USS America in Suez Canal 1981

[Doc]

I thought this must be photoshopped but was told it's real. Awesome pic.

At that time (1981) this was the largest ship to go through the Suez Canal.

[EastTexFrank]

Awesome pic.

I was drilling a well in the Gulf of Suez in the 90s, just off the shipping channel, when a US aircraft carrier and its escort ships came through the canal presumably heading to the Middle East. I was standing on the heli-deck of the rig, 120 feet above the water, and I was looking UP and waving to the sailors on the that monster. It was HUGE . Nobody can look on that monster and not be impressed or intimidated. Jeez, it made feel so proud and is a memory that I will always hold dear.

[TiredRetired]

Originally Posted by EastTexFrank

Awesome pic.

I was drilling a well in the Gulf of Suez in the 90s, just off the shipping channel, when a US aircraft carrier and its escort ships came through the canal presumably heading to the Middle East. I was standing on the heli-deck of the rig, 120 feet above the water, and I was looking UP and waving to the sailors on the that monster. It was HUGE . Nobody can look on that monster and not be impressed or intimidated. Jeez, it made feel so proud and is a memory that I will always hold dear.

Great story, Frank.

When the Independence used to come back to Norfolk, cars would line up for what seemed forever at the tunnel entrances of the Chesapeake Bay Tunnel-Bridge. People would be waving and of course, we would wave back. It was an awesome site for us to see so many folks wishing us well.

It has always been my solemn belief that 90% of all the people are great folks. It is the damn 10 percenters as my Dad called them, that are assholes and do their damndest to ruin it all for the other 90.

[EastTexFrank]

Thinking further on it, it was a small jack-up so the heli-deck probably wasn't 120' high but it was still the highest point on the rig. That didn't detract from the sheer size of the carrier. It was impressive and somehow had a sense of purpose as it went bye.

[Doc]

Carriers are awe inspiring. So immense. I never sailed on one but while in port at Norfolk a friend stationed on the USS Kennedy gave me a tour of his ship. Amazing. A site one never forgets.