Allen Morrow

EM2
USS Parsons 64-66
USS Oriskany 66-68

I was a boot in San Diego when President Kennedy was assassinated
November 1963.  Little did we know what lay ahead the following year.  I
went aboard the PARSONS  (R division) after completing EM "A" school in
early '64.  We were soon departing on what would become the first of
three WESTPAC cruises I would experience before leaving the US Navy in October 1968.  Soon after arriving on what was to become "Yankee
Station," we went to GQ; later the crew learned that the USS TURNER JOY
had been fired upon by North Vietnamese patrol boats and the PARSONS was ordered to proceed at near flank speed to assist as necessary.   Perhaps fortunately for us, the incident was history by the time we arrived at location.

Most of my memories of that period are of long hours on  the dreaded 4/8
watches in the engine and boiler rooms taking readings, of what I don't
recall. Later when I made PO3, the duty got better and I could actually
work on electrical circuits. The good memories are of Hawaii, Hong Kong,
Japan and somewhat of Subic Bay.  The dollar was worth a bit more then:
$1=360 Yen or 5 $HK.  Hong Kong had some great restaurants, and the
British sailors showed us a good time at their EM club.  I vividly recall the beautiful sight of HK harbor from the top of Victoria Peak.

I cannot accurately recall exact dates, but after returning to the U.S. in 1965, the ship's company was informed that the PARSONS would be
undergoing FRAM at Long Beach and we would all be transferred to other
stations.  I think it was in 1965 that I departed the PARSONS for the
last time and began my duty on the USS ORISKANY CVA 34.

Over the years, I have come to realize how fortunate I am to have served in the U.S. Navy;  the experiences gave me a degree of purpose, self confidence and drive that I may otherwise never have found.  On a
different note, the loss of life our military forces incurred as a result of the Vietnam War will haunt me to my grave.  I will always be proud to have served our country and would gladly do it again, but looking back, I am saddened and often depressed that those who fought in this war did not have the necessary support at home.

After my discharge in March 1968, I returned to college and graduated
from Colorado State University (BS-Economics), where I met my wife of 32 years.  We have three grown sons.

EMAIL: amorrow@uswest.net  or gsmorrow@juno.com