I ATTENDED THAT COMMISSIONING AS A 17 YEAR SALIOR ALONG WITH MY NOW WIFE AND PARENTS. I WAS 1 OF ABOUT 300 SALIORS SENT ABOARD TO DO FIRE WATCHES AND MISC DUTIES PRIOR TO THE FINAL WORK ABOARD BEFORE COMMISSIONING IN 1960. A GREAT EXPIRIENCE.
Thanks for the reminder. I also remember being assigned fire watch etc. prior to commissioning like Gary mentioned. Also, painting the side of the ship on a floating scaffold structure that sat on, what looked like railroad ties. When a ship passed by on the Delaware River, those of us on that raft, were almost swamped and capsized. Testing the catapults by launching four wheeled weighted vehicles into the center of the river. Those were some real memories for a young sailor.