenhower, SHAPE Commander at that time, came aboard late one night while we were in Naples to observe Sixth Fleet air maneuvers the next few days.  We left Naples about 5 a.m. the next morning and immediately ran into a ferocious storm.  In fact, for two or three days we did not leave our compartments because the ship was pitching and rolling so.  Obviously, no air maneuvers were conducted, and on the third day when we arose the weather had calmed.  We were off the coast of France and Eisenhower was preparing the leave the ship by helicopter.  I climbed up somewhere amidships with my Argus C3 and took several Kodachrome shots of Ike being fitted with his life jacket while sideboys were being lined up to pipe him off the ship.

MEMORIES - SUBMITTED BY BERNIE CORTEZ

I was on the signal bridge the moment the helo landed with the President aboard.  We had signalmen standing by on the after mast breaking the President's personal flag at the point of touchdown by helo, and we were handling the kilo flag to signal the carrier of the maneuver.  I personally had a spot on the carrier because we were waiting for an underway signal from them.  There were many small civilian craft all around the bay, and I believe that one was accidentally rammed by the carrier after getting underway causing minor damages, but that did not stop the underway evolution.  Another memory that I will never forget is that same day my SM3 advancement was effective, and I was wearing a brand new set of dress blues with my new crow and first hashmark.  Later, during the three days while underway to Tunis, the President and all those in his entourage would go topside and talk to us and do some longlass liberty.