Celebrate this Independence Day with the crew of USS Ponce (LPD 15)! Take a voyage back to the year 2011 and the Proud Lion’s participation in the historic Patriotic Exercises put on by Bristol, Rhode Island. Bristol’s date all the way back to 1777, and the town still knows how to party! Stay tuned after … Continue reading Pierside – Shipshape in Bristol Fashion!
Tag: #USSPonce
On the Waterfront – Leapfrog!
(Pensacola, Florida; Feb. 17, 2023) – I haven't played leapfrog since I was about four feet shorter than I am now; that is to say, since I was rather little. Imagine my surprise in 2010 at finding myself in a game of leapfrog, but one played with thousand-ton warships instead of schoolmates on the playground! … Continue reading On the Waterfront – Leapfrog!
On the Waterfront – Sailing into History – An American Lion’s Independence Day
(Pensacola, Florida; July 4, 2022) – The amphibious transport dock USS Ponce (LPD 15) is now enjoying her sunset days in a Texas scrapyard, her long career over and her decks quiet until the torches begin their work. However, the Proud Lion represented the Navy—and, by extension, the United States—on many occasions throughout her history. … Continue reading On the Waterfront – Sailing into History – An American Lion’s Independence Day
On the Waterfront – Sailing Into History: Dolphins in the Midst
On the Waterfront – Sailing Into History: Dolphins in the Midst (Pensacola, Florida; April 26, 2022) – The ex-USS Ponce (LPD 15) has arrived at her final berth in Texas at the scrapper’s yard. So, it’s time for another ‘On the Waterfront’ sea story about the Proud Lion and the adventures of her intrepid crew, … Continue reading On the Waterfront – Sailing Into History: Dolphins in the Midst
On the Waterfront – Sailing Into History: The Greatest Seaman
(Pensacola, Florida; April 21, 2022) – I posted the original version of this column nearly two years ago while I was still in Washington State. However, as the Proud Lion is sailing into history now, this memory has taken up pride of place in the formation of memories gliding along the channel for the Grand … Continue reading On the Waterfront – Sailing Into History: The Greatest Seaman
On the Waterfront – Sailing into History: Meeting the Proud Lion
(Pensacola, Florida; April 7, 2022,) – There are moments when disparate threads of unrelated events are woven into a brand new cloth upon which the tapestry of our stories will forever be embroidered. USS Ponce (LPD 15) was one such moment for me. Many unrelated threads from my childhood, my college days, and my early … Continue reading On the Waterfront – Sailing into History: Meeting the Proud Lion
On the Waterfront – Master Seamanship
(Silverdale, Washington; Sept. 17, 2020) – The greatest single piece of seamanship I ever witnessed occurred the day my captain summarily ordered the tugs away from our 17,000 ton warship and proceeded to dock her without assistance, thereby avoiding a collision with an 114,000 ton cruise ship. Commander Stephen ‘Cole’ Hayes was the third commanding … Continue reading On the Waterfront – Master Seamanship
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