I served on a destroyer as a sonar tech 3rd class. We spent 7 months off the DMZ and numerous danger close missions off north viet nam. We fired over 27,000 rds of 5 inch during that time and had to re sleeve the barrel linings on all 5 inch guns several times. Ive handled more 5 inch ammo than i care to remember. When I got out I gave all my uniforms away. I controlled and fired all our guns remotely from main battery plot but did spend some time in a gun director after i refused to fire on some watercraft that i believed were fishermen. But that experience did leave me with PTSD. The VA has been terrific in all my continuing interactions.
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