Koelsch (FF 1049) - Naval Cruise Book

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Empty chairs in the living room, clock ticking on the wall, framed pictures kissed by children as they scurry off to bed. Every ship that goes to sea leaves in her wake, wives, sweethearts, children, and parents. As the ship ' s company looks forward to the excitement of foreign seas, those left behind are left with only memories to fill the vacant space in their lives. The only certainty lay in yesterday, for no one is sure about tomorrow. Underway, working hours are long and hard, the crew working together to accomplish tasks at hand. Not given much time for lonely thoughts of those left behind. The ship leaves with a group of individuals and comes back with cohesive closelvknit, working team. Joys and sorrows during the cruise are shared by all. When this book is completed the deployment will be over, families reunited. It will be a time when sea-stories can be told over and over again. This Cruise Book serves as a memory aid, a snap-shot of this ship during the Med 1-85 deployment. A time that can be remembered with pride because we did what had to be done and did it the best we could. This Cruise Book is dedicated to the men and families of the Fighting Knights, USS KOELSCH (FF-1049). By LTJG Gerard Edmond Vier, Jr.