Some good old military horseplay: West Coast Navy vs. East Coast Navy - who is better? Marines who deployed are welcome to enter the fray!

SCPO Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 30 Nov 2015 17:07:28 -0500

I'm all about the WestPac, myself. All those exotic Asian ports of call. Southeast Asia, The Philippines (you ain't been to Subic or Po City, yo ain't been to THE Navy port), South Sea Islands, Australia, Singapore, Bangkok, Mumbai, Hawaii, et al!!! Med is okay, just a little too refined and cultured for someone who needs to hit a Balut Bar!!! Which side of the country did you serve on, and which did you like best and why? Tell us your sea stories and your favorite POCs, old salts and new salts!!!

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made Nov 30 at 2015 6:22 PM

PO1 William "Chip" Nagel — Mon, 30 Nov 2015 18:22:23 -0500

Never did a Med Cruise. Stationed in London for 3 years and did 2 Westpacs. Kinda Hard to beat Subic Bay, Singapore, Hong Kong, Phuket, Melbourne.

Response by PO3 David Fries made Nov 30 at 2015 7:45 PM

PO3 David Fries — Mon, 30 Nov 2015 19:45:41 -0500

I never did either. Six years in the Navy, and the longest I spent on a ship was two weeks doing Amphib ops with my Marines. My deployments were Okinawa, with jaunts to mainland, Korea, and a few other places.

Response by PO2 Steven Erickson made Nov 30 at 2015 8:52 PM

PO2 Steven Erickson — Mon, 30 Nov 2015 20:52:02 -0500

I wouldn't consider myself an "old salt" but I am old enough to have done TWO maintenance stops in Subic Bay.

I have memories of that place that still leave marks!!!!!

Response by PO1 Brian Austin made Nov 30 at 2015 9:13 PM

PO1 Brian Austin — Mon, 30 Nov 2015 21:13:26 -0500

Love that photo!
All WESTPAC for me. Phuket, Pattaya...awesome! Singapore was always good. HK was expensive, but good for electronics. Australia (anywhere) always a blast, loved Perth. Inport Melbourne during the Melbourne Cup...just a HUGE party! Fiji was nice. Mombassa Kenya, pretty good beer..that's it.

During a Sydney port call, I carried my Chief over my shoulder from Kings Crossing area back to the ship. We had sampled all the booze in this bar, along with our beers with a Samoan bartender who was more than happy to indulge us (he was tipped well). While there we had chatted with a Kiwi (New Zealander) where we discussed the merits of Australia v. New Zealand. The bartender's opinion carried a lot of weight..literally..lol We then moved on to the merits of Oprah v. Jerry Springer. The Kiwi had a real fascination with them for some reason. It was an odd interesting night.

Have a few other stories, but don't want to get kicked off the site...lol

Response by CAPT Kevin B. made Dec 1 at 2015 2:55 AM

CAPT Kevin B. — Tue, 01 Dec 2015 02:55:36 -0500

Yokosuka, Sasebo, Pearl, Papeete, Subic, Adak, Bangkok, Chinhae, Pusan, Phnom Penh, and the list goes on. I always thought the WESTPAC "stink" couldn't be beat until I tried the Dark Side of the Force in Naples during one of their regular garbage strikes. Rota reminded me of Vientiane though, but only when the wind was blowing.

Why sail "seas" when you can sail "oceans".

Response by SN Greg Wright made Dec 1 at 2015 4:55 AM

SN Greg Wright — Tue, 01 Dec 2015 04:55:54 -0500

SCPO Private RallyPoint Member All WESTPAC here. HK, Singapore, Phuket, Subic, Perth, Guam, Diego Garcia. I wouldn't trade that for a med cruise. Interestingly enough, even in my civilian career as a Merchant Marine, nearly all of my time has been in the Pacific, with a couple of trips through the Canal to go to Houston.

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 1 at 2015 7:59 AM

LCDR Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 01 Dec 2015 07:59:29 -0500

WOW can't believe that I will be the first east coaster to chime in. With the exception of a few six month sessions of penance at Newport (geobach) I was stationed in Norfolk for 16 years. Bought a house as an E-5 and was and O-2 when I sold it and moved back home to Corpus.

Response by MCPO Roger Collins made Dec 1 at 2015 11:05 AM

MCPO Roger Collins — Tue, 01 Dec 2015 11:05:15 -0500

What is that old song, "I've been every where man"? Well I have and there is nothing to beat WESTPAC in days of old. The only way I could have had more fun was to have been born twins. Of course that was on the old diesel boats in the late 50s-60s. Given today's PC driven military, no place is fun anymore.

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 1 at 2015 12:47 PM

LCDR Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 01 Dec 2015 12:47:45 -0500

I was a Norfolk sailor, and about the most exotic part of that experience was VA Beach on a Saturday night.

Just repeat after me..."Nine months at sea; nothing but Jebal Ali"

Response by PO3 Alan Haynes made Dec 1 at 2015 5:05 PM

PO3 Alan Haynes — Tue, 01 Dec 2015 17:05:32 -0500

Never did a Med Cruise so nothing to Compare a WestPac to. Good Times though, all three that I made!

Response by CDR Terry Boles made Dec 1 at 2015 5:38 PM

CDR Terry Boles — Tue, 01 Dec 2015 17:38:37 -0500

As East Coast sailor did a North Atlantic during winter time, a couple Meds which were tops. Did a tour at Mildenhall UK which was great to actually live there.

Changed rates to Seabees and did a detail to Kauai which was my first West Coast experience. Then I commissioned into USAF and was stationed at Yokota AB Japan...absolutely BEST assignment ever.

Both coasts have lots to offer, not enough time in a career to experienced, unless you meet my wife who spent 10-years Pacific AF and approaching 10-years AF Europe. Now that's a career of exploring the world.

Response by PO1 Cameron Rhyne made Dec 2 at 2015 2:32 AM

PO1 Cameron Rhyne — Wed, 02 Dec 2015 02:32:59 -0500

Did 2 WESTPACs and an around South America Cruise during my 4 years on a ship. Would have liked to do a Med cruise but made up for it by going on vacation in Europe a couple times on leave(and not having to abide by Liberty Port rules).

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 2 at 2015 2:11 PM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 02 Dec 2015 14:11:44 -0500

WESTPAC '99 and SOUTHPAC '02 - Between SE Asia and Central/South America - life is good on the west coast. I remember during our SOUTHPAC, we went through the canal and shipped up for our mid cruise maintenance period - a 2 weeker in Mayport...what an eye opener. I'm not sure how Mayport compares to Norfolk, but it was a huge difference then what we were used to in San Diego in regards to pier watch standards and what not. Not to mention, the overall attitude of the Sailors at Mayport were way different then our "relaxed" attitudes. We couldn't wait to get back through the canal!

Response by PO1 Matthew Murdock made Dec 3 at 2015 6:48 PM

PO1 Matthew Murdock — Thu, 03 Dec 2015 18:48:53 -0500

How about a FDNF cruise??? Those are pretty sweet. Australia, Thailand, Guam, Korea, Singapore

Response by Maj John Bell made May 13 at 2016 8:02 AM

Maj John Bell — Fri, 13 May 2016 08:02:34 -0400

Did both a Westpac and A Med cruise. Liked the Med Cruise better. The Med Cruise also had the anonymous LT's prankster tradition. All Marine LT's pull one prank on the trans-lant. Best prank that doesn't get caught, pulls a prank a month until he gets caught. Gets $10 per LT per prank at the end of the cruise.

Two days into the cruise, before the Marines get to know their way around the ship the Battalion Commander (BNCO) got pranked. One of the Lieutenants convinced the Boatswains mates to remove the Door Panel to the BNCO's state room and replace it with a wall panel while primary staff was on another ship for a conference.

Upon returning the BNCO walked around officers country, looking for his stateroom, for about 45 minutes before he realized he'd been screwed with. He was NOT AMUSED.

Response by TSgt William Meyer made Sep 17 at 2016 6:20 PM

TSgt William Meyer — Sat, 17 Sep 2016 18:20:29 -0400

I did a Westpac in '78, and I still get a big smile when I think about Subic Bay, I wish I was 18 again. We never made it to Australia, one of my biggest regrets.

Response by PO3 William Carrien made Feb 27 at 2018 9:08 AM

PO3 William Carrien — Tue, 27 Feb 2018 09:08:43 -0500

Two WestPac's under my belt. Big fan of the PI, Pattaya, Yokosuka, Singapore, Hong Kong. Side trips to Pusan and then the Persian Gulf thanks to war between N. Yeman and S. Yeman where we got the AFE.