Welcome to the USS Independence CV-62 Guestbook Forum

Years Served: 1960 – 1962…I had memorable times with memorable shipmates, but at the time onboard I hated it. Time cures that though….went to visit it at Philly back when she was being rehabbed. saw a film of the moth balling and my eyes got wet….go figger

Years Served: 4 Years…I served for four years onboard her, from 1990-1994. I rode her from San Diego to her new home port in Yokosuka, Japan. My first deployment w/ her in 1990 led us to the Persian Gulf. My most memorable time was going thru the straights of hormuz headed torwards kuwait. I remember it like it was yesterday. I had the mid rat watch and the the CO came over the 1MC at 2AM to announce Iraq had invaded Kuwait and we were to deploy fomr the IO into the Persian Gulf (at the time we were just outside Diego Garcia). Til this day I still own the ships daily news paper as a rememberence of Operation Desert Shield and Storm. I can say I met alot of intresting people from Engineering to the Flight decks air crew and are freinds with some of them til this day. The Indy built me into the man I am today. God bless 90,000 Tons of Diplomacy. After her I served on board the USS Cleveland based out of 32nd St Naval Station for three more years and off to SIMA San Diego for my final four years to complete ten years of active duty. Anyone wanting to contact me can reach me at danny@bermingham.com

Years Served: Feb 1965 to Nov 1967…Ships company in the Supply Div S-6 for my entire stay. Made two cruises one to West-Pac and one to the Med. Ended up in drydock in Portsmouth.

Years Served: From January 1983 – January 1987…My years on the Indy, were great years. This being my first naval ship is one that I will never forget. Great times, friends and long watches in the main space. I’m still here. Indy you or my shipmates will never be forgotten.

Years Served: 1974-1977…AIMD, IM2, GSE Shop. Flight deck troubleshooter for the yellow gear. Orange bug juice koolaid, powdered milk and powdered eggs. Waiting in line for an hour at the geedunk stand when they had ice cream. HoJoes that set up on the hanger deck when we pulled into port overseas. Riding the launch back to the ship after a bad night of liberty. When you turned on the shower you either got steam, cold water, water that smelled like fuel and left you coated in an oily sheen, salty water or no water at all. Sleeping one deck under the forward cats ( can sleep through a hurricane). Trying to repair a crippled piece of equipment at night with a red flashlight in a 30 mile an hour wind, with two dozen hot airplanes moving around. Good friends, great times, wouldn’t go back for a million bucks.