I received this e-mail the other day from EN1 Ed Peed and thought I would share to all. I didn’t go over the side to clear the net, I believe it was SN Claude Thomasee, I let him use my knife, it was a Buck Knife sharp and wouldn’t rust either.

   That 12 foot boat was used for many of outings over the many years. Forget Maytag, Kenmore or Amana that little Japanese washing machine would out live all of those, the toughest machine around. It was still on board when we came back to the states, It was located on the port side aft, next to the Captain’s Cabin. Used by 30+ sailors when out at sea. Lot of time though we used to tie our clothes together with a heaving line and drag it off the fantail for awhile, then rinse the salt out of them with a bucket of water. That wore the clothes out faster, but they sure got clean. Does anyone remember what happened to that washing machine? 

Paul Wamsley

Hi Paul,

    Haven't written in a long time so decided to drop you a line.  Was thinking back the old days on the Warbler and I remember off the coast of Vietnam we ran into a fishing net and got it wrapped in one or both of the  screws .  Can't remember the year but might of been in 66??  Remember a deck hand going over the side with a knife and cutting it off the screws.  That wasn't you by any chance was it??????

   Also do you remember that 12 foot boat on the fan tail? We use it to go to the Viet fishing boats.  It had a 5 hp out board motor on it.  The motor was a Honda if I remember.  Also I remember one of the Captains let us have some beer on board but we had to drink it on the 12 foot boat tied behind the fantail.  When those two or three had their drinks we would pull it along side and put in a few more members of the crew until all had their beer.  Do you remember that??  I think it was off the coast of Vietnam also.  How about that little washing machine we had that the ship bought so we could wash cloths.  What ever happened to that washing machine after I left in Jan 1968?

   I put so much time in the engine room I missed 90 % of the action on deck.  Let you go for now and will try to remember more little things later.

Eddie Peed