Brumby (DE 1044) - Naval Cruise Book

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CHE 15015 H0195 SJ-!OW ,Y 3 Li. , I ' if A Q 'f X i 'C 'X it v ,, 1, f f - f with the famed Rock of Gibraltar. Completing the three-ringed circus were several groups of por- poise swimming and jumping around the sonar dome. The rough Atlantic was a part of the past and with a spirited crew, BRUMBY steamed into the calm Mediterranean. The BRUMBY crossed the Med with Soudha Bay, Crete at the end of the quartermaster's track. This island south of Greece welcomed us on 19 December with a brisk wind and chilly tempera- tures. There would be no shore liberty, but we were anxious to see the annual Bob Hope Christmas Show aboard the USS JOHN F. KENNEDY QCVA 67 J which was anchored nearby. Not long after the hook had been dropped the three liberty sections began to take small boats to the carrier. Most of the 6th Fleet in the eastern Med was present in the bay and several thousand sailors assembled on the huge flight deck as Hope's crew set up its cameras and sound equipment for the show. No space was wasted as sailors took seats from every vantage point. Occasionally one of the Golddiggers fThe Dean Martin Showb W0uld make an appearance on the flight deck or on the island. Naturally, she com- manded the attention and stares of all those ...er well, anxious sailors. Ol' Hook Nose brought an all-star cast with -f ' JlL1.,,,f..., ,V .... .,.. .,,. -W , .. ........ . - . l

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up and around in a flash. SoonBRUMBY was D.I.W. and began to rock violently in the swells. In an hour or so, the hardworking engineers had us steam - ing again on our track toward Rota. BRUMBY'S arrival in Rota, Spain on8 Decem- ber was especially noted by the USS BARNEY which we were to relieve. We were more than ready for our first liberty and mail call since leaving the United States. The next four days would be a trying time for the Spanish police, the Shore Patrol, and the XO, but we had to go ashore for refreshment and good times . Furthermore, we wanted to buy civilian clothes, thanks to Uncle Elmo's Z-gram. The United States rents the Rota base from Spain on a long-term basis. Rota is a supply and communications center and most ships stop there before entering the Med or before starting the trip back to the States. We enjoyed three days of liberty in Rota, sam- pling the Spanish foodand drink. Some traveled to the cities of Cadiz and Seville. But duty calls. With the BARNEY on her way back to the United States, an envious BRUMBY crew left Rota on the llth to join the 6th Fleet. Later that afternoon, BRUMBY approached the Straits of Gibraltar. Sunshine and calm seas brought the off-watch topside. Off the starboard side were the mountains of Morocco, but everyone from the new boots to the old-timers was occupied

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lin it wk F3- ll? W CJ U . n 1 'if l fi 1 K, 1. -if I 4 15 I! him for his 20th Christmas show and Les Brown and his Band of Renown made some great sounds backing them up. Hope opened the program with his monologue, making several cracks about the size of the J He had remarks about the cold weather, the presence of the Russian fleet in the Med. and Adm. Zumwalt. But Bob knows what the troops want to see and as soon as the monologue was over, he presented the Golddiggers, Jennifer Hosten who is Miss World of 1971, Ursula Andress, the Ding-a-lings, Lola Falana, Miss Bobbi Martin, Gloria Loring, Johnny Bench, and a fashion show. Miss World walked on stage amid whistles and thunderous applause. She had alffew nonsense lines to say with Bob, but nobody was paying any attention to what she had to say. Ursula Andress and Bob played the parts of spies. What a time for undercover work! Ursula declined an invitation from the BRUMBY men to complete the rest of the cruise with them. Gloria Loring sang and was as delightful to the eyes as to the ears. Lola Falana shared a little soul as she sang Fever . Her dancing across the stage could be rated R in Jacksonville, but not in Soudha Bay. Miss Bobbi Martin provided country-western entertainment. Johnny Bench, catcher for the Cincinnati Reds, tossed some punch lines at Bob as they discussed the world of baseball. A high-fashion show of the M-,A Libr-:.:,,. , ,,g w,...f.a...-1,m Lt..-an --f-