USS LEXINGTON Former Crew Member

Name: Martinez, Antonio

Service Dates: 1961-1962

Rank/Duty Assigned: RM3 Or Division

I served on the USS Lexington CVA-16 (affectionately known as Lady Lex) on her last Far East Cruise 1961-1962. After this cruise she was designated a training ship and changed homeport from San Diego to Pensacola. We left San Diego and headed to Brooklyn for refitting. We sailed around the Horn (the canal is too small for a carrier), initiated a whole bunch of Shellbacks, me included. Visited a lot of great ports along the way including Acapulco, Valparaiso, Rio de Janeiro, BWI Isles, Norfolk, Trenton and Brooklyn. I left Lady Lex at height of Cuban Missile Crisis to next duty station Naples, Italy.
Lot of GREAT memories. I still my Far East Cruise book intact and in good condition.