1980-1993 U-Z

• Ryan K. Wheeler, DC3
  4678 Robbins St.
  San Diego, CA 92122

  Email: rkwheeler73@yahoo.com  
  Home Phone: 858-457-0396
  Current Occupation: Graduate Student
  
  boarded:   05/10/92
  departed:  10/01/93

  Experiences to Remember:

  Thanks to whoever built this website.  It was a really good idea.  Looking through it brought back some memories.  I would like to say what's up to all the friends that I met on the Sumter and if you're reading this you should drop me an e-mail.

  Signed onboard this site: December 1, 2003

   

• Shawn  Willocks, SN
  1021 Foch St
  Maryville Tennessee 37801

  Email: shawnwillocks@yahoo.com
  Work Phone: 865-983-3971
  Home Phone: 865-740-7936
  FAX: 865-982-5675
  Current Occupation: Sales Rep.
  Yahoo: shawnwillocks

boarded: 11/91
departed: 08/20/93

Signed onboard this site: January 04, 2004

Experiences:

How do I start ....I was 19 fresh out of High School and signed up for the apprenticeship program and got the Sumter as a "Deck Ape". Tough work, long hours and not much respect...The Sumter just returned from Desert Storm and she looked it. We were TAD, waiting for her return and I was nervous and green...Made myself at home in 1st Div. and made a lot of friends, more like family. The yards were very interesting and dangerous in Portsmouth, but we all made it through somehow. I did my mess cranking in the yards and glad it was over but wouldn't trade that experience and the many others from the ship yards.
After we got done with the sea trials we replenished for the 6 month deployment heading for the MED ..I was scared and excited and didn't know what to expect...Got underway and BOOM, GQ!!! Main crank case explosion...We crossed on 5 mains and limped into Rota were we stayed for repairs for 1 month, almost became a BLDG #.
Loved the MED and then Somalia broke and we went to the Adriatic Sea and hung out off the cost of Morocco for a month (no fun), 60 days with no port and getting restless to say the least!
Saw Rota, Spain; Haifa, Israel; Venice, Italy; Almeria, Spain; Trieste, Italy; Turkey; All good ports, but my picks are any in Spain or Italy
Sad day in port, 3 young men lost there life on board while moored up at Little Creek. I was the man last to see them alive. There was more Brass on that ship than what seemed all of DC.
The XO was and probably still is a great man who helped me be the man I am today. I still remember the history buff in the XO chair quizzing me on the balls to 4 watch like some history game show he and I had a pretty good friendship as much as any E-3 and LCDR could.
-Got a letter of commendation for my efforts in decommissioning the Sumter and seeing her off to moth balls. (plank owner)
Went to re-enlist into this man's Navy but billets in the Sea Bees were full, no underwater demolition for young Seaman Willocks, so off to East Tennessee is were I want to be and still am.
Sometimes I can close my eyes and be on the forward lookout on the 04 on the balls to 0400 and smell the salt air and talking to my boys on the sound powered phones about this and that while watching the dolphins play with the ship at over a blistering 18 knots .I miss them and her (Sumter) so much.
ANCHORS AWAY MY BOYS...MAY YOU HAVE FAIR WINDS AND FOLLOWING SEAS...
 

• Ed Wolfe, QM2
  8421 Magnolia Springs Drive
  Harrisburg, NC 28075

  Email: ed@wolfehaven.com
  Home Phone: 704-301-7646
  Current Occupation: Graphic Artist / Property Manager
  URL: www.wolfehaven.com

  boarded: 04/00/86
  departed: 10/08/89

  Signed onboard this site: December 10, 2006
   

  Experiences: I have always viewed the USS Sumter as the "WKRP in Cincinnati" of the Atlantic Fleet. I have many, many, many, crazy stories. There was the time the 2nd Division Deck Department gave their Ensign a pink belly because he did not knock before entering their quarters. The time Captain Ries called his Gunnery Officer "Tit Head" because he was standing on the wrong bridge wing during GQ when the Captain gave the signal for batteries release. Then there was the enterprising sailor who would stuff his locker full of toilet paper the day before we loaded the marines. Then he would sale it for a $1 a roll, to the marines, after we were at sea for two weeks. Ah yes, life on board the Sumter.

  Looking back we were really just boys doing a man’s job. It is funny, in some ways my life is divided into two halves. There is the person I was before I served onboard the Sumter, and the man that I became because of my time onboard. I served with some great guys. Thanks for the memories.

   
• Russell Young, EN3
  22623 Braken Manor Ln.
  Katy, TX 77449

  Email: russyou@wt.net
  Home Phone: 281-347-6863
   

  boarded:   04/07/87
  departed:  03/15/91

  Signed onboard this site: December 21, 2002

  Experiences:

  I have fond memories of my tour onboard the Sumter.  Befriended a lot of great people while onboard.  I have talked to a few of them over the past couple of years.  The ones I remember clearly:  ENCM Maurer and all in 'M' Division, BM2 Lawlor, QM3 Wolfe, EM2 Jacobson 'Jake', SM3 Thrasher, EN3 Labuen, Smith, Towers, Zanky, Miller, Mahl, Fladd, Johnson....and the list goes on.  I had a great time and I learned a lot.  I enjoyed the UNITAS 88.  The Med would have been even better if not for Liberia.  That's o.k..  Had a GREAT time onboard SUMTER!  Would like to hear from Maurer, Wolfe, Thrasher and anybody who just feels like dropping me a line.  Lawlor, I have family in your home town.