Off the coast of San Francisco, the weather was cold and rough, as if always is there. Hardly an auspicious beginning for a deployment to Vietnam that was to last from January through September. But soon the sky turned blue, the sea calm, and VIRGO had some smooth sailing to Pearl Harbor. Several days out of Subic. though, VIRGO logged one of many "firsts" she was to chalk up during her deployment: she was the first ship to find and report tropical storm Ruby, which she did the hard way, by sailing right through it. After it was all over, the weather bureau finally came out and fold us we should fry to avoid Ruby.

Then there was Subic Bay, VIRGO's "home port away from home." Some of the crew learned to love the place, other, well . . . "I love you, Joe, no kidding. Buy me a drink." . . . "Ten peso for the taxi ride info town. That is too much? Seven peso, then. A real bargain." . . . "Shine your shoes, sailor? For a peso I shine your shoes."

Soon VIRGO was back to sea, however, this time bound for Yankee Station, that mythical gathering ground in the Tonkin Gulf for the Navy's aircraft carriers which operate against North Vietnam. A familiar pattern evolved there-, "Now' station the replenishment detail . . . now stand by to receive USS Ticonderoga alongside to port . . . now secure the replenishment detail, and set the breakout detail." So if went, until the mind thought the body couldn't stand it any more, but somehow managed to go on for another day. Moving down the coast of Vietnam, a different sort of problem turned up. The destroyers down there didn't want as much ammunition as those big carriers, but they wanted it at the STRANGEST times of day and night, mostly night. Would if never end?

Suddenly, magically, it was all over, and VIRGO was headed back to Subic Bay. If was the same there as it had been before. and always would be . . . hot, muggy, sometimes dirty. But if, was land.

The next time out "on the line," and the time after, and the time after were much the same. Each time, though, it was a little easier, and VIRGO was a little more professional, and things went a little faster. Other ammunition ships headed home, and before we knew it, we were the senior AE in WestPac.

Ah, yes. then there was Hong Kong. The Red Guard was in the streets, and cut down VIRGO's liberty hours, but couldn't spoil the fun of it all. The shops, the restaurants. The sights and sounds and smells of Hong Kong, which is unlike any other city in the world. Yes. there was Hong Kong.

And Manila, which Virgo visited twice during her stay in the Philippines. Manila was a nice place, too. Bigger than Olongapo, it had new things to see, new things to do.

Finally there was that day, that very last day "on the line," south by Saigon, when that last of all ships pulled away from VIRGO's side, and for the last time the words "secure the replenishment detail, set the regular underway watch," rang forth on the ship's announcing system. Helmets flew over the side, and up in the air, and everybody was very happy. VIRGO was heading home.

A short stop in Subic for the last time, a swing up North to Sasebo, Japan, for a look at a new and different side of +he Orient, a seemingly endless succession of days and nights, then the Hawaiian Islands were suddenly looming on the horizon. Almost home. Round eyes. Milk, real milk. A good American hamburger. Those six days between Hawaii and California seemed to fly and drag at the same time Longest of all were the few hours it took after VIRGO sailed under the Golden Gate, proudly displaying her flag which she had shown to so many ships, "Damn the Demonstrators, Pass the Ammo," until she tied up at the pier at Mare Island, where all the women were waiting.

What they say was true, "The best part about a long deployment is coming home."