USS Koelsch. In 1971, at 17, my Mom signed the papers so I could enlist early. With peach fuzz and acne, I endured boot camp and A school, then became a signalman aboard the USS Koelsch DE-1049.
Life on a Destroyer escort was challenging. Mastering tasks and duty stations demanded precision. At sea, it was beautiful and often terrifying.
I made good friends aboard the ship. Close quarters meant you quickly got to know your bunkmates. It was a good life for a kid who left behind the wild days of craziness in exchange for becoming someone who could be counted on when the stakes were high.
I didn't appreciate how much of the world we saw, places like Spain, Italy, France, South Africa, Greece, Barcelona, and the Rock of Gibraltar, to name a few. At 18, my interests were mostly joining some shipmates, exploring the temptations of the flesh, and holding more liquor than anybody can handle.
I spent 3 years aboard the Koelsch, and I'll never forget one minute of it. I often find myself thinking back to those days and wish I could do it all again. Hell, I wish I could remember it all, but some things are best left forgotten.
Mike 2025 
Those experiences are amazing. The Navy must have a memory museum and would like this remembrance.
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