Liberty Boats and Long Laughs: Sea Stories with Dave Knapp of the USS Towers

In this episode of the World’s Finest Strike Podcast, host Patrick Riley reconnects with longtime shipmate Dave Knapp from the USS Towers (DDG-9). Together, they revisit life underway in the late '80s and early '90s—from crossing the Pacific and pulling into exotic ports, to the unforgettable liberty adventures in Hong Kong, Thailand, and Italy. Dave recounts his journey from boot camp to the USS Seattle and reflects on what it meant to serve as an Electronic Warfare Technician during one of the Navy’s most operationally intense periods.This candid conversation covers everything from outrunning Liberty boats in Pattaya, laughing uncontrollably on Japanese trains, to the quirks of East vs. West Coast duty. Packed with humor, history, and heartfelt memories, this episode is a reminder of the bond that never fades between shipmates.Ship served: USS Towers (DDG-9), USS Seattle (AOE-3)Era: 1988–1994Keywords: Navy Liberty, Sea Stories, Yokosuka, Hong Kong, EW Techs, USS Towers, Pattaya, 7th Fleet