- Roy Colon - rcolon75@embarqmail.com - OI Division - I was all of 19 years old When I reported to the ship, obviously too young to partake of alcohol. However once we got to Pascagoula, Omar Marshall took me under his arm. We would start off at the Manor (where everyone was old enough) then go out on the town. We found this place called Suzy-Q's. There was an old drunk Indian at a table in the back. What I remember most though is the HUGE pistol that sat next to the cash register. Precomm was very educational.

- Charles Harris - uluhao@msn.com - US Marine Corps - Aloha! I do remember my time aboard Tarawa. I was an embarked Marine on her 1st West-Pac deployment in 1979. What a ship! A vast leap from the LSD's I had previously been on. She was only 5 years old then. Hard to believe she has been decommissioned. But then again it's been 30 years! Dewey Harris, SGT USMC

- Rod (Harry) Harris - rods4cindy@comcast.net - OI Division - When the Tarawa first pulled into S.D. after leaving Pascagoula, the officers were all dressed up in their dress whites. Lt. Golish went to the head and for some reason the toilet backed up with enormous pressure while he was on it. He came into CIC dripping wet. I found that to be a very rewarding outcome for him after all the crap he used to give us. So I guess it's true, what goes around, comes around. :-)

- Terry Hefley - tiggwolf@yahoo.com- Communications Radio Shack - I was wondering who else remembers the sights of the 1st Westpac the Tarawa made? Anyone who might have been in the Radio Shack with me during the 1977-1979 period.

- Charlie Hill - hillsreels@bellsouth.net - Communications Signals - The Mississippi welcome I received when I arrived, but Don Cross had been on another ship as a shellback, after we pollywogs rebelled the crossing was canceled. When we crossed the line, it was a very special time for Rex and his court, I still feel the pain!!

- Sean M Hogan - shogan01@nycap.rr.com - V1 - I remember nights at the Manor, Biloxi, and a whole lot of good friends.

- Rick Holly - rickholly@rickholly.com - OI Division - Here is a little secret I have kept to myself for many years. During PRECOMM I was sent to the Tarawa before anyone else on the ship. At the shipyard, I went into the records room where they had the records of where the Operations Department was to sleep. I took out the paper when no one was looking, stuffed it in my pants, and took it to the ship. I found where they assigned the OSs to sleep. IT WAS RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE MAIN TWO DOORS AND ALL THE LOCKERS! I said to myself this is going to be bad. So, I erased the names of another Operations Department division sleeping in the back and switched EVERY OS to the back where it would be very quite and DARK! I then slipped back into the room that housed the records and replaced the sleeping assignment record for the Operations Department. Did you know I did that? I am sure I kept that a secret, even to the OSs when I left the USS Tarawa on February 23, 1979.

- David McNair - Mcfire442000@yahoo.com - V1 Division - I was tasked with getting the Air boss' flight jacket, and this was a mission I accepted. Well, I got it, and then there was a big muster. It was brought out that if the jacket isn't returned there would be some big investigation. I got really scared, as I should of, and yes, I unboxed the jacket that I was going to send home and returned it to the back of the Air boss' chair in the Air office. I was more freaked-out on returning it that taking it. I can honestly say this put the fear in me on stealing, and I didn't think of taking anything after this. Except I was very hungry one night, and the chow hall was closed. I and well, I won't mention any names, but he knows who he is and I will let him reveal his name to clear is mind of this deed. Anyway I watched out for the Master-at-Arms right around the corner. About 1:00 AM he unscrewed the plexiglass guard that was around the grill and came out with roast beef, cheese, bologna, the works for a little mid-rats extra! I will tell you this guy was in my division and is as big as a house, maybe you guys can figure out who it is.

- David McNair - Mcfire442000@yahoo.com - V1 Division Blue, Red, and Yellow Shirts  - I have to give thanks to ABH-1 Martin (who is no longer with us) for lining me out on safety on the flight deck. I remember when I had to chain my first H-1 (Skid and Mr. Martin said look out for that tail rotor I wouldn't want to write home to your Momma and tell her you got chopped up for not listening to me. Let me tell you these words stuck in my head then and still do today. Wilbur, you are the man. I just wish I could thank you in person. I also give thanks to my friend, Gary Clatt, who kept me straight, or did I keep him straight? we both did our part, and thank you to Mr. Jim Ponzo for giving me that look with your eyes. You didn't have to say anything, but I knew you were saying don't do that or else! This look lined me out well. I am living proof a terd can shine up and look fairly well, and all V-1 division you were my friends. My support and you helped me make me what I am today. Bob and Sean you were a kick to be around. Bill, you are the cool ocean breeze. Kenny from V-4, I really admire you. You were fun to watch smack a softball nearly 400 feet or close to it. Dexter, so good to see you. You are the cool breeze of V-4. All the rest of you I saw at the reunion, it was nice to get to know you better, and now that Mr. Holly and Mary Lou have got this reunion rolling ,we all will get closer. Thank You Rick and Mary. I have stories that will last a life time. Sorry I was a little shy at our first reunion. Honestly, I was in a state of reflection and just couldn't believe seeing all of you shipmates. Sweepers, sweepers man you brooms, have to sweep out the kitchen. Yes, sweep out the kitchen. I do windows, too. V-1 taught me to clean very well. I remember in boot camp I rode a buffer and yes, I got caught. I got set back a week in training, I didn't have a good start, but ended up well. Mr. Ponzo, I thank you again for being who you are and helping me very much to be a good sailor. Well, I did 10 years, and got 2 1/2 good conducts. OK, I will explain the 1/2. If you can't figure it out, every 4 years if you don't get busted or don't get caught whatever way you look at it, you get a good conduct award. For no Captain's Masts, well, I got two good conduct awards and was half way too a third. Mr. Fitzgerald, I am sorry I took your flight jacket and was very wrong to do it, but I returned it because you had super people working for you, and they put the fear in me. That incident made me go in a straight line from here on. I love the Tarawa and the Crew of it then and now so proud to be part of this great Ship. That is all for now, Ill be back!

- Charles Petrach - dogbitten1@cox.net - OI Division - The first day I was to report to the Tarawa, I arrived to 32nd Street as Per my orders only to find that it just went to the yards in Long Beach. I had settled my family in San Diego. 11 month of weekend commuting we made it back to San Diego then the first deployment. I had some of the best people to work with in OI Division, I always felt like we were family. I am looking forward to seeing everyone at the reunion.

- Richard Thompson - rctusmcr@pacbell.net - THIRD MARINE DIVISION - I was the Driver for MAJOR GENERAL ROBINSON, and we flew into Subic Bay on a T39 airplane and left on the Tarawa back to the Rock. I can remember the great respect I had for all of people on the ship who lived on it much longer then I did. I was young Marine at the time, 20 years old. Now I am 51 years old. Keep up the good work and S/F Richard C Thompson SSGTUSMCR.