Of Ships and Sailors

CAPT Bohnker followed CAPT Terrence Riley (FS) as Senior Medical Officer onboard USS FORRESTAL (CV 59) in the summer of 1990. As he reported onboard, real-world events of the First Gulf War changed the ship's schedule and drove events for the next year. CAPT Bohnker presents the experience of extended workups, deployment and change in home ports to Pensacola Florida, with another change in home ports to Philadelphia shortly after he left. He presents a gritty recounting of the day-to-day experiences of an Aircraft Senior Medical Officer who must interact with the seaman recruits to the rear admirals. This was lived out in the uncertainly of variable real-world changes originating several levels up the chain.