The 400 plus enlisted men were berthed throughout the ship. Chief Petty Officers (E-7 and above) had their own quarters. Enlisted men, E-6 and below, were berthed according to the department and division they were assigned to. These berthing spaces were scattered throughout the ship. Each sailor had his own bunk (rack) and locker storage for clothing and personal possessions. The men were berthed three high. The lowest rack sat almost right on the deck. Chief's racks had a steel spring mesh with a mattress atop that. E-6 and below had racks that were solid metal with a thin foam mattress atop that. Each mattress was enclosed in a removable slip cover affectionately called a "fart sack". Each rack had a reading light and in later years a privacy curtain.
All the berthing spaces aboard Sterett were air-conditioned and roomy by WW II destroyer standards. Each berthing compartment had a small table that acted as a gathering point. Card games were a very common event. Since crewmembers stood their watches around the clock, there were often men sleeping in the berthing spaces around the clock.
The toilet and shower facilities (heads) were usually designated by the divisions that berthed nearest them. Cleaning and upkeep of the heads and berthing spaces was done by division sailors.
The makeup and organization of the crew changed over the 27 years that Sterett was in commission. This resulted in re-assignment of berthing spaces. For example, 1st division originally was berthed up forward under the missile house. At the time Sterett was decommissioned in 1994, this division was berthed back aft under the helicopter deck.
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