Eldon E Slaughter
USN EM2 1970-74
USS Prairie AD15
I joined the Navy 20 May 1970 under the delayed enlistment program. In July, I was sent to San Diego, CA. for basic training. I completed my training on 23 October and was assigned to USS Prairie AD-15 based in San Diego.
While on the ship I was assigned to E Division, Ships Company, this was an electrical shop assigned to do repairs within the ship. We were responsible for standing generator watch, maintaining all of the ships boats, and supplying power to all destroyers that came along side us. During my first cruise on 5 June 1971 we departed San Diego enroute to Yokosuka, Japan. On June 25th we departed for Subic Bay, Philippines where we remained until 24 August. Between 25 August and our return to San Diego in December we visited Hong Kong, Singapore, and Kaohsiung, Taiwan. During this cruise I crossed the equator and was initiated in the ancient order of the deep, becoming a Shellback.
After arriving home to San Diego I was assigned to the Naval Training Center for training in Electricity and Electronics. Upon completion I was transferred back to the USS Prairie. In February 1973 I departed Long Beach for Subic Bay for my final WESTPAC Cruise. While on this cruise the ship was stationed in the following ports, Subic Bay Philippines, Singapore, Kaohsiung Taiwan, Hong Kong, Yokosuka Japan, and off the coast of Vietnam for support help. While in these areas I did a lot of traveling by bicycle within the countries. We arrived home on 15 September 1973.
At the time of these cruises the Prairie was then the third oldest ship in the fleet. Her keel was laid on 7 December 1938 and commissioned on 5 August 1940. She was 530.5 feet in length, 73.3 ft. in width, had a draft of 24 ft, weighed in at 17,176 tons, speed of 19.9 knots, and had a crew of 55 officers, 994 enlisted men. One unique item was the wooden decks on all of her main decks. At the time of her decommissioning, the Prairie was 55 years old.
Except for basic training and “A” schools I spent all my time in the Navy on this ship. I was discharged on 4 June 1974, having spent three years nine months and 20 days in the Navy.
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