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Staff and their crews had their hands full with the enormous task of loading the equipment and supplies that had taken weeks to load on the USS Pickaway. A few days later we were ordered to mount up and board the USS Okinagan and we would be setting course for the Republic of Viet Nam. 3 @
Leaving Okinawa and getting back out to sea was a bitter sweet moment—we had come to appreciate the USS Pickaway and it’s crew and were familiar with it’s passageways and important sections like the mess hall! The entire Battalion Landing Team was again at sea together and spread out as far as the eye could sea—it was truly a beautiful sight! Many of us —whether alone or with a couple of other Marines we would often go out and sit on the fantail and watch the sunsets as well as the moon and enjoy the beautiful sight of this lethal force steaming across the sea and think of our families and loved ones . I think we all knew —to the man—that this was a defining moment in our lives —one that we would remember —forever!
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