I have great memories from the USS Long Beach. Any of you that served during
1973-1976 knew of my father Gary Wayne Campbell, aka Captain America. He was
a barber on the ship and got his nickname when he drove up in our old 46 Mercury
that was painted red and blue with white stars.
Dad took me out to San Diego for a week in the summer of 1975 or 1976. I was
actually allowed to sleep onboard one night when dad had to be on ship. At the
time an officer informed me that I was the first non officered kid that got
to spend the night. It is one of my favorite memories of my dad.
I do not remember any names of the guys that he hung out with, but if any of
you do remember him please email me and lets share info about him. He loved
serving on the "Beach", as he called it, and until his untimely death,
was proud of the time he served on her.
Dad was taken from us on January 15th, 1983, due to injuries from a car accident
he and I were in.
I would love to share memories of him with my two kids, who have visited his gravesite, and listened to the tapes I have that he recorded with some of his original songs.
Long live the "Beach"!