Gary (FFG 51) - Naval Cruise Book

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Ill i I ill i • ' J ' ■ ■tlM r Originally slated for exercises with the Omani navy, the Gary pulled intc Muscat, Oman to turnover with the U.S.S. Rentz, while the Hill and the Benfom immediately transited the Straits of Hormuz. Muscat. Oman was one of those places where the only reason to really get off the boat was that it would enable you later on in life, perhaps, to bring up at a posh party Oman? Oh yes, I ' ve been there. ' Of course, if anyone asked you what you were doing there, you would have to say Well, I can ' t really talk about it. Let ' s just say, I was doing important work for the government. Which is a hyped up way of saying was in the Na y. What do you think I did? I drank two beers and watched a Pakistani belly dancer in the basement of some Godforsaken hotel. If breaking the rules is the standard for a good time, then probably the mosi fun one had was running around secretly taking pictures of mosques. Most of us spent our time in the clubs of the luxurious tourist hotels. There was a USO clut available, but after the first night, no one besides shore patrol bothered to venture there. On a scale of 1 to 10, the shwarma rating was about an 8. After Oman, the Gary headed straight for Bahrain. Other than the imprompu laser show put on by the ET ' s at the ASU. it would have been a boring port. Bahrair was the only place we visited that actually had a U.S. Navy facility, so we were allowed to shop at Navy Exchange prices, buy uniform items we had run out of and have needed dental work performed. The movie theater was also open, anc showed classic flicks — for free! Schwarma rating: seven. Dubai. U.A.E.. considered the most liberal city in the Middle East, was oui most frequently visited port. As information gleaned from American locals indicated, their tolerance to Western culture and customs has allowed their economy to boom, in areas other than traditional oil production. Their attitude towarc Americans being less ambivalent than the other Gulf states made it a good port visit Finally, a place we felt, at least a little bit, welcome. When we actually pulled into Dubai, rather th an its distant industrial port o Jebel Ali, getting to town became a lot more convenient. Those who signed up foi Host-a-Sailor were treated to home-cooked meals, nights out on the town restaurants and outdoor expeditions. These expeditions included four-wheelins through the desert to go swimming in wadis, natural canyons which collect rair water over time to become freshwater swimming pools. Some sailors participatec in local wadi customs such as cliff diving and Jacuzzi escaping. Four-wheeling on the beach and picnics would soon follow. The Dubai Seamen ' s Center seemed to be the most popular with Americai sailors and made for some happening parties, at least when some of the other ship: were in town. Sailors were treated to a unique blend of Navy cultures when ship: such as the H. M.S. Bayleaf or the Nimitz were in town. DJ ' s and entertainment wen provided by the club. Many sailors enjoyed other luxuries such as cheap beer. Tha food and swimming. For personnel who craved the city life. buses traveled to one of the man; souqs or malls downtown near the city center. Downtown Dubai bustled at times especially on Thursday night; the Islamic world ' s version of Friday night, whei locals and tourists deluge the Western style clubs, such as Pancho Villa ' s or T.G.I.T (Thank God It ' s Thursday). Great deals were available on a variety of merchandise at the gold and electronic souqs, although the malls seemed to be rather pricey. Dubai offered us some of the freedom we were used to in the States, as wel as large urban areas and malls to meander through. Although here, unliki Singapore, we were allowed to chew gum and spit, many of us had to be back b; midnight. Nevertheless, the local mutton schwarmas were quite succulent, so oi the whole. Dubai rates about a nine.

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Ill IB 1 Although Thanksgiving came a day late, it did come. Despite the fact that we leinport Dubai and that holida) routine was nut lea. mosi ol us waited on the ml 1400 to see what SUPPO and the gang had put together. Aftera beautifully jared turke) dinner, we ate some ol the traditional deserts such as pecan pic. lpkin pie, and ice cream, After that, sonic of us went and kicked hack at the men ' s Center or went down to the coops :we to catch up on some much needed P- Although we were underwa) on Christmas Day, we hada ver) memorable ;onthe U.S.S.( far) About eight o ' clock on Christmas Eve, we heard the word ;ed: Christian Fellovi ship is now being held on the Flight Deck. Those v. ho it out to the deck to found DK2 Parker and DISB( ) setting upaChristmas tree an overhead projector. Little did we realize, we would soon find ourselves ling aboard a na vessel in the middle of the Arabian Gulf. B the time MSSN ashington ' s cookies arrived, enough people had shown o make for a good time, Doing our best to hold out againsi a cold wind from North Pole, we gathered around lightly and sang such favorites as Hark. Herald Angels Sing and Silent Night. When we had sung all the ones knew, we skirled over and sang them again ' With a little help from Gar) ' s s. we weie all Healed to a reflective and nostalgic lime. ForChristmas dinner the MS ' s turned out a delicious turke feast withal! trimmings. After we stuffed ourselves, we retired to the lounge for everyone ' s isimas favorite, It ' s a Wonderful Life. Although we were not able to spend istmas with our families, there were enough familiar reminders around that we Id spend U with them in our minds and hearts land, ol course, on-line la L : - 1). I ot New Year ' s Eve, Gar) was one ol the few ships luck) enough to be in [(although New Year ' s Eve in-port Bahrain is incalculabl) different from New it ' s Eve anywhere else in the world, at least we were not out to sea). At the Desert ne, there was a live rock ' n roll band playing some of out favorite classics Aftei ing a tew drinks, toll-free morale calls allowed us to make New Year ' s lutions with the ones we love Meanwhile, at the Shack the) put the ne-thrower ' s in standby due to the increasing demand of Flaming nroe ' s told back at the Quarterdeck ol the USSGary, we shook up coke bottles, let li shoot ovei the side, popped balloons and at midnight we rang off the New tr... . 1997 departing.... 1998 arriv it III r

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■ ' — A JHf j . ' : w I) 7 5 Arabian Gulf (