documents & Photos
from Jim HoeyWO-4/LT
(LDO)
Bernie Tazmania - 1976
Port Visit, Bernie
Tasmania USS Henry B. Wilson (DDG-7) - 1976 Westpac. The entire town greeted us
on the pier. They had a "Dial a Sailor" program which had the local people
calling the ship offering to have sailors at their home for meals, air
plane rides, picnics etc. I hooked up with the local Bernie Tasmanian Police
Force and stayed with them for three
days drinking beer and playing poker. The ship's liberty party all
descended on the pier around 0500 - 0600 for a 0700 underway time. All of the
locals and sailors from the ship
were all drunk, drinking beer and partying on the pier until the last
minute before we had to go back on the ship. When it was time to leave I walked
across the brow with a Large
Australian Beer in my hand. OSCS King was the watch officer and said; "Hey Hoey
you need to get rid of that Beer!" So, I said "ok" and threw it against the ship
and broke the bottle!
When we got back to the Philippines I spent Three Long Hot-Humid Days needle
gunning non-skid on the 02 level after Liberty Call as punishment for the
broken beer bottle! Would I do it again? Hell Yes!
