I am sorry to read our proud lady has been destroyed and scrapped. She was a grand ship with great crews.

I went aboard Truckee as an RMSN, left as an RM1 and served with some of the best of the best. We won Green C's were commended fleet commanders, had some fantastic liberty's.

I'm still in communication with some of the Radiomen I served with: Bob O'Rourke, Joe Underwood, Bill (Fred) Gray and a couple of other form shipmates - John Neidel (Supply Officer) Norm Walker (Corpsman) About a year ago, I received a one-time only email from former RM2 Jim Cleaves who lives in the Gloucester, Mass. region. O'Rourke and I have tried to contact him several times with no success. I responded to his note, but didn't get a response back.

I don't know about later radio gangs, but I can attest to being amongst some of the most infamous, fun-loving liberty hounds the navy may have seen back in the 50s and 60s. Actually, some of the radarmen and all of the signalmen were great shipmates and liberty hounds as well ranging in age from old SM1 Oswald who served on the Yangtze River Patrol Squadron and SM1 Butler to young (SMSNs Charlie Penny from the Bayous of Louisiana and Minchin.

And, I don't forget Larry Phelan (PN2) who now lives in Western Nebraska having moved back home from some artist colony in California. He saved my butt more than once with his crafty record-keeping for which I am eternally grateful.

Ayah!
Truckee was a grand lady with great crews.

Sam Conant
Colchester, Vermont (N1PDL-if any former RMs are Ham radio licensees today)

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