Portland Observer Thursday. June 20. 1980 Section II Page 11
Portland sailor travels the world
By Bob Hansen
Alameda, Calif. - Navy Seaman Gregory B. Fun-
chess doesn’t lose at cribbage too often
“ I like chess and bowling, too, but there’s no room
for a bowling alley on board this ship.”
The lack o f a bowling alley on his ship, the USS
Peoria, has allowed him to develop his expertise in
board games. "W e could sure use a dart board,” he
said.
Funchess, the son o f Ruth Harrington, Portland, has
been assigned to the tank landing ship USS Peoria since
January.
Last fall he returned from a cruise aboard the USS
Oklahoma City and says that he enjoyed the duty in the
Western Pacific.
" I would extend my enlistment for two years or more
if ! could go back,” said the boatswain’s mate, “ maybe
even stay in the Navy forever.”
He admitted that he so enjoyed the travel that he’ s
considering either a career in the Navy or Merchant
Marine because life at sea suits him.
Funchess’ favorite country was Japan, fo r many
reasons.
“ We had a sister ship in the Japanese Navy. The
Japanese guys liked to party with us but they wouldn't
let us spend our own money when we went out on the
tow n,” said Funchess.
“ I liked to get out o f town and see things and I was
able to see a great deal o f the country first hand,” he
said. “ I tried learning Japanese but wasn’t too suc­
cessful.”
“ 1 know Japan. I could go back today, get on a train
and just take o ff.”
Besides Japan, Funchess has been to Hong Kong,
Thailand, Taiwan, Singapore, Australia, Indonesia,
and Korea.
" I ’m sure I ’ ve been more places but there are just too
many to remember right now ."
A 1977 graduate o f U.S. Grant High School in Port­
land, Ore., Funchess was a teacher’ s aide site supervisor
for young teens before joining the Navy in September of
that year. After recruit training in San Diego, the USS
Oklahoma City was his first duty assignment. He still
has fond memories o f that ship.
"T he Oklahoma City was a World War II Cruiser
and the last active ship with “ big guns.” It didn’t have a
lot o f the fancy equipment that some o f the modern
large ships have,” he said. "W e did a lot o f things the
old way - by hand.”
A boatswain’s mate is the traditional backbone o f the
Navy. His responsibilities include general maintenance,
small boat handling, damage control, line handling and
whatever else he might be called on to do.
According to Funchess, “ The Oklahoma City had a
wooden deck which required a special tool known as a
holystone fo r maintenance. We had to push the
holystone along the length o f the entire deck by hand.”
However, Funchess said he doesn’ t mind working
with his hands.
" I don’t believe in using winches and things like that
all the time. I like the feel o f rope in my hands.”
Funchess added, " I ’ m starting to get involved in
working with lines (ropes) as a hobby too by making
small decorative things and designs.
“ I ’ m hoping to get back to Japan some day,” said
Funchess. " Ihe Oklahoma City was the seventh Fleet
admiral's flagship before it was decommissioned, so one
o f iny goals is to someday get duty on its replacement."
S eam an G re g o ry Funcheaa of P o rtla n d la
s ta tio n e d a b o a rd th e ta n k 'e n d in g ship U SS
Peoria.
(U .S . Navy Photo: Tom How ser)
DRIVE
CAREFULLY!
With schools closing for the summer,
there'll be a lot of children out
on the street, and they won't a l­
ways be careful to watch for cars.
It's your responsibility to be alert.
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