This picture is from a Mediterranean Sea Cruise on a deck where we had our Communication Room on the LSD-14 (U.S.S. Rushmore). At this part of the ship, you are looking towards the rear of the ship, overlooking the well deck. It's about five stories into the well deck where the LCM boat are tied up and sitting onwell deck. The well deck fills up with water to float the LCM's for making a landing.
Also, the UDT (Navy Seal) Teams used this portion of the well deck to practice climbing down on rope to the LCM's below. I believe that it's called repelling down a mountain but they use a ship like the LSD-14 to be able to properly practice repelling down to the well deck.
At this point in time, us Marines were using it for sun bathing in between landings in practice war games. I forget the guy in the sunglasses (Frenchie?) but behind him is Icovangelo (Rochester, N.Y.). That's me in the middle and to my right is Kirchner, who was a military historian of sorts.
A few memories of "So You Served". Enjoy,
Marty Dougherty