67Rally Posted June 17, 2011 #1 Posted June 17, 2011 Some of you know that I am a plankowner of the CG-49, the first PAC Fleet Aegis ship. I served aboard her from pre-commissioning (October '84 through December '88) which includes the deployment to the PG in 1988. I won't go into detail about the specific engagement with Iran, but I will say that I had a role in the events of that day as I was a member of the CIC team. Yesterday, an anticipated package arrived in my mailbox that had me excited and a bit on edge. I had been contacted by our COMM-O (from those days) that he had just listed the tattered ensign (he was given by the sigs chief) as he was departing the ship near the end of that deployment. The flag had flown from our mainmast while we were deployed in the PG and during the events of the engagement. As a collector (an avid pursuer of all things related to that ship or her namesake vessels) I couldn't let that fall into the hands of a collector. I wanted to add that to another meaningful flag from my ship, the first commissioning pennant, which I had acquired from my signalman-buddy a few weeks after the ship was commissioned. Here is the ship's first Commissioning Pennant: And here is the ensign:
atb Posted June 17, 2011 #2 Posted June 17, 2011 Ahhhh yes, the unfortunate Iranian airliner shootdown. Very busy time for me at The Pentagon on that one. A nice item from an interesting time.
67Rally Posted June 17, 2011 Author #3 Posted June 17, 2011 Ahhhh yes, the unfortunate Iranian airliner shootdown. Very busy time for me at The Pentagon on that one. A nice item from an interesting time. Yeah...must have been difficult for you.
sybaris Posted June 17, 2011 #4 Posted June 17, 2011 Was tied up in Subic when you all pulled in. Did you get ANY liberty? I don't recall seeing anybody leaving the ship. Saw a lot of people going on though.
atb Posted June 17, 2011 #5 Posted June 17, 2011 Yeah...must have been difficult for you. Touche. I've certainly been put into my place. We all play our part.
ClaytonUSN Posted June 17, 2011 #6 Posted June 17, 2011 Two amazing pieces! I'm glad that it went to a plankowner- rightful hands indeed!
sigsaye Posted June 17, 2011 #7 Posted June 17, 2011 Two amazing pieces! I'm glad that it went to a plankowner- rightful hands indeed! Agree. I wonder how many ensigns, jacks and commission pennants that i gave away as momentoes have ended up on the market. Glad you got them. Steve Hesson
67Rally Posted June 18, 2011 Author #8 Posted June 18, 2011 Was tied up in Subic when you all pulled in. Did you get ANY liberty? I don't recall seeing anybody leaving the ship. Saw a lot of people going on though. Actually, by the time we got to Subic, the dust had settled somewhat. We hit the beach in force and cut loose a bit. All of the post-incident hearings were done at Manama at the ASU. It was quite the experience for a 3rd class to be going through...testifying in front of all that brass. After that was all done, we were detached and proceed to the Seychelles for some liberty. We spent another month+ in the north Arabian gulf along the southern coast of Iran. The noise returned when we hit San Diego though. I was off the ship a few months later and on to my next duty station. What ship were you on?
67Rally Posted June 18, 2011 Author #9 Posted June 18, 2011 Agree. I wonder how many ensigns, jacks and commission pennants that i gave away as momentoes have ended up on the market. Glad you got them. Steve Hesson Steve, The sigs on both of my ships were my buds an we were in the same department (Ops). How I got the commissioning pennant was funny...just got off watch on the bridge and went to hang out at the sig-bridge after my 24-06 watch. My buddy was at the mast, pulling down the pennant with a brand new one in his hand. I had never thought about them being changed out...so I asked what he was going to do with the grimy one...he said that it will be tossed. I asked if I could have it...to which he had no problem. I asked when it went up...and he said July 6, commissioning day. I've had it ever since.
sigsaye Posted June 18, 2011 #11 Posted June 18, 2011 Steve, The sigs on both of my ships were my buds an we were in the same department (Ops). How I got the commissioning pennant was funny...just got off watch on the bridge and went to hang out at the sig-bridge after my 24-06 watch. My buddy was at the mast, pulling down the pennant with a brand new one in his hand. I had never thought about them being changed out...so I asked what he was going to do with the grimy one...he said that it will be tossed. I asked if I could have it...to which he had no problem. I asked when it went up...and he said July 6, commissioning day. I've had it ever since. We used to have bags of old ensigns, jacks and comm pennants. We would hand them out or trade them for other goodies. On one ship, we could not get foul weather jackets. We had a load of marines for Team Spirit in Korea and the SMAJ wanted an ensign for the COLs tent. he just wanted an old "Salty One, and not the big one". I asked what he had to trade, he asks what did I want. I said I needed 11 new Field jackets with liners and the furry hoods. next morning, I had two Lance corporals at the door the the Sig Shack with brand new gear still in the bags. I handed over an old ensige wer were going to destroy due to fraying and stack soot stains. Every one was happy. steve
plick27 Posted June 18, 2011 #12 Posted June 18, 2011 Steve, The sigs on both of my ships were my buds an we were in the same department (Ops). How I got the commissioning pennant was funny...just got off watch on the bridge and went to hang out at the sig-bridge after my 24-06 watch. My buddy was at the mast, pulling down the pennant with a brand new one in his hand. I had never thought about them being changed out...so I asked what he was going to do with the grimy one...he said that it will be tossed. I asked if I could have it...to which he had no problem. I asked when it went up...and he said July 6, commissioning day. I've had it ever since. That's awesome. Like some others said, only fitting that a plank owner would end up with it.
Dave Posted June 18, 2011 #13 Posted June 18, 2011 These are fantastic. I know the details of the day that flag was flying. WOW. I'm in awe.... :w00t:
67Rally Posted June 18, 2011 Author #14 Posted June 18, 2011 These are fantastic. I know the details of the day that flag was flying. WOW. I'm in awe.... :w00t: By the way, I have a photo of us underway with this very flag flying from the mainmast: (I really need to re-scan it) Someday, when we can talk in person, you could possibly hear some of the details that you haven't heard (or read in the non-redacted report).
67Rally Posted June 18, 2011 Author #15 Posted June 18, 2011 Blue Ridge Funny...the Blue Ridge is still in commission (since 1970) and CG-49 is being scrapped at this very moment (after 19 years, 11 months and 21 days of service).
sybaris Posted June 18, 2011 #16 Posted June 18, 2011 Funny...the Blue Ridge is still in commission (since 1970) and CG-49 is being scrapped at this very moment (after 19 years, 11 months and 21 days of service). Yeah, I'm a plankowner on FFG-37 and she doesn't even have a launcher anymore. She was commissioned in '83.
67Rally Posted June 20, 2011 Author #17 Posted June 20, 2011 Yeah, I'm a plankowner on FFG-37 and she doesn't even have a launcher anymore. She was commissioned in '83. But she is still steaming!
Mr.Jerry Posted June 21, 2011 #18 Posted June 21, 2011 As a flag collector I am very impressed. Please tag both these great artifacts with their history. Too many times the history is lost, and that is the most valuable part. Thank you all for your service! Desk or Deck! :thumbsup:
67Rally Posted June 21, 2011 Author #19 Posted June 21, 2011 As a flag collector I am very impressed. Please tag both these great artifacts with their history. Too many times the history is lost, and that is the most valuable part. Thank you all for your service! Desk or Deck! :thumbsup: What is an acceptable/recommended form of tagging?
Bugme Posted June 21, 2011 #20 Posted June 21, 2011 What is an acceptable/recommended form of tagging? Documentation of any kind, like a hard copy of this thread, copies of emails or letters from anyone involved in getting the flag, photo's(like the awesome one of the flag flying) and a literal tag wired through the rope loops on each of these with reference to the documentation. Awesome piece of Naval & personal history, glad you got it!
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