Went on board after MR “A” school.1966…we lived in barracks in Norfolk Va. til…she passed sea trials…..worked in machine shop.(machinery repairman )Traveled from South America ( RIO ).. to Norway (Bergen )…. med.cruise,carribean….made some lifelong friends…..Loved the time I spent with them…
Bill Larson MR2
I served aboard the Ozark 1968-1969.I was assigned to Boat Group and was the crane operator for the Apollo 11 Cruise. If it came down in the South Atlantic I would have picked it up.
Rode aboard her in 1967 part of IUWG 2, She supplied us a platform for our deployment . Great ship Great crew,, and possibly the best skipper in the whole fleet.. I loved this deployment and if you were a crew member at that time .. Thanks Mate !!!! God Bless the memory of USS OZARK !!!!!
By: Kenneth Minnix STG3 on April 12, 2016 at 10:27 pm
Hey Jim really great to hear from you and know you are well. Yes we were there! I have ofter thought of you I do talk to Jim Prettyman and Paul Carlson.
I was on the mighty Ozark too. I was a Plank owner as well. Hey Jim Hickle, do you remember the time the guy running the Geedunk wouldn’t take your money and you got mad and told him you’d whip his a– if he weren’t so damned big ? You and I were BT’s together with Gene Powell and Paul Carlson and other god guys.
Hey Jim Hickle! How are you Buddy? You better remember me? I could tell lots of stories I got lots of memories. Hope you are doing well. You were one of the friends I made I will never forget!
My father, Robert M Smith Jr (Bob) served on the Ozark during the Vietnam era. Does anybody have any stories they could share? My mom and dad divorced when I was five and I’m trying to piece together what kind of guy he was (good or bad). Thank you. Oh, if it helps, he was a fire control tech
Down too long in the midnight sea... 
My father served on this ship and I was wondering how or if I could get these pics of the Ozark ?
By: Karen Biggs on October 22, 2011
at 2:14 pm
karen biggs……..are you related to Danny Biggs….. from AL…???
the shooter….
bill L.
By: bill l. on February 21, 2013
at 4:00 pm
I served aboard the Ozark 1965-1969 .i am a plank owner,meaning I was part of the first crew of the recommishing to USS OZRAK MCS -2
By: AJ Menard on December 3, 2013
at 10:26 am
I served on her 1966- 1968 I was in M div. I also spent time on the flight deck.
By: Randy Burgess on January 7, 2014
at 10:21 pm
I am also a plank owner . I am a Sk3 I also would like a pics of it.
By: Pete Rudesill on July 6, 2015
at 12:12 pm
I was also served on The ozark ship service sh-3 Dennis Davern
By: Dennis Davern on May 20, 2018
at 3:18 pm
I served the exact same time and am also a plank owner.
By: Gene Powell on April 14, 2016
at 9:44 am
Hi Gene … Jim Hickle here….yes we were there ….wasn’t we Gene
By: Jim Hickle on August 8, 2016
at 8:59 pm
Hello AJ remember me.
By: Gene Powell on August 16, 2016
at 5:30 pm
I served 4/68 till decommissioning, great ship enjoy her, if you get on the bridge I worked on the roof (overhead) ship fitter
By: Mark Ackermann on March 11, 2014
at 4:07 pm
Went on board after MR “A” school.1966…we lived in barracks in Norfolk Va. til…she passed sea trials…..worked in machine shop.(machinery repairman )Traveled from South America ( RIO ).. to Norway (Bergen )…. med.cruise,carribean….made some lifelong friends…..Loved the time I spent with them…
Bill Larson MR2
By: Bill Larson on March 12, 2014
at 11:40 am
I served from September 1965 until July 1969. I’m also a Plank Owner. I was in B division.
By: Gene Powell on May 18, 2014
at 9:41 am
I served aboard the Ozark 1968-1969.I was assigned to Boat Group and was the crane operator for the Apollo 11 Cruise. If it came down in the South Atlantic I would have picked it up.
By: Mike Rice on April 4, 2015
at 8:20 am
hello Sn Rice from BG division. This is john jones from alabama that serve with you in bg division under BM1 wells
By: john r jones on July 10, 2016
at 8:19 pm
Rode aboard her in 1967 part of IUWG 2, She supplied us a platform for our deployment . Great ship Great crew,, and possibly the best skipper in the whole fleet.. I loved this deployment and if you were a crew member at that time .. Thanks Mate !!!! God Bless the memory of USS OZARK !!!!!
By: Kenneth Minnix STG3 on April 12, 2016
at 10:27 pm
I went aboard on July 9th 1969, in 2nd division as a gunners mate. Stayed on board as skeleton crew waiting for it to go to yards when decommissioned
By: Harold aikens on July 5, 2016
at 1:29 pm
hey mike i remenber that crane with you and ski on it
By: john r jones on July 17, 2016
at 6:36 pm
Hey Jim really great to hear from you and know you are well. Yes we were there! I have ofter thought of you I do talk to Jim Prettyman and Paul Carlson.
By: Gene Powell on August 16, 2016
at 5:27 pm
I was on the mighty Ozark too. I was a Plank owner as well. Hey Jim Hickle, do you remember the time the guy running the Geedunk wouldn’t take your money and you got mad and told him you’d whip his a– if he weren’t so damned big ? You and I were BT’s together with Gene Powell and Paul Carlson and other god guys.
By: Jim Prettyman on February 10, 2017
at 6:35 pm
Hey Jim Hickle! How are you Buddy? You better remember me? I could tell lots of stories I got lots of memories. Hope you are doing well. You were one of the friends I made I will never forget!
By: Gene Powell on February 10, 2017
at 7:15 pm
I served on the USS Ozark from November 1966 until July 1969. I was in second division and also spent time on the flight deck.
By: Bill Northrup on March 4, 2017
at 7:59 pm
My father, Robert M Smith Jr (Bob) served on the Ozark during the Vietnam era. Does anybody have any stories they could share? My mom and dad divorced when I was five and I’m trying to piece together what kind of guy he was (good or bad). Thank you. Oh, if it helps, he was a fire control tech
By: Robert Smith on September 3, 2017
at 11:25 pm
Just came across this site – Served on the USS Ozark from November 1967 until February 1969 – ETR3. Good memories!
By: Gary Smith on November 24, 2018
at 1:45 pm
My brother John “Mike” Connors served on this ship.
By: Barbara Connors on December 10, 2024
at 3:49 pm