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Got to hand it to you with these posts Sam! This is the first one I have replied to and for a very good reason.

This is how I served my country! Graduated in 1967 from Kings Point and sailed on numerous ships to the war zone.

What is really wierd, is that I sailed on the SS Badger State the year before it sank! I knew it had sunk but didn't know it had to do with the cargo.

I used to be with Masters, Mates and Pilots Union...Local 88 out of New York and just picked ships when I got to the union. There was no problem getting a berth in those days. One usually registers at the union when you get off a ship and get a number. In the Viet-Nam era, you could literally walk into the hall, register and get a job within minutes. The number gets better as time goes by. The lowest number (earliest registration) has dibs on any ship they want. Many jobs went begging. We were missing a mate on more than one ship. The Captain even had to stand watch on some.

You could also Night-Mate out of the union....stand watch between 4 PM Midnight or Midnight and 8 AM, to relieve ships officers who don't work nights in US ports. That used to be a nice, sought after job.

Thanks again for the trip down nostalgia lane.