Bruce! That was him. I recall getting the scoop on who was who in the zoo and the “Pilipino Monkey and Stinky Indian” radio show hours of play. He was a good man from where I sat. He kept sending me turnover after you guys went to Singapore or Australia or wherever you portcalled after we relieved you.

Bruce,

Rest in Peace Shipmate…

Now there was a guy who could tell a sea story.

I was on ENTERPRISE as a TAO during that cruise.

I recall the turnover we did with you guys half by MS Chat and the other half by PPT briefs. I recall chatting with my TAO counterparts in your CDC as you guys steamed south and out… (I remember the CWO4 TAO you had chatting to me that he was getting off in Hawaii to fly home with his wife. I heard he has passed on since.. sort of a RADAR and Sparkey friendship ala MASH, never met him, yet I knew him..)

ENTERPRISE had just chopped the SOH the night of the 10th of September, we had a new OPS O and a new Admiral.

We were headed to South Africa to cross the line and visit a new liberty port.

My roommate woke me up with the TV on in our stateroom. UTTER Disbelief that a plane could accidently crash into the WTC, then the second one, first a spot on the sky then watching the impact live… wow, total disbelief and life changing event.

Ship was dead in the water. Ship changed course. Ship headed north.

7 October 2001 we did our “ammo off load” and saved a few days of steaming in the VACAPES for it.

Taking the tired BIG E into the Yards after that cruise was like going to a funeral. Terrible to see my shipmates leave the ship to go on to ticket punches while a handful of us stayed behind in the yards…

Your words mean a lot because I was there shipmate.