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John Howe IC-2 (1966-1969)
I was assigned to the Bennington in early summer of 66 after completing IC 'A' school in San Diego. I stayed until Dec 67 when, do to the stupidity of volunteering, I was assigned to the USS Hunterdon County, LST-838. The Hunterdon County was working the rivers in the Viet Nam Delta. After over a year in Nam I requested duty back to the Bennington. She was in the dry dock at Long Beach with a huge refit going on. Two new spaces had been added for ECM gear, 1 off the Island structure on the starboard side and one large space just below the flight deck on the port side.
I was lucky enough to have been aboard for the Coral Sea Invasion festival in Sidney and the pickup of the first (unmanned) Apollo capsule in 67.
When I had come back to the Bennington I had planned on reupping to stay aboard, when I found out they were decommissioning her I got so pi--ed I just left. Good thing to because I went back to school, got a couple of degrees (big deal) and now I am a Sr. Systems Analyst.
Nice job by the way on the Bennington web site, I am impressed.
I am trying to find a Robert M. Smith that was on the Bennington from 66 through 69. He was also an IC man but was attached to one of the air units because he worked on the pilot landing aid television. If you have or run across any information on him I would greatly appreciate it.
John H. Howe
IC-2
(1966-1969)
( Johnhhowe@mpinet.net )
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