Welcome back to the FLUCTUS channel for a discussion about US Navy Destroyers and some of the other extreme machines operated by the United States Military.

My Dad was on the USS Selfridge (DD357) in the 1930s at 16 years old. It was his first ship in the 20 years he served and it steamed into Pearl Harbor on December 6th, 1941. They managed to get out of Pearl on the 7th when the Japs attacked and later on was torpedoed twice in the Solomon Islands Battle. They managed to limp back to San Diego for damage repair.

I ran across some big naval ship way off shore a few years back , i talked to him on the radio , usually they wont answer or talk to you unless your endangering them , like driving the boat stupid close or in its path , we were just cruising the same way , not very close ...i thought it was pretty cool ..

As someone who done time in the NAVY, I often wonder why they never really show what life is like for each trade, firing missiles and guns are a very small part of life in the navy, God you spend more time cleaning then ever firing a missile or a gun.

I had orders to the Arleigh Burke as a plankowner. Was in school for the new sonar suite. Gramm Rudman kicked in and due to that I would have re-enlisted for six without my $30k bonus. With a one year instructor billet and five at sea…got out and went right into the Army. Budget was approved a couple weeks later. Have kicked myself in the ass ever since. Although the contract would have already been signed so, it all worked out just fine and retired from the Army.