AtoZ Blogging Challenge (2021) US Navy Ships AtoZ

#AtoZChallenge 2021 April Blogging from A to Z Challenge letter A

First day of April and I’m starting on the #AtoZchallenge with a handicap. I’m now the world’s slowest typist because I can only use one hand, Ain’t that a hoot? Yesterday afternoon I started to work and fell down the stairs! The head of my humerus is broken, and as a result, I cannot use my left hand. So, on that sour note, I’ll try to copy and paste tidbits about my ships rather than trying to tell my usual stories and tall tales. I’ll do my best to get through the month.

A is for USS Austin (LPD-4) [4 February 1963 – 27 September 2006]. I was assigned to this magnificent ship from 1982 to 1985 and had some incredible adventures. We sailed the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, the Atlantic and Mediterranean. We also crossed the Arctic Circle and became Bluenoses!

Probably though, the one event that will never be forgotten happened on 23rd October 1983. The Marine barracks was bombed and 220 Marines, 18 Sailors, and 3 Army Soldiers lost their lives. The memory ranks as one of the saddest of my life. I’m proud to have served with those guys. Very proud.

On a happier note, back in November 1967 Austin was part of the Apollo 4 recovery force. The Command Module splashed down in the north Pacific about 16 kilometers off it’s target, near Midway Island.

Austin took part in supporting a great many operations all around the Atlantic, Caribbean, and Mediterranean. Austin’s final deployment was from November 2005 – May 2006. The Austin and her crew transported Marines to the Persian Gulf and supported their mission ashore during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Here are some dry facts about Austin gleaned from Wikipedia:

Ordered:21 September 1961
Laid down:4 February 1963
Launched:27 June 1964
Commissioned:6 February 1965
Decommissioned:27 September 2006
Stricken:27 September 2006
Motto:Potestas Maritimas per Mobilitate, “Seapower through Mobility”
Fate:Sold for scrapping 30 September 2009 to International Shipbreaking, Brownsville, Tx

#AtoZchallenge is not only about me. Many, many other bloggers are participating this year. I encourage you to visit a few. Don’t forget to like and comment so we know who you are so we can thank you. Additionally, you may find a blog or three you like enough to follow. If you do, hit those subscribe buttons and get to reading! Thanks for coming by today; here are a few suggestions you might want to look at:

So, Come back to see me, won’t you? See ya tomorrow!

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About Ol' Big Jim

Jim L. Wright is a storyteller with a lifetime of experiences as colorful as the characters he creates. Born and raised in Piedmont, Alabama, Jim’s connection to the land, history, and people of the region runs deep. His debut novel New Yesterdays is set in his hometown, where he grew up listening to stories of the past—stories that sparked his imagination and curiosity for history. Today, Jim lives in Leeds, Alabama, with his husband Zeek, a tour operator who shares his passion for adventure and discovery. Known affectionately as “Ol’ Big Jim,” he has had a diverse career that includes time as a storekeeper, an embalmer, a hospital orderly, and a medical coder. There are even whispers—unconfirmed, of course—that he once played piano in a house of ill repute. No matter the job, one thing has remained constant: Jim is a teller of tales. His stories—sometimes humorous, sometimes thought-provoking—are often inspired by his unique life experiences. Many of these tales can be found on his popular blog, Ol’ Big Jim, where he continues to share his musings with a loyal readership. Jim’s adventures have taken him far beyond Alabama. For seven years, he lived in Amman, Jordan, the world’s oldest continuously inhabited city. His time there, spent in smoky coffee shops, enjoying a hookah and a cup of tea while scribbling in his ever-present notebook, deeply influenced his worldview and his writing. When Jim isn’t writing, he’s thinking about writing. His stories, whether tall tales from his past or imaginative reimagining is of historical events should read from his past or imaginative reimaginings of historical events, reflect a life lived fully and authentically. With New Yesterdays, Jim brings readers a rich tapestry of history, fantasy, and human connection. Visit his blog at www.olbigjim.com to read more of his stories, or follow him on social media to keep up with his latest musings and projects, one of which is a series that follows Bonita McCauley, an amateur detective who gets into some very sticky situations. His book, New Yesterdays, can be found at Amazon US, Amazon UK, Smashwords, and Barnes and Noble.
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