Norway

USS Scott DDG-995

Feb 1991-Jan 1992

North Atlantic - Norway

 

Who remembers Norway? September 21-23, 1991. We had been out for almost a month when we pulled into Bergen. Earlier, we did operate within sight of land way up in the Vestfjorden region of the country. I was excited to make it to Bergen. Being a history nut, I knew there was an old U-boat pen in Bergen. Before she left on her mission, DKM Bismarck and DKM Prinz Eugen were anchored in the fjords around Bergen.

Bergen had its plusses for sure. The beer was excellent and cold. And the local ladies seemed to like the sailors. The drawback was the exchange rate and the cost of everything. We did leave with a wad of the local currency but quickly learned that prices were high. I bought a roll of film for 50 Krone, about $8.

I was mess cranking at the time, and I had the first day in port off work. Several of us made our way around town to enjoy some beer and local food. I recall the local beer Hansa was rather tasty, and after 3 or 4, they had a noticeable impact. I had a cheeseburger at a small place downtown. The big thing I remember is they put red cabbage on it instead of lettuce. It was pretty good, if I recall.

I spent my time with my A-school friend GMS3 Escobedo. We were walking all over, not really knowing where we were or what was around.

I told him. “We needed to find some local to show us around.”

 He agreed but asked, “How would we do that?”

Not more than two minutes later, we happen upon two young ladies. They approach us and ask us, “Where are you two from?”

I will say this now, I was married and, let’s just say, really stupid at the time. So, nothing happened. These two did show us around and took us to the pizza place they worked. We had as much as we could eat and drink on the house.

Later on, at a bar, we ran into another guy from Scott. He latched onto one of the ladies, and the other gravitated to me. I told her I was married, but she did not seem to care. Yeah, I know; I heard the stories about the ladies there.

The next couple of days, we explored the city some more, and we even met the ladies again. Pizza and beer did follow, also. They helped show us around.

We were delayed in leaving because of some legal trouble a Scott sailor got into. I recall he was a DC1, but I do not remember his name. Anyone have any details about him? So, we left late, and I recall Commander McCullough was not in a good mood. I was serving pizza in the gally when we started to hit the heavy weather. That was some rough stuff. I remember one particular wave we went over. The bow went up, went up, went up, and kept going up. I about fell but grabbed the overhead pipes. Then boom down, and we shook as the sonar dome was pushed down. Then the engines throttled way back.

We took some bad damage but kept heading down to Wilhelmshaven. I heard that wave made a major mess in the wardroom. The old girl took a hell of a beating, but they put her back together. The forward railing had to be welded back on in Germany while we refueled, which took special permission.

Norway was a good time. It is actually one of the places I would like to visit again. The one bar many of us went to was jammed with locals. I think it was three stories tall. On the top floor was the youngest crowd. They could drink beer. The bottom floor was the older people. Anything was allowed at the bar. I recall one place at the bar, and the crowd was serious, nutt to butt. People trying to pass and get to the bathrooms or something. I mean, literally, you had to squeeze through. This one group of you ladies passed by, and I felt one grab a hand full of my junk. She just smiled and went on. Crazy, I mean, try that in an American bar.

We also had a ship visit while we were there, and Scott was loaded with many locals during the day. This seems odd I keep mentioning young ladies, and yet, I was stupid. Anyway, one young lady and her friend got lost and made their way to the mess decks. I was cleaning or something. They wanted a hat, but we had sold out. So, I gave her mine. It was pretty worn out anyway. I had more in my locker. I took them to the quarterdeck, and they left. I was supposed to meet them at the bar that night but never saw them again.

Yeah, Norway was friendly, really friendly. And, I well, looking back with perfect hindsight, was still the gentleman I should have been, damn it.

Storm Damage we had after leaving port. 

Me inside a fort overlooking the harbor.