Join me on @mychowline as I sit down with Vietnam War Navy veteran Bob Deevy for an unforgettable 45-minute interview after a home-cooked meal of rack of lamb, baked potatoes, and sautéed mushrooms, paired with plenty of wine, rum, and tequila. Much wine and rum were consumed during the making of this interview, leading to some slight inebriation and the occasional mixed-up detail—adding a raw, human touch to the tales! Bob served from 1968 to 1974 aboard the USS Oriskany (CV-34) and USS Ranger (CV-61), two iconic aircraft carriers that played key roles in the Vietnam War. We flip through his personal photos, medals, and cruise books, hearing firsthand accounts of life at sea, combat operations in the Gulf of Tonkin, and the camaraderie of naval service.

The USS Oriskany, known as the "Mighty O," was involved in intense air strikes and suffered a tragic fire in 1966 that killed 44 sailors, though Bob joined later. It earned 10 battle stars for Vietnam service before being sunk as an artificial reef in 2006. The USS Ranger, a Forrestal-class supercarrier, completed multiple deployments including the 1970-71 Western Pacific cruise, earning 13 battle stars for its Vietnam efforts.