CREW'S STORIES
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LETTER FROM CAPTAIN RICHARD GRAFFY
I TYPED IT
Subject:
Letter of Captain Graffy's
Date:
Wed, 12 Apr 2000 13:37:27 EDT
From:
WHUGHESMTN@aol.com
To:
bennington@uss-bennington.org
I found it noteworthy and of course very sad to see the end of what was home during the period of 1966 to 1968, that being the end of what has provided many memories over the years and a great experience.
However as I went through the site I noticed the letter from Captain Graffy to the families of the Bennington during the Christmas in the Tonkin Golf. What was so interesting is that I typed that letter. I was a 3rd class yeoman in the Captains office at the time.
Every once in a while I pull out the old slides of the Bob Hope Show and the crossing of the Equator and show them to the kids who probably could care less, but I certainly enjoy seeing them every so often.
I reported aboard the Bennington in August of 1966 and was assigned to X-Division where I spent the entire stay on Active Duty.(Yeoman-2)("titless Wave)
I was one of those Reserves that filled in occassionally. I naturally went on the WestPac tour and was aboard when we picked up Apollo 4.
I was then released from active duty the later part of April in 1968, which was an early release as the ship was scheduled to return to WestPac and I guess they thought better of hauling me along then sending me back via the Phillipines.
After release from the Navy, I returned to the Phoenix, Az. area and have worked in the area ever since. Quite a difference from the desert to the ocean. I spent a total of 8 years in the Navy, 6 in the active reserves and 2 on active duty.
I have had contact with one crew mate who worked in the Captains office with me, but have lost track of all the rest, which seems to be a common thing.
Wayne F. Hughes
3413 n. 87th place
Scottsdale, Arizona 85251
480-990-7341
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