USS Abnaki

USS Abnaki (ATF 96)
1958 -1959 Electrician's Mate 2nd Class

I left Arikara shortly after returning to Pearl Harbor from Operation Hardtack  in 1958.   Abnaki was also home ported in Pearl Harbor and the transfer was about 50 feet across the pier.  Made one WestPac cruise on Abnaki under Lt. Louis A. Downey as Skipper.  Lt. Downey was one of the toughest, hard-nosed, ship's Captain's I have ever known, yet I'd follow him to the end of the earth!   Our paths crossed several more times in my career.

 The Chief Engineer was one of those old WW II men.  The basic thing he remembered about WW II was that his ship ran out of rags and toilet paper and none was to be had.  It certainly wasn't going to happen to him again!  The Shaft Alley, and every Engineering space "cubby hole" and locker was stuffed FULL of bales of rags and cases of toilet paper!!  God help any poor snipe that tried to hijack a rag or roll.  We was saving that for the next war.    When my enlistment was up, I bailed!!

There is an Abnaki Association.  They hold annual reunions in different parts of the Nation.  One reunion  was held in San Diego, CA in 2003.  It was actually attended by the Abnaki herself!  Yep, the old gal is in the Mexican Navy and still going strong!  There is a Web site for also.  Check the links page.

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