I wasn't able to do a whole lot of writing during the second half of the cruise. My mind was on getting home and I ended up with writers block. After the war, the rest of the cruise was pretty much uneventful. We got to stop in a few ports which allowed us to release some of our anxieties before continuing on. We anchored a couple of times which gave most of the crew a break by allowing them time to fish and relax while those who still had to work were at least able to take advantage of a slower pace.
Throughout this infamous cruise many things happened, many things had been lost, many things had been gained. Holidays came and went almost unnoticed except for the reminder on the wall calendar and the sharing of best wishes among the crew members as we continued to work and steam at a steady pace. Each of us had missed at least one or more days special to us individually such as the birthday of a son or daughter, or a wedding anniversary. We had gone to war, something many of us had never imagined we would do. We have gained pride, honor and victory as we fought and won the war that would give the tiny country of Kuwait back to its rightful owners after being stolen, raped and ravaged by Iraq.
The cruise as well as the war has ended. I have been home now for a total of 25 days. I am very much looking forward to Independence day which has always been one of my favorite holidays. This year, at least for myself, Independence day will have a whole new meaning.
GOD BLESS AMERICA
MY HOME SWEET HOME02 Jul 91
CHRONOLOGY OF THE CRUISE
08 DEC 90 DEPART SAN DIEGO TO BEGIN CRUISE.
16 DEC 90 WEAPONS ON LOAD/OFF LOAD.
18 DEC 90 CROSS INTERNATIONAL DATE LINE. (19 DEC. LOST IN THE TWILIGHT ZONE.)
25 DEC 90 CHRISTMAS DAY. NO WORK DAY. BAND-1700, LIVE AMMO FIRE WITH TRACERS-2000 (FIREWORKS) ON THE FLIGHT DECK.
29 DEC 90 IN PORT PHILIPPINES. EMINENT DANGER PAY BEGINS.
01 JAN 91 NEW YEARS DAY.
03 JAN 91 DEPART PHILIPPINES.
05 JAN 91 ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY ON BOARD RANGER.
06 JAN 91 PASS SINGAPORE. ENTER STRAIT OF MALACCA (MID-DAY).
07 JAN 91 NO WORK DAY. SAFETY STAND DOWN. STEEL BEACH PICNIC ON FLIGHT DECK. T-SHIRTS AUTHORIZED.
08 JAN 91 EXIT STRAIT OF MALACCA (P.M.). FREE MAIL BEGINS.
11 JAN 91 TRANSIT 8 DEGREE CHANNEL (P.M.).
12 JAN 91 ENTER ARABIAN SEA (A.M.). RECEIVE LETTER OF APPRECIATION FOR INTERFACING WITH CO. 008 AT NTC/RTC (31 OCT 90).
CONGRESS APPROVES USE OF FORCE AGAINST IRAQ.
14 JAN 91 ENTER GULF OF OMAN (P.M.).
15 JAN 91 TRANSIT STRAIT OF HORMUZ (A.M.). ENTER PERSIAN GULF. DEAD LINE FOR IRAQ TO PULL OUT OF KUWAIT. SET MOPP LEVEL II. LONG SLEEVE SHIRTS REQUIRED.
16 JAN 91 PLANES LOADED IN PREPARATION FOR STRIKE (P.M.).
17 JAN 91 "OPERATION DESERT STORM" BEGINS. 0230 STRIKE LAUNCH. RANGERS FIRST BOMBS HIT TARGET AT 0528. 1800 STRIKE LAUNCH.
18 JAN 91 STRIKE LAUNCHES AT 0600 AND 1800. VA-155 A-6 #404 SHOT DOWN OVER KUWAIT, PILOTS WHEREABOUTS UNKNOWN.
19 JAN 91 BAD WEATHER PREVENTS A.M. STRIKE. P.M. STRIKE LAUNCH. 111 TONS OF BOMBS DROPPED BY RANGER.
20 JAN 91 UNREP/VERTREP-100 TONS OF BOMBS ON LOADED. BATTLE SHIPS BEGIN TO FIRE AGAINST IRAQI ARTILLERY.
21 JAN 91 A.M. AND P.M. STRIKES. TAX FREE PAY AUTHORIZED, RETROACTIVE-ACTIVE 17 JAN 91.
22 JAN 91 A.M. AND P.M. STRIKES. TWO MINE LAYING BOATS SANK, ONE BY RANGER. SET MOPP LEVEL I. NEWS CREWS FLY ON BOARD.
23 JAN 91 33 IRAQI AIRCRAFT DESTROYED TO DATE, 17 AIR TO AIR, 16 ON LAND.
24 JAN 91 GENERAL QUARTERS-MISSILE THREAT (APPROX 2100).
28 JAN 91 928 SORTIES FLOWN-2,655 FLIGHT HOURS. GROUND ACTION-IRAQIS ENTER SAUDI ARABIA (APPROX 2100).
02 FEB 91 525,000 TONS OF BOMBS DROPPED TO DATE BY RANGER.
14 FEB 91 VALENTINES DAY. MOVED TO WITHIN 100 MILES OF KUWAIT SHORE (14 FEB P.M./15 FEB A.M.).
18 FEB 91 USS TRIPOLI HIT MINE, 0440. USS PRINCETON HIT MINE.
20 FEB 91 GENERAL QUARTERS DRILL (1900).
22 FEB 91 NATIONAL DEFENSE SERVICE MEDAL AUTHORIZED.
23 FEB 91 DROP ANCHOR (A.M.).
24 FEB 91 LIFT ANCHOR (A.M.). "G" DAY-GROUND WAR BEGINS, TROOPS MOVE IN APPROX 0400. SET MOPP LEVEL II. 5,500 POW'S CAPTURED. STEEL BEACH PICNIC AND BEER DAY CANCELED.
25 FEB 91 SET MOPP LEVEL I. 10,000 POW'S CAPTURED TO DATE.
28 FEB 91 CEASE FIRE CALLED, 0800. DROP ANCHOR, 1730.
01 MAR 91 STEEL BEACH/BEER DAY ON FLIGHT DECK (HEINEKEN). TO DATE: 4,000 SORTIES FLOWN, FOUR MILLION LBS OF BOMBS DROPPED BY RANGER, 105 SHIPS SANK, 4,000 TANKS, 2,000 ARTILLERY PIECES, 2,000 ARMORED AND OTHER VEHICLES DESTROYED BY RANGER AND ALLIED FORCES, 100,000 POW'S CAPTURED, 140,000 CASUALTIES, 200+ ALLIED FORCES PERSONNEL CAPTURED AS POW'S.
02 MAR 91 LIFT ANCHOR, 1000. FOUR CARRIER PHOTO TAKEN. DROP ANCHOR 1200.
23 MAR 91 INPORT ABU DHABI.
27 MAR 91 PULL OUT OF ABU DHABI.
17 APR 91 PULL OUT OF PERSIAN GULF.
21 APR 91 TRANSIT 8 DEGREE CHANNEL.
26 APR 91 PASS SINGAPORE (AFTERNOON), TRANSIT STRAIT OF MALACCA (EVENING).
29 APR 91 INPORT PHATTAYA BEACH, THAILAND.
04 MAY 91 PULL OUT OF THAILAND.
08 MAY 91 INPORT HONG KONG.
13 MAY 91 PULL OUT OF HONG KONG.
15 MAY 91 INPORT PHILIPPINES.
19 MAY 91 PULL OUT OF PHILIPPINES.
28 MAY 91 CROSS INTERNATIONAL DATE LINE (28 MAY X2).
31 MAY 91 INPORT HAWAII.
01 JUN 91 PULL OUT OF HAWAII.
08 JUN 91 HOME SWEET HOME, USA #1.CRUISE TOTAL-182 DAYS.
LONGEST AT SEA PERIOD-80 DAYS.
TIME SPENT IN PERSIAN GULF-92 DAYS
OPERATION DESERT STORM, 17 JAN-28 FEB 1991.
USS RANGER/AIRWING TWO STRIKE MISSIONS
167 STRIKE MISSIONS.
54 ENEMY SURFACE CRAFT SUNK/DAMAGED.
17 CONFIRMED TANK KILLS.
4,253 COMBAT SORTIES-75% NIGHT SORTIES.
4,229,200 LBS OF ORDNANCE EXPENDED.
"WE OWNED THE NIGHT!"
MEMORIAL DAY
PEACEFUL, BEAUTIFUL MOONLIT NIGHT,
FILLED WITH YOUNG LOVERS IN LOVE.
STARS SHINING AMIDST A SEMI-FULL MOON.
GRILLS GRILLING, BUG LIGHTS BUGGING,
CLOUDS CLOUDING, MOON MOONING,
THE WARMTH OF THE DAY STILL WARMING.
ALL ON THIS DAY OF REMEMBRANCE.
TRIBUTE TO HEROES LOST, FOREVER GONE, NEVER FORGOTTEN.
THE PERFECT END TO A PERFECT DAY.
THANK GOD FOR THOSE WHO GAVE THEIR ALL.
SO MUCH FOR ME, SO MUCH FOR YOU.
FOR PEACE AND FREEDOM NEVER TO FALL.
FOR OUR TORN AND TATTERED RED, WHITE AND BLUE.
May, 31 93