By Bob Slovey, YN3 (’68 – ’71) Association Secretary
Macomb, Mich.
There has been a lot of traffic lately on the T-Bone e-mail channel regarding cigarette lighters. So, I thought I would add my two-cents worth.
I believe I have in my possession the last official T-Bone cigarette lighter sold.
I was a member of the last crew of the USS Terrebonne Parish. When word got out that the ship was being sold to the Spanish Navy, there was a scramble by all hands to find souvenirs. Any souvenir with the ship’s name would be a prized possession.
I went directly to the ship’s store to see if there was anything in there with the ship’s name on it. Jack Delle, SN, was tending the counter. When I asked if he had any more ball caps, the answer was “no.” In fact he told me the only things he had left were in the display case. It was slim pick-ins.
Looking down, I saw the ship’s lighter sitting in the bottom half of its original cardboard box. Jack said it was the last one and he didn’t have the top half of the box it came in. I said. “I’ll take it!” I was then, and still am, a non-smoker. The lighter is in mint condition and holds a place of distinction on the right side of my sock drawer, where it has been all these years.
I plan to donate it to the association, some day in the future. But for now, I still peek at it once in awhile. The Last Cigarette Lighter still brings back fond memories of my days aboard the USS Terrebonne Parish (LST 1156).