Minecraft Sailors

Biographies
Updated October 23 2008

I live in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan and retired. My hobbies are Amateur (Ham) Radio, my Call sign is W8MSO, I have a love for old cars, I have had a 1936 Plymouth and my favorite a 1957 Chevy Bel-Air Hardtop which I have received many awards for.

I was promised shore duty and made some noise and found myself at NAS Alameda for 2 years. I left Alameda in 1963 and went to my first Minesweeper the USS Pluck MSO464. I only spent a short time on the Pluck when I was sent to the USS Cove MSI1. From the Cove I was ordered to the USS Woodpecker MSC209 and served 3 years onboard from 1964-1967. I went to "B" school next and then to the USS Annapolis AGMR1 for a year. Was sent to Navcommsta Yokosuka Japan and served from 1969-1973. I was selected for the ADCOP program and spent the next two years at Foothill Jr. College in Los Altos California. Left college and went to Navcommsta Adak Alaska for a year, and then was medevac to Naval Hospital Oaknoll with Diabetes which cut my career short at only 20 years.

So I retired in 1977 and settled in San Jose California where I live with my wife and 1 son. Although my son is on his own we see him quite often, especially when he gets hungry.

My hobbies include traveling in our Motor Home staying at Military camp grounds everywhere and doing a lot of fishing. My wife loves her arts and crafts where she spends many hours making everything she can think of.

After EM"A" School, was assigned to the USS Everette F. Larson, DDR 830. Stood one watch and was assigned to mess cooking for 6 months (Rank FN). After getting a little tired, I asked for transfer and got it. Next assignment was Barber's Point Naval Air Station, Special Services. Had passed test and was promoted to EM3/C and placed in charge of Enlisted Beach, tough duty, but someone had to do it. After of year of this gravy, I passed next test and was promoted to EM 2/C and transferred to Wahiawa Naval Radio Station, Ships Company. Assigned to Electrict shop with a Chief, 1st Class and a few civilian electricans. For duty, drove kiddies to Schofield Barracks for school.

Early in 1959 was transferred back to Long Beach and the USS Inflict, MSO 456. Spent 2 great years aboard her, and made WESPAC cruise in 1960 immortalized by Floyd Farrar in his writings. In fact Floyd was a EM striker who worked for me.

I had befriended a Chief Electrician aboard the USS Fortify, MSO 446 at Pier Nine, and he was always complaining about the electrical equipment breaking down, and no one qualified to fix it. I asked my Chief on the Inflict, Chief Vernel Parker, if i could help out, I completely rebuilt the evaporator on the FORTIFY. Next thing I knew I was transferred to the Fortify. Six months later, around August, 1961, the USS Esteem, MSO 438, was readying for a WESPAC cruise, but lacked a Minesweep Electrician, You guessed it, was transferred to the ESTEEM and made way for WESPAC again. This was supposed to be a goodwill cruise to Japan, with no Ops, only R&R, and I&I. However, we were side tracked and spent most of out cruise operating off Danang, RVN. This I believe later became 'Operation Market Time". I think the Navy forgot us. We ran out of everything, food, parts, butts etc. Had no mail calls.

Got shot at leaving Saigon as we came down the river enroute to Danang. Just before we left Danang for the USA, we did get a Supply ship. Three sets of orders had caught up with me. (1) Navy Diving School, Wash. DC, (2) Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes and the best of all, 4 years of Recruiting duty in Pocotello, Idaho, which was close to the new Nuclear Power school. That was my selection, as I was to fat for Diving school, Didn't want to baby sit recruits, while the Company CO at Great Lakes went home to a warm bed everynight. Once we got back to Pier 9, I got cold feet, opted to become a civilian after 6 yrs, 5 months, 23 days in the Navy. Add insult to injury I was informed in the Receiving Station while awaiting discharge, that I had passed the test for 1st Class, but promotion date was after my discharge date...Naw, took discharge.

Went back home and was employed as Government Electrician, working first at the old Main Navy Building and then the White House Group. In 1967 tranferred to Federal Law Enforcement, from which I retired after 23 years in 1989. Well thats about it. I have worked since I moved to Florida in 1989, but as of now, and fully retired enjoying the no committment lifestyle.
Wooden Ships, Rusty old Iron Men
Home Page (NavetsUSA)

Anyway, I was inducted @ Long Beach, CA naval reserve base located in an old WW II coastal patrol squadron hanger that housed TBM "Avengers" and PBY "Catalinas" at the old NAS Reeves Field on Terminal Island. I was then assigned to SubDiv 11-7 on a reserve fleet sub, the USS Sawfish (SS 276), for one weekend a month for dockside training. At the time it was semi deactivated and tied up on the seawall near the Admin Bldg. and across from Pier 9 and those funny looking wooden ships called MSOs. I was a radioman striker then, because I always glanced into the shack all the time when passing and always saw these guys SITTING DOWN, I figured even at this early age that this would require less physical effort than running around loading torpedoes, ammo, food and stores. Anyhow, I was privileged to train aboard many famous, still then operating, WW II era subs for weekend duty. Once in a while one would come up from San Diego (usually attached to one of the tenders USS Sperry or USS Nereus). We would spend the weekend training with other reserve groups manning destroyers, going out beyond Catalina. After graduating high school in June of 1958, I spent a summer at the lakes chasing skirts and working sporadically chopping firewood with a friend and not making any money.

I decided to go to active duty on September 5, 1958. Alas, the active duty physical said I had bad eyesight and this prevented more submarine duty. I was offered a choice of schools and chose a rate that I could use in civilian life for a job. I attended Electrician's Mate Class "A" School & 16mm Motion Picture Operator school @ NTC San Diego from the fall '58 thru late January of 1959. I transferred to the surface fleet on 2-9-59 & was assigned to USS Inflict (MSO 456) @ Pier 9, Long Beach, CA. We were in MineRon 7, Div 71, consisting of USS Fortify (flag), USS Engage, USS Loyalty, USS Impervious, and USS Inflict. I served the entire time on the same ship until my discharge on 9-8-62. I made one WesPac cruise aboard her, from May 3, 1960 thru November of 1960. We used 55-gallon drums of diesel fuel tied on the fantail deck to make it to Pearl Harbor, (ten days @ 10 knots). When our fuel tanks got low we just manually pumped from them into the fuel tanks, we all helped doing this! Then it was on to Midway Island (4 days), and another ten days to Yokosuka. What a trip that was for a young starry-eyed kid! On our subsequent trip to Pearl during the last atmospheric A-bomb tests in summer of 1962, we used the rubber "fuel cell" on fantail to get to Pear Harbor, a little easier on the manual fills.

I was a "Cold war era" vet and didn't see hostile action, unless you classify the Long Beach Police and the Shore Patrol who roamed the old Pike and Ocean Blvd. Never the less we kept very busy aboard ship. There were many times we would get underway each and every day for weeks at 7AM, train all day off Huntington Beach, Catalina, or San Clemente Island, then back to Pier 9 at around 4-5PM. You really got to know how to get underway and return to port! We spent endless hours on fantail streaming (and repairing) the influence and mag gear, then helping the deck crews stream the contact mine equipment. My rate (EM 2/c) didn't mean much, as all hands helped during operations, "snipes" always helped deck force, & vice-versa. We never had enough qualified people, in any of the rates, except maybe the lower rated deck force guys. I spent many long hours on watch & working in the loud, hot forward engine room, and on the open-air fan tail fixing a balky mag tail, or a non-operational "hammer box." Sometimes you had to have the agility of a circus acrobat just to hang on and dodge all the wires and sweep gear in rough seas! It was a must for the crew to be young, resilient, and not prone to accidents or bumps and bruises. Astoundingly not many were ever injured doing our jobs. We wore no helmets, or used earplugs, nor wore any gloves. Safety was stressed but I think mostly we were just plain lucky. Ahh youth-

After my Navy service ended in September of 1962, I worked briefly at San Clemente Island on the Polaris Missile project. The contract eventually ended in a year and I went to work for Southern California Edison in the Los Angeles/Orange County coastal areas in steam-electric power plant operation. After over thirty-two years of rotating shift work in hot, noisy environments just like the engine room on the INFLICT! I retired in October 1996. Ironically I finished my working career on Terminal Island only a mile or so down Seaside Blvd from old Gate 1 of the NavSta I spent so much time while on INFLICT. One more irony was that the plant I worked at and retired from was directly across the street from Gate 5 of the old Long Beach Naval Shipyard. Alas, the Naval Base is gone and demolished now thanks to "downsizing" and the shut down Navy shipyard is in limbo. I have been married since June of 1981. I retired in October of 1996, after over thirty years of shift work in operation of power plants. I live in Hawaiian Gardens, CA (near Long Beach/Los Alamitos) with my wife, Sherry. My hobbies include, taking verbal & written pot-shots at ALL politicians, target shooting, (member of CA Rifle & Pistol Association), member of two civil war era historical groups, member of the Long Beach historical society, vintage WW2 airplane aficionado, rail road train devotee, and especially an enthusiastic Apple/Macintosh computer supporter and user group member.

I graduated from boot and was sent directly to the USS Jason ARH-1 in Sasebo, Japan. I stayed on the Jason until Jan of 53, I went to the icebreaker USS Burton ISland AGB 1. I left it in July of 53 then got out and headed East. I re-enlisted in Sept of 53 and went to the USS Orion AS-18. I worked in the forward engineroom untill I went to the A gang. I had made EN3 in the fall of 52.

I left Orion for shore duty in the fall of 54 , It was at North Island in San Diego. I was the engineman on a YSD at North Island. I was there till the summer of 57. I then went to the USS Piedmont AD17. I went to the flag in 69 and worked on small boats until I made Chief in 62. I made EN2 and EN1 while I was at North Island.

I was then transferred to the DER 387 in Pearl Harbor. I stayed on board until the summer of 64. I left Her and went to shore duty in Columbus, Ohio. I made ENCS in Columbus in 66. I left there in 67 and went to Charleston, SC and retired from the USS Observer MSO 461 in 69. I was glad that I had made it through all those years.

I have worked at the Wilmington Shipyard for a few years and then I worked as a TV repairman for Sears until around 82. I then put in my own shop and repaired radios and tv's until 95 when I had a heart attack and gave up the rat race. I have been retired now for around 5 years. I still work around the place here. It is 15 acres or a little more, It keeps me busy.

I got my ham license in 65 at the training center in Columbus, Ohio. My ham call is AC4AD and stayed in that also until this year and I need to get an antenna back up. Not able to climb like I used to do. The aches and pains are more pronounced now.

I was young RDSN and was just itching to go to sea. But, as I was to soon learn, the USS Acme was not scheduled for a Western Pacific cruse anytime in her near future. And certainly, not anytime for the remainder of my four year enlistment. Our platform (Acme) was to test new mine detection equipment. So our operations were primarily off the coast of California, in and around the Santa Barbra Islands. Probably the most exotic port of call was Avalon Bay, Santa Catalina Island.

I was disappointed, but I stilled served. I completed my ‘mess cook' duties and put in for a transfer after serving six months and advancement to RD3. My reasoning for my request was simple, ‘I didn't join the Navy to stay at home. I had a desire to see the world or as much of it as possible, and the USS Acme would not be able to afford me the opportunity to do so.' Soon thereafter I received a new set of orders for duty on aboard the USS Inflict (MSO 456). I was happy, but little did I know that Viet Nam was on the horizon.

It was not very long after reporting on board the Inflict that we were finally on our way for my first Western Pacific (WestPac) cruse. In deed, I was very excited. Years later, I wrote a short story of the first leg of this maiden venture of mine in which you may read at the following link, ‘Red Skies In The Morning.'

Now I don't want to get into a ‘toot my horn' type of bio, so I think I will add some logistics of just what it takes to sail a WestPac cruse. So, on that day, 7 February 1966, the USS Inflict sailed with six officers and sixty-five men. During the cruise sixteen men were transferred and twelve joined our group. We were gone 310 days of which 231 were spent at sea, or about 74 percent of the total time gone. We steamed 43,754 miles or the equivalent of one and three fourths times around the world.

It took 351,306 gallons of fuel and seventy two 'ship-to-ship' underway transfers of fuel, bacon and beans to stay on the move. The Inflect made four war patrols in Vietnam waters for a total of 165 days. We boarded and thoroughly searched 451 cargo junks, trawlers and steel hull ships, and inspected 1,317 less thoroughly.

 Most of the time we were one to three miles at sea, but many times we chased evading small craft to with in a few hundred yards of shore. Some days we fired our guns in anger, but our mission was to deny the enemy the use of the sea and not engage in land operations, and we accomplished our mission. In our 3500 square mile assignment we were "King of the Hill", and water borne cargo moved at our pleasure'. While on patrol personnel found time to study for advancement and of thirty-five personnel that participated in a Navy wide examinations thirty-three were advanced. Much of the same statistics were also accomplished during our 1967/68 cruise.

Now those days have passed and there were many ‘ports of call' in which we all lived up to the standard, ‘for a sailor, there is a girl in every port'. After returning home from my second cruse in May of 1968, I was just a few weeks from separation. I was looking forward to a civilian life, but I was not expecting what awaited us at home. The Viet Nam controversy.

In the years past I have served as a Naval Reservist and had opportunities to serve on other vessels including, Fast Frigates, Spruance class destroyers and even a Battleship. But, in retrospect there has been no other command worthy of service then that of an Ocean Minesweeper. We were like a family. A place where everybody knows your name. No better way to gain your ‘sea legs'. No better chow in the Navy. A Minesweeper is worthy of the honor, "where the fleet goes, we have been." And when I left the Inflict as an RD2-LPO (leading petty officer), I was proud to have served on one of the Navies ‘Wooden ships' and be baptized into the fraternity of "Iron Men".

Visit James web site at www.eskimo.com/~captain

When the time came to leave Moale, my dream sheet listed XO small ship as my 26th choice out of 27. Guess what I got? In October 1971 I left New York and carted my belongings to Charleston for my first taste of sweep duty. Vigor was the best sweep in MineLant. We did all the usual MineEx's in the op areas for a few months and went to Cape Canaveral to find the pieces of an Atlas rocket with a classified payload the Air Force had blown up. Got the job done with the Squeaky 14 and got an Air Force Outstanding Unit Award for our efforts. Then we got the bombshell that the ship was being given to Spain. So it was repair everything that needed it, train the Spanish crew, and figure out where we'd go next. For me, it was across the pier to Assurance.

Just across the pier but to another world! Cleanest ship in Chasn to the filthiest. Best CO in Chasn to the least qualified. It wasn't fun. The duty got interesting, testing the mines that were going to be dropped in Haiphong Harbor to see how they'd be swept. One January day in 1973, I got to see how to sweep them first hand when I volunteered to fly to Pearl Harbor with half a crew to man the Pearl NRF sweeps for Operation End Sweep. I went to Conquest, a good ship with a great CO. We crossed the Pacific with little trouble, spent a lot of time in Subic cooling our heels, did the job, and steamed back to Pearl.

In the meantime, Assurance had been converted to a TASS (towed array surveillance system) platform. Deployments now meant down to the Bahamas to test the array in the SOSUS range in Exuma Sound. When we were all checked out, we deployed to the Med to see if the concept was worth a damn. We spent 5 months operating with P3's from Sigonella tracking Russian subs. It was fun, especially being navigator. We had Loran C, SatNav, all kinds of fancy stuff to tell us where we were. It all crapped out, so it was down to Mark I eyeball. I got real good at shooting and putting down on paper 6 or 8 stars in 15 minutes or so.

While on End Sweep, I had requested a change of designator from Line to Civil Engineer Corps. It came through while we were on the Med deployment, so Assurance was on this secret mission with a CEC lieutenant as XO. I thought it was funny. The CO did not. Well, all good things must come to an end, so when we returned to Charleston, I had my orders to a Seabee Battalion in Gulfport. With NMCB 133, I deployed to Puerto Rico as equipment company commander and to Diego Garcia as the battalion expediter in the Philippines and Singapore. With a tour as Ops at the 20th Naval Construction Regiment, my active career came to an end.

I did 15 more years as a reserve, serving with various CEC units, getting 2 week active duties in Guam, London, Pearl Harbor, Naples, La Maddalena, Ft. Pickett, VA and other spots. I made CDR as a reserve and was eventually retired in 1994 with some regrets over what had happened in the previous 26 years, but with a lot more fond memories. Thinking back, my departures echoed what is happening to the sweeps today. I did my duty as well (I hope) as I could, but when I left, be it my ships or the Navy, it was with little or no fanfare. I hope someboby noticed.

May of ’54 was tranfered to Long Beach, CA for pre-commissioning crew of the USS PLUCK (MSO 464) We lived in an old barracks built alongside the boat landing across from pipeline pier where the DMS’s were tied up. A lot of the guys were sent to different schools for training in their paticular rates. The rest of us would travel by bus each day to the PLUCK that was still in the shipyard in Willmington or San Pedro. can’t remember now. Being just a SN with no schooling in any rating I was supposed to be in the deck force, but I found out there was an opening for a QM striker and luckly I was able to talk the XO into letting me try it out. I never regreted that move. Really loved the job! Back then there was no signalman rate so QM’s did both navigation and signaling . The PLUCK was finally commissioned in Aug ’54 and we did a hell of a lot of local ops getting the crew well aquainted with minesweeping. Most every day we would be out the break water by sun up and back in about sunset. My sea detail station was on the helm. My Minesweeping detail was on the helm , so most days I spent the whole day on the helm, as we would go from sea detail right into minesweeping then back into sea detail. After a week or so of that I got a stool from the chart room and did my steering sitting down, with the Captain’s permission. She was a dream to steer. Only in rough seas was it any problem.

Early in 1956 we took off with our squadron of sweeps for our first WestPac trip. Going by way of Hawaii then Midway and then directly to Yokosuka . 10 days to Hawaii. Rest of the trip about 20 Days. We only stayed at Midway long enough to fuel . Those not on watch or involved in re-fueling were allowed to go ashore. Most went right to the club and downed as many as they could in the short time we had. Needless to say it was a heck of a sea detail crew when we left there. I was one of the unlucky ones as I had gone on restriction before we left the states and was still doing my time . Ha Ha!! That story won’t be told here, thank you!

We ran into and stayed in a hell of a storm for 5 days or longer, during which we got a real pounding. When we arrived in Yokosuka , it was determined we had lost a lot of planking from our bottom so we were sent to Sasebo to go in dry dock. Yokosuka was nice but I fell in love with Sasebo. We were in and out of there a lot during our 6 months in WestPac. I was due to get out from my 4 years when we got back to the States but there was an opening for me, if I wanted it, with MinDiv 111 stationed at Sasebo. Really wanted to stay there but the pull of civilian life was too great. Many times I’ve regretted that Little mistake. I mustered out at Long Beach in July 1956. Never again to sail those wonderful wooden ships. After a few months of civilian life I realized I didn’t like that so in June of 1957 I re-enlisted. Got to keep my rate (QM3) but was never able to get back with the mine force.

Once again I went to Sdiego and was stationed onboard USS WHITFIELD COUNTY (LST 1169 ). Two years later was transferred to USS WASHOE COUNTY (LST 1165) then in May of 1960 went to USS COMSTOCK (LSD 19) for duty. Couple years later I was due a shore billet and was sent to Instructor school at SDiego and upon completion of school I was transferred to the NROTC Unit at RICE UNIVERSITY in Houston , Texas. A very plush assignment for a sea going rate. Made CPO while there and my daughter was born while there, so all in all it was a great tour of duty. Left there in Sept 1965 and you know it, I went right back to those Amphibs. This time to the DODGE COUNTY (LST 722) out of Little Creek, Virginia. Being a Pacific sailor I really didn’t like the idea of the Atlantic Fleet but nothing I could do about that. I had tried to get River Boat duty. They were asking for volunteers and I had a recommendation from the CO at NROTC Unit but I still ended up with another LST and in the wrong ocean to boot.

Turned out to be pretty good duty though. Spent 4 to 8 months a year attached to Naval Station, RODMAN Canal Zone. We did a lot of snooping around down there. Were in and out of just about every country South of Texas and all over South America. Pretty relaxed duty. No one was allowed to wear a uniform ashore anywhere we went. The whole crew was in civvies. Crossed the equator 3 different times and went through the Panama Canal 34 times during the 4 years I was aboard her. Guess they got tired of us so in 1969 we took the old girl to Orange, Texas and decommissioned her.

Next found myself on board (what else??) another amphib. This time the USS AUSTIN ( LPD 4) out of Norfolk , Virginia. Made a couple Med cruises on her and participated in one of the Apollo missions by being back up landing retrieval ship. Across the equator and laying off between Brazil and Africa. My time getting short and due a little shore duty I received orders to NAS MERIDIAN, MISS. Talk about a sailor being out of water!!! Any of you guys ever work with airdales?? They have no, I mean NO idea what the real navy is about!! At least not at that station. Some of those ,1st Class and below had never been to sea. Knew one guy that had been on that one air station over 10 years. I was the CMAA of the base and I heard every kind of whining. From E-2’s to O-4’s. This was also during Zummy’s time as CNO so I found my hands full. Decided that the “new navy” wasn’t for me. Put in my papers and mustered out to the Fleet Reserve 1 Feb. 1973 as a Senior Chief Quartermaster.
Got my “final retirement papers” in 1983.
Have been retired on Social Security since 1996.
Had some good times and some good duty, but my couple years on that little wooden ship was the best of all. I remember some really great shipmates and a feeling that we were a “family” and our ship WAS the best in the fleet.

MEDALS:
NATIONAL DEFENSE SERVICE
VIETNAM CAMPAIGN w/DEVICE (60 - )
VIETNAM SERVICE
VIETNAM PRESIDENTIAL GALLANTRY CROSS W/PALM (UNIT CITATION)
EXPERT QUALIFICATION BADGE RIFLE (M1 and M16)

I joined the Naval Reserves in my senior year of high school on Sept, 27,1965 and graduated on May 29, 1966. I spent 2 weeks of training aboard the USS TALBOT COUNTY an LST training ship in Norfolk, VA. I was ordered to report for active duty on Oct 31, 1966 at the Philadelphia Naval Base. I reported aboard the USS INDEPENDENCE (CVA-62) in late December 1966 while she was in Palma. She returned to the US in Feb 1967 and went into drydock in Port smith, VA. I requested RADAR School and was accepted and reported to Great Lakes in Oct 1967. I graduated in April 1968 and had orders to the USS LOYALTY (MSO-4557), which I reported aboard in June 1968. I left the Navy in March 1970 at the LONG BEACH NAVAL STATION in Long Beach, CA.

I re-entered Active Duty with the US ARMY after the US NAVY. I was stationed at Fort Sill, OK from June 1975 until March 1977 when I was awarded custody of my 2 minor sons from my marriage. I was ordered to find a 24 hour babysitter for my sons in order for me to leave for 5days in the field. I refused due to the cost of a 24-hour babysitter and was given the choice of either a Dereliction of duty hearing or an expeditious discharge. I took the Honorable Discharge and went back to PA to raise my young sons.

The Bull Moose is my friend true blue
He don't drink or smoke or chew
His only hang-up is he sniffs glue
If you were a Bull Moose, you would too.

I guess he figured I had to have sniffed glue to get as crazy as I was.

Oct 69 - Oct 70   ET "A" school Treasure Island, Ca.
Oct 70 - Dec 70   TSEC/KW-7 School, Vallejo, Ca.
Jan 71 - Apr 75   USS Assurance MSO/AG-521 [E4 - E5] demonstrated the moon maneuver throughout the Med.
Apr 75 - Dec 75   Advanced Electronics ET-C7 San Diego [E5]
Jan 76 - Apr 76   Transmitter Systems, Great Lakes, [E5]
Apr 76 - May 77   Negishi Microwave, Yokohama, JA [E5] {Qualified on Chop Sticks}
May 77 - May 78   Navy Radio Transmitting Facility Totsuka [E5 - E6] Learned to play darts, qualified for Rothmans Cup held in Tokyo, lost my butt! Ranked 8th in Japan. Beer kept me from #1 heheh. Loved them ton eighties.
May 78 - Dec 80   USS Parsons (DDG-33) Yokosuka [E6 - CPO] {JOOD qualified}
Jan 81 - Dec 81   USS Midway CV-41 Yokosuka [Hearing impairment began, heheh] office located beneath the angle deck.
Jan 82 - Apr 84   USS Francis Hammond FF-1067 Yokosuka [ESWS qualified] started on the Parsons, sheesh, rock!
Apr 84 - Sep 88   NAVCOMSTA Japan [Started golfing, handicap to 20]
Oct 88 - Feb 90   USS Joseph Strauss DDG-16 Pearl Harbor [Decom crew]
Feb 90 - Jun 91   USS Ouellet FF-1077 Pearl Harbor [Wife and her friends got me a stripper, woo woo!]
Jun 91 - Present   Contractor Navy Radio Transmitting Facility Lualualei [Being around wife everyday completed my hearing impairment. Heheh!] Couldn't stay away from the Navy! {Golf clubs stolen or did the wife throw them out, issue still not resolved}

Naval Justice School in 1961-Newport, Rhode Island-hence to TUSLOG Det 28, Karamursel, Turkey - 18 month tour as assistant to the NATO Trial Observer in Turkey. Returned, reenlisted (delayed SCORE program).

Then...to the BIG TIME, USS ESTEEM MSO438, 11 days after getting married....5 days on board...the YN2 assigned to the ship-WestPac Tour - 3 shipboard fires-other minor disasters but what a crew...fought fires, disaster control...and had fun when in port.

Transferred to CTTA School, Pensacola, Florida-finished third in class...then to NAVRADSTA Sabana, Seca Puerto Rico...made CTT1...18 months there.

Transferred to NAVSECGRUACTY, Homestead Air Force Base; 3 years there and left the Navy in 1970 with 12 years in. Stayed out 11 years, came back as a YN2....

Reserve Duty - CINCUSNAVEUR, London
                        COMSCPAC Honolulu and Guam
                        CINCSOUTH Panama

Retired Naval Reserve as YN1 1993.

Also retired Senior Administrator, GTE Telephone Operations; Current Senior Applications Engineer, Marconi Communications

OCS Class 80004 Commissioned 26 SEP 80
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USS ENGAGE (MSO 433) 1980-1983
Ops Boss

USS ANTRIM (FFG 20) 1983-1985
CICO

Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey 1985-1987
Electronic Warfare

USS JOSEPH STRAUSS (DDG 16) 1988-1990
Ops Boss
CHENG

NTCC Pearl Harbor (NAVCAMS EASTPAC) 1990-1992
Officer in Charge

USS BELLEAU WOOD (LHA 3) 1992-1993
Navigator

Royal Military College of Canada 1993-1996
Instructor (exchange duty)
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Early retirement 01 FEB 97 under TERA

Visit Rick Christie Sr. web sites at Mine Division 33
and USS Pledge MSO-492

When I was born in New Orleans, LA, on the 3rd day of September, 1943, I was given the paternal nickname of and old Irish uncle of mine and railroad engineer; Mike Koushoe. Since that day, I have always been called “Mike” even though I was named after my father. As you may have surmised, I am of Irish and English decent and my politics are that of an Independent voter but I follow the conservative Republicans most of the time. I am a free thinker, enjoy a cold beer, will stand up and be counted when called upon and I love my wife. I wouldn't change my name when we got married and her name is Dinah Hayes. My paternal name of Warren was changed to that name, from a spelling mistake made in England with the name of Warne in the late 1600’s and someone made the mistake of spelling it Waren. Somewhere down the line, my Warne ancestor was listed with a group of soldiers as Warren because there were other spellings listed like that. Obviously he wasn’t the brightest “Irish Mick” in England .. but I do believe he was the first; not really Warren...... So; with all of that background now, I hope you will continue to call me Mike and legally you can refer to me as W. W. “Mike” Warren.

My parents moved back to Knoxville, Tennessee (their hometown) in 1947 after the war was over and my father lost his job with the railroad. He served his country during WWII, as a railroad trainman (switchman to be exact) because they needed him there, doing what he did when the war broke out, more than they needed him in the armed forces. We stayed in Knoxville until late 1956 when we moved to Miami, FL.

My younger days were hard, mostly because I made them hard and I became a bit of a “Hood” starting work at 14 to help out the family, my studies at school suffered and after flunking several times, I dropped out of school in the 9th grade at the ripe old age of 16. Shortly after my 17th birthday in September of 1960, I signed up to join the US Navy and see the world. The recruiters wanted me to wait until after the X-Mas holidays to go to boot camp on a "Kiddie Cruise" so I joined NRTC company #25 in San Diego, CA the 10th day of January 1961. I served on the USS Fortify MSO-446 from 02/07/1962 .. 04/30/1964 and then joined the USS Lucid MSO-458 because I had indicated that I wouldn’t be “Shipping Over”, plus the Fortify was going on another WestPac cruise, and anyway I wanted out for several other reasons.

I left the Lucid and received my separation papers, August 21, 1964 just several weeks before my 21st birthday. During that time I was recommended for E5, 2nd Class Engineman on the 15 day of December 1963 and sewed my crow on 04/01/1964. I received my Honorable Discharge on January 9, 1967 after six years of service to my country.

I had some unused leave and savings that I was paid for so I took $1368, a pregnant first wife and a beat up 1960 Pontiac convertible and left Long Beach, CA headed back to Miami to make my way in the world.

Fast-forward through two more marriages, a professional life as a construction equipment salesman traveling the world ….. and many more disappointments in my personal life, I met my most beautiful and wonderful wife Dinah in early 1982. That was the turning point for me twenty years ago and life has continued spiraling upward since then.

I have tried several ventures after getting off the road in 1985; I was part owner in a garage, owned some taxicabs, owned a bar (we called it Mike's) and even dabbled in computer work (databases and spreadsheet) in the early days ’93 .. ’96 when a lot of professional folks didn’t have, want or use computers like they do today. I continued through from 1996 and up to mid 1999 doing consulting work for the construction industry and some companies and people that I had been associated with for some time.

I had some health problems with the Big “C” and have been spending most of my time since late 1999 trying to keep ahead of the “Grim Reaper” and I think you guys know most of the rest of the story when I started making waves on the old original E-Group; around May 2000 I believe, when I was trying to find out more about my old ships and research whether or not the Atomic Tests during Operation Dominic in the Pacific in 1962 contributed directly to my cancer and health problems. I gave myself a birthday gift of a fairly extensive cancer operation on my right shoulder in 1999 and was on the road to recuperation and recovery when I started listening to Rick’s group of “Rag-Taggers and Do-Gooders” on the group and even started believing that someday, something might really get accomplished.

Don Farrier said something that has stuck in my craw ever since I read it. The Navy has literally executed the most faithful of her servants, the one that always cleared the way to ensure safe passage for others to sail to glory. This was never a complaint; "duty first, glory last" is bound to be the battlecry of one required to sweep for mines. Yet for all the tonnage these little boats have saved for the Navy, the Navy would save not even one. Long live the Navy, these wooden sweeps are dead!

Well Sir; today is the first day …….. of the rest of their lives. If you haven't joined the Navy MSO Association yet, please reconsider and join with your old MSO brothers in comradeship to help save and preserve the memories of your MSO and to continue uniting the old crews of all 101 of them around the world.

I reported to the Force in September 1966 and immediately found out that we were leaving for WESTPAC a.s.a.p. Having served aboard the USS SAGACITY prior to "A"-school, I knew how much fun this cruise would not be, but I looked forward to it from a masochistic point of view.

We departed for Pearl Harbor in October and the crossing from Long Beach was basically uneventful. Actually, the entire crossing went smoothly with no major crises or breakdowns. This was not to be our continuing fortune. After arriving in Subic Bay we had several days of liberty while we took on stores and made minor repairs, then it was off to Nam for our first Market Time patrol. Amazingly, we saw little of the Viet Namese and had an uneventful patrol. We eventually departed Nam for Sasebo with a stop at Kaoshiung along the way.

We pulled into Kaoshiung on Christmas Eve, 1966 and topped off our fuel and water tanks. On the morning of Christmas day we got underway for Sasebo. I'll never forget that day. At noon we ran into the teeth of a classic typhoon. It got so bad that some of the guys actually tied themselves into their bunks. No one was permitted on deck. If you got hungry, there was horse-cock and crackers on the mess decks. When you climbed a ladder to the engine room or the pilot house you had to hang on for your life because we were pitching so violently. I still remember standing watch in the engine room, then going to the pilot house to take a turn on the console and helm. About half of the crew couldn't even stand up, they were that sick.

We finally cleared the storm and made it to Sasebo where we had an opportunity to " interface" with the local ladies who enjoyed a sailors company.

After a too-brief visit, we left to return to Nam for another patrol. This particular tour saw all hell break loose as we lost two main engines our 100 kw generator and our morale. It was on this patrol that we rescued a Viet Namese fisherman. We were going alongside one of the supply ships to take on stores, I happened to be in the pilot house on the helm at the time when the supply ship sounded man overboard. As we were coming alongside from astern, our CO gave the order to come about and we did a 360. It was then that on of our lookouts spotted the man in the water hanging onto a piece of lumber. We slowed to a crawl and the CO ordered a swimmer into the water to recover him. Only then did we find out this man was a fisherman whose boat was sunk in a storm, taking the life of his brothe and son.

Shortly after this we learned we were not returning to Subic for repairs, but were remaining on station for another patrol. It was about here when we pulled into Vung Tao for a days' liberty. Nice town, bad attitude. Several of us got into a bar fight and our EM-2 got arrested for inciting a riot. They held him for ransom until a legal officer and military attache got him released. Lucky stiff, they flew him back to Subic to wait for our return. We on the other hand, lost another main engine and we were starting to get desperate.

We pulled a brief stop in Cam Rahn to take on fuel. As we were the biggest thing to dock there, we drew more than our share of attention by the Viet Cong as they attacked the base while we were getting underway.

Our return to Subic was uneventful but worrisome as we only had one main engine, our evaporators were on the fritz again, our 185kw main generator was acting up and everyone was anxious for a little liberty. It was touch and go but we made it . When the enginemen tried to shut down the only main engine left, it would not stop running. Something amazing for a Packard diesel.

We managed to get enough parts to make repairs to two main engines and it was back to Nam for another patrol. It was on this tour we got to witness a display of firepower as we and a DE were called in to support a rocket launching platform, a covnerted LST I believe was the White River. What a devasting display. They fired all day on a prominent point. When they were finished, there was no jungle, only brown dirt. We completed our patrol and returned to Subic, said goodby to the LBFM's and headed home. Eventually we arrived in Long Beach, 11 months after we left. Everyone was looking forward to en extended stay in the shipyard for repairs end retro-fit, only to find out we were going over again in 6 months.

What a tour. Something I'll never forget, no matter how senile I get.

Paul A. Ulishney EM-2
USS Force MSO 445
WestPac 1966-67

I finished college and started teaching High School algebra and shop. I was called to active duty for 2 years in 1961. I was assigned to USS Sturdy, MSO 494 at Charleston, I reported the first of August and we left for the Med in September. I was EN3 so had lots of fun in the aft engine room with the Packards. We had a great Chief and First class, Chief Lord and 1st McIver. I made EN2 shortly after reporting. I ended up with the forward engine room and was in charge of the spare parts (COSAL).

In the MED we made all the usual ports and I enjoyed the time. We spent Christmas in Athens and returned to Charleston in April of 62. We then went to Port Canaveral and saw Scott Carpenter make the 2nd US manned space shot. From there we spent time in Charleston, Dry dock in Savanna and them went to York town and Boston. I was transferred to a MSB just before the Sturdy left for Gitmo as I had 1 mo. left.

I finished my Navy time with many good memories. I returned to the civilian world and spent the next 37 years with GAB-Robins, Insurance claims. I was in management most of that time. I retired in 2001 and have enjoyed

                                  Kenneth Eugene Donnel

Occupation:  Farmer
Birthplace:  Shelbyville, IL  07 NOV 45
Attended Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, IL  Associate Degree in Electronics
Enlisted United States Navy 07 MAR 66
Boot Camp RTC Great Lakes, IL 06 JUL 66
Graduated RD "A" School NTC Great Lakes, IL Class 52A-66 31 MAR 67
Reported aboard USS Loyalty (MSO 457) APR 67 Long Beach Naval Station, Pier #9, Long Beach, CA
Deployed WESPAC 67-68 Operation Market Time Viet-Nam
Duties: CIC  Crew, Radarman
Advanced to RD3
Deployed WESPAC 69-70 Operation Market Time Viet-Nam
Duties: Leading Radarman
Advanced to RD2
Released from active duty 13 APR 70 and returned to IL
Joined United States Naval Reserve MAY 70- 07 MAR 72
Served aboard USS Fearless (MSO 442) 14 MAY- 29 MAY 71, NAVSTA Charlestown, SC
Duties: CIC Watch Supervisor
Rejoined US Naval Reserve SeaBees as a Construction Mechanic Second Class 14 FEB 87
Advanced to Construction Mechainc First Class FEB 90
Served with NMCB 26
Retired 01 SEP 2002
Awards:  Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal
         Combat Action Ribbon
         US Navy Good Conduct Medal
         US Naval Reserve Meritous Service Medal, 4 awards
         National Defense Service Medal, 2 awards
         Viet-Nam Service Medal, 4 awards
         Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal
         Armed Forces Reserve Medal, with hourglass device
         United States Army Commanders Award Medal For Excellence
         Republic of Viet-Nam Cross of Gallentry, with palm device
         Viet-Nam Campain Medal
         US Navy Expert Rifle Marksmanship Medal, with E device
         US Navy Expert Pistol Marksmanship Medal, with S device

Brian K. Brown
Born: 24 December 1947
Birth Place: Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada
Enlisted USNR – 1965
Active Duty – 31 Jan 1967
Honorable Discharge-17 Oct 1971

I was born and raised on the prairies in Canada and moved to the United States in 1962 with my family. My father, having been in the Canadian Air Force during WW II, had for many years told me how being in the military had given him a direction in life. With those thoughts in mind I decided during my junior year in high school, that I too, needed some direction in my life. I had never seen the ocean until moving to Everett, Washington in 1962, and soon developed a desire to become a sailor. During my senior year I met with a recruiter who thought it was little crazy to have a young man wanting to join the US Navy, when so many were doing everything they could to avoid the draft. I was still a Canadian citizen so the draft board deemed me exempt. But I was determined to become a sailor. See the world “Join the Navy” the posters said. Enlisting in the USNR in 1965, I had that vivid image of seeing the world in my head. Little did I know, but boot camp in California would be the place my world journey would begin. It was the first time I had ever been away from home for more than a weekend, and the home sickness showed early on. How I made it through boot camp, I will never know. But I did and without any discipline issued and left there on my journey.

I sailed on the USS Ruff; I think it was MSC 54, as my first “See The World” journey. We sailed around Puget Sound playing war games. At the time I was a Fireman Apprentice, and operated the engine room controls, under the direction of a very firm Chief Machinist Mate named Tom Hudson. I really think he hated me as he had several impolite words for me when I screwed up a couple of times. If this was the world I was going to see, I needed to do something different, as being below deck just didn’t offer the world views I was looking for.
But I soon realized part of that direction in life my father talked about was not always going in the direction you wanted to go. When called to active duty 31 Jan 1967 I was sent to Long Beach to report for duty aboard the USS Conflict. I made one tour to Vietnam aboard the Conflict. My first reaction to being at sea was the constant sea sickness. Worst feeling in the world, nothing but water all around you, and your stomach trying to exit your body through your mouth. Oh what fond memories. It took a while, but I finally got my sea legs. They say being aboard a ship with experienced seasoned sailors will really force you to grow up fast – I know it does because I experienced it first hand. You could say I had a compass in my head that spinned continuously, as I really spun out of control a few times. Looking back I thank Chief Yeoman Joe Binet, XO Joe Procopio, Ensign Dennis Gallagani, and many others for helping me get some purpose going in my life. I truly came to respect the minesweeper family and grew as a man with their help. Had the opportunity to work in the engine room, on deck and finally landed in the ships office working with Joe Binet. Met the criteria for Petty Officer 3 & 2, as Boatswain’s Mate and Yeoman, but could never get my head together enough to advance in either area. Entered active duty as E3 and left the same rank. As most of us do we look back saying to ourselves, “would sure do it different if I could do it over”, but would we. My time aboard the Conflict did give me the direction my father talked about, and I believe it made me a better more responsible person in the long run. After that tour to Vietnam, the early out offers were made. Of course, I took it, not realizing I probably needed to stay in longer, to get the advanced “direction training” I still needed.

Ken “Rat” Ridgley and I headed north in his new Malibu out of Long Beach the first week of Oct 68 towards our home state of Washington where the after service journey began.

I was able to get a job working for the Great Northern Railroad in Everett, Washington, and started working 10 Oct 1968 I married Chris in 1970 and we have two children, Jeff 39 yrs (adopted), and Jennifer 35 yrs. In 1978 I became a US citizen while living in Everett. Have three fabulous grandchildren, Alicia 14 yrs, twins Bergyn and Burke 8 yrs in Dec 07. Being a grandparent definitely gave my life a different direction.

Having found the Navy Minesweepers site one day a couple of few ago while fooling around on the computer, I found I still have another big family out there.

I worked for the railway for 38 years, 35 of them in various management positions and retired in June 2006. After retiring I decided to get a full physical and ‘lo and behold’, a heart condition was discovered. Ended up having a five way heart bypass surgery 10/6/06. Since then I feel like a new person – more energy, more enthused about life in general, and relax much easier now. This did evolve into becoming a diabetic so entire lifestyle changes were necessary. In the past we only took out of town vacations whenever I could get a week or so off my job, now we go somewhere once a month for a few days – true liberty in my book.

The only real hobby I have is a 1985 IROC Camaro that I am trying to restore before I pass on to the big sweep group in the heavens.

Being a member of this group has been a great experience, and it has given me a new hobby on line. Have been to one other reunion in Ft. Mitchell and I look forward to seeing everyone at the 2007 reunion in Texas.

At home, I worked for a small electronics company for two years that manufactured emergency lighting systems and burglar alarms. After that I worked for AMP Inc for 22 years as a machine controls designer and a manufacturing engineer. After a takeover of the company by Tyco Electronics, my services along with 4000 other employees were no longer necessary and I was left go. I now am currently working as a project manager for the Square D Company in their local field office close to my home. I have been married since 1970 to my wife Juneen and have two daughters and one granddaughter.

Ashore, he served as a Harbor Master while assigned to Submarine Base, Bangor, Washington; Staff Operations QM for Commander, Submarine Group Nine; Navigation Instructor, Afloat Training Group, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii; Command Master Chief, Naval Leader Training Unit, Little Creek, Virginia; Director, Special Programs ATF, Rota, Spain; and Fleet Liaison, Naval Pacific Meteorology and Oceanography Center, San Diego, California.

Master Chief Harrison was initiated into the CPO mess in 1986. He is a published author, Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist and Master Training Specialist. His at-sea qualifications include Officer of the Deck underway; Navigator; and U.S. Merchant Marine Master (USCG 1992). His other qualifications include Navy Instructor, Curriculum Developer and NAVLEAD Facilitator. He earned ADC-I certification as a Navy Drug and Alcohol Counselor and Special Psychiatric Rapid Intervention Team (SPRINT) member. He received basic and advanced Critical Incident Stress Management Intervention (CISM) credentials from University of Maryland, Baltimore County, an Associate of Arts degree in Liberal Arts from Saint Leo University, Florida, and a Bachelor of Science degree from Excelsior College, New York.

He married the former Donna Zueger of Seattle, Washington. Their two children serve on active duty: Sarah is a U.S. Navy Corpsman and Joshua serves in the U.S. Air Force Nuclear Security Forces.

Master Chief Harrison wears the post-tour Command Master Chief device. His decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (five awards), Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (two awards), Combat Action Ribbon and numerous other campaign and service awards.

I Was sent to Mine Div 113 TAD during that time to screw around with radio controlled drones, little did I know how well they would work when we really needed them. I Was then sent to Mobile Alabama for pre com crew on USS Arlington. Than from there to Long Beach Naval Station and back to small craft which sucked as I had just made EMC.

So I wangled TAD to Mine Div 113 and within a month found my butt in Siagon going from place to place teaching the guys to do that radio control stuff. Then going to a plece called Long Tau to ride an Alpha boat. I was injured in a chopper crash, probably the only one not a result of enemy action, and found myself back in San Diego, then Long Beach Naval Station again for recuperation leave from the hospital and back to small craft till 1970. (Was still not happy there but kept my mouth shut)

From Long Beach Naval Station to Counter Insurgency and lanuage school in Coronado, then back to Vietnam to be a Navy Advisor in Danang. Spending half the time in Tien Sha at the syncro lift and half on the Qua Viet and perfume rivers rescueing sunken and damaged boats, then back to Long Beach to the USS Gallant where I reinjured my leg. Then to the USS Pledge with a full leg cast (lots of fun so the skipper sent me home to wait for orders, just had to make the doctor's appointments, after 2 months of waiting I called my detailer and said I was looking for work.

I was sent to Subic Bay to run the degaussing range for the soon to be Operation End Sweep. My boss was CDR Lloyd "Pete" Bucher of the USS Pueblo, a great man. To my surprise there was no range in Subic Bay, the Commander told me it was in some Connex at Cubi Point and that I would have to build it. So he got me 3 more EM's, so we did it. I told him how much I knew about degaussing ranges (not very much) and he told me that a CWO was on the way. After ranging all ships and making all required turn changes and at the completion of End Sweep he showed up to releave me.

I had been transferred to ftg as an under way training instructor as my only shore duty. After a year I was told that I was going to be sent to Siagon as I spoke Vietnamese to train the crews. At that time my leg bothered me again so I stayed in San Diego until I retired in 1976.

I had finally had enough awards, the Navy Achievmant Medal, Combat Action Ribbon, Navy Unit Comidation, Meritorius Unit Comidation, Good Conduct, National Defense, Armed Forces Expidition Medal, Viet Service Medal, RVN Medal, and RVN Campain Medal.

Jim Grooms EMC USN RET
Highlands Ranch Colorado.
(PS when my dear wife found how much of a hard ship 6 month's in Subic on EMC pay and $600.00 per diem a month was, she divorced me.)

My last two years of active duty were as Ordnance Officer aboard USS SELLERS (DDG-11) where I had responsibility for the 5"/54 guns and the Tartar missile battery. Sellers was also home ported in Charleston. I joined Sellers just as she was finishing a yard period and then went through "reftra" in Gitmo. From there it was a couple more Med tours, one operation to Kiel, Germany. My orders came through just before we sailed for the Med in May, 1967. Once the mideast war broke out I wasn't sure when I might be sent back but, around June 5, I flew off of Crete.

I left the service at the LONG BEACH NAVAL STATION in Long Beach, CA, in July, 1967.

I was born in Manheim, PA. A small town in the middle of Pennsylvania Dutch Country. Military service was considered an Honorable profession in that area, so upon graduation from Manheim Central High School I went on active duty to bigein what was to be a 31 year career.

My first real introduction to Navy life was boot camp at Bainbridge, MD. What was significant about that was my company was one of the very last male companies to go to Bainbridge before it was closed to males and turned over to the women as their Recruit Training Command. I often wondered if there was a message there.

After boot camp I was detailed to the USS Johnston DD-821, a Destroyer, out of Newport RI. For those who served in the North Atlantic you know it’s not where you want to be in the winter. Some called it “Sea Sick U”. I can’t argue with that. I was lucky enough to be able to get off the deck force shortly after reporting aboard and struck out to be a Quartermaster. My choice of ratings was easy, since my brother was a QM, and I read somewhere that the Quartermaster of olden time was the only Navy enlisted rating required to be literate. I got to visit my first foreign countries, including Havana, Cuba and Kingston, Jamaca. Ironically shortly after we visited Havana Castro took over Cuba and closed it to all American ships. I often wondered if there was a message there.

Two years in the Tin Can Navy put me at the end of my first enlistment obligation. I returned to Manheim looking to be a civilian until I found out delivering Christmas toys was not much of a profession, so back to the Blues I went. Reenlisting at Philadelphia I managed to get a brother assignment to the USS Pandemus ARL-18 out of Charleston, SC. The Pandemus was a Minecraft Repair Ship and a receiving station for sweep personnel. Unless you were a “Ring-Knocker” that tour lasted exactly one year and then out to sea you go. Shortly after reenlisting at Philly, they closed most of the receiving station and moved the moth balled fleet. I often wondered if there was a message there.

Assigned to the USS Exultant MSO-441, a Navy Minesweeper, I faced the first real duty of my rating. Previously I had done more signalman than QM and was unprepared to be a Navigation QM. Lots of study, hard knocks, and luck got me over the idiot stage and I was on my way as a QM. As a QM2, selected for Pro-Pay I was now comfortable in my rating. Then in August 1960 tragedy struck when the Exultant caught fire and five shipmates were lost. Being the leading QM, I assigned myself to keep the QM notebook to record the fire for posterity. It was an experience I shall never forget. Perhaps someday my first hand rendition of what went down that fateful day will be put in print for all to read. It is a true story of facts and acts that occurred that day, which to my knowledge has never been told before.

When the Exultant was put into a lengthy overhaul most of the crew, myself included, were transferred to other ships. I often wondered if there was a message there. I was assigned to the USS Observer MSO-461, another minesweeper. It was a good tour, we visited a lot of neat places on our cruises and I made first class.

Somehow I must have done something right because after my tour on Observer was up, I got a plumb assignment as an instructor at the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, MD. The advantages to an assignment such as this was readily apparent. Recommended for Chief at the ripe old age of 25, I was selected for promotion to QMCA with just 7 years, 11 months and 16 days of active duty. The assignment there was great and the experience of instructing future officers, including Roger Staubach, was exciting. Another plus was the academy stayed in business after I left. I often wondered if there was a message there.

Sadly all good things must come to an end and after the academy I was detailed to a 12-month tour in Vietnam. Training at Whidbey Island, WA. prior to reporting for duty in Vietnam was pure hell. I was one of the more fortunate ones, as I was assigned to the Staff Chief Naval Advisory Group. We had a Captain for Commander and about 425 Navy in country. My duties on staff were many and varied, including working with the VNN, the US Army for Oceanographic matters and running NUC MUM Airlines for the Navy in country. CNAG became Commander Naval Forces Vietnam and was an Admiral, who was joined by another Admiral in Danang. Vietnam had become a full-fledged war. I often wondered if there was a message there.

From Nam my assignments took a turn for the bigger. Detailed to the USS Pawcatuck AO-108 a massive floating gas station, I was now on a ship which could hold it’s own in the bid bad seas. I picked u the Pawcatuck in Lorain, Ohio where she was undergoing jumbo-sizing by cutting her in half and adding a 90-foot section in her middle. Quite a feat. One of the highlights of that tour was the trip from Lorain, a port on the south coast of Lake Erie out to Boston on the Atlantic via the St. Lawrence Seaway. What was neat was going through the various locks used to drop from inland waters to sea level. Also it was the only time in my career that I was a passenger rather than a working crew member. I also got my first star in the CPO chain.

Somewhere along that gas station tour I must have upset the assignment God, because when I woke up one morning in August, 1969 I was sent back North to the Atlantic, out of Fall River, MA. On the smallest of all my sea tour ships. The USS Jacana MSC-193, a Coastal Minesweeper. I often wondered if there was a message there. Not a bad tour though since I was the assistant Officer in charge and got a stateroom for bunking.

Having survived another tour in the north Atlantic, I finally got sent back south to Florida to the Recruit Training Command, Orlando. That tour gave me the chance to make life miserable to new recruits, like happened to me at Bainbridge. I pushed 2 companies, brigaded both, became a battalion adjutant, battalion commander, regimental adjutant and discipline Chief for women’s training, among other duties.

Then came the big one, my next assignment took me to the big leagues, duty on the USS Albany CG-10, a guided missile cruiser out of Norfolk, VA. The Albany was then Commander, second and Atlantic Fleets Flagship. I guess there’s no substitute for high visible tours as I got my second CPO star and made QMCM. I was the number one QM selectee that cycle which was significant to me. I also met Admiral Stansfield Turner, one of the most interesting persons I have ever met. On the down side, the Albany was moved to the sixth Fleet and Admiral Turner was selected to be head of the CIA. I often wondered if there was a message there.

When the Albany went to the Med to become Flagship for the Sixth Fleet, I was crossed decked to the USS Little Rock CG-4 at Gaita, Italy. After turnover the Rock returned to the U.S. to be made into razor blades. The Rock was an impressive looking ship topside, with her big guns, wooden deck and such, but a real dump below decks. Being the senior enlisted member left on board I got my first look at being “SEA” on a ship heading for demolition, but a start. I often wondered if there was a message there.

The next assignment and one of the 3 most significant in my career was being transferred to the USS Independence, CV-62 a 1000 foot long, 80,000 ton air craft carrier out of Norfolk. I went aboard as the leading QM, bu was given the chance to apply for the job of Command Master Chief. As a result of a very intelligent and astute Commanding Officer, he decided I was the one to lead the enlisted community of some 2500 men (4500 with the Air Wing), become it’s representative and advisor to him. Next to the academy, which made me a young Chief, the CM/C assignment was the most challenging and rewarding of all my tours. I converted over to the Command Master Chief MOS and decided to extend my Naval service beyond 20 years.

From the Indy I was transferred to the Fleet and Mine Warfare Training Center at Charleston, SC as the Senior Navigation Instructor. I became the resident expert on navigation, including celestial navigation, international and inland rules of the road for shipping and marine law. A good job where most all of the students were officers, but the big Chief ruled. Telling officers if they wanted to sleep in class to go take a hike and go to their barracks, was always an exhilarating experience.

The end of this instructor tour put me at the 26 plus year mark and I though about handing in my notice. That was until the CM/C Detailer offered me an assignment I couldn’t refuse, Command Master Chief of the USS Simon Lake AS-33, a submarine tender, at Kings Bay, GA. Having my own office, two assistants who were really mine and a stateroom where only I could control the TV programs was well worth the extension of service. Also steak and lobster every Friday wasn’t bad either.

My last tour in the Navy was also a gift assignment. Because of extending beyond 28 years I now had the option of taking a twilight tour to retirement at 30 years. I elected to take assignment as Command Master Chief at the Naval Support Activity, a Mine Warfare Research Laboratory at Panama City Florida. I retired from the Navy December 1, 1986. Upon my retirement the billet of permanent assignment of a Command Master Chief at NCSC was discontinued. I often wondered if there was a message there.

There are so many highlights to my career, that it would take a book to list them all. Deployments included; eight to the Mediterranean Sea, eleven to the Carribean, three to the North Sea, the south Atlantic and south China Sea. I have visited 5 land continents, 43 major countries and 144 major cities of the world, not counting smaller countries, islands and cities. I became a blue nose twice by crossing the Arctic Circle and entered into the realm of the Golden Shellback by crossing the Equator.

I was assigned to ten Sea Commands, five shore Commands, numerous schools, and short tours. I have stood duty in Destroyer Force Atlantic, Cruiser Destroyer Force Atlantic, Naval Air Force Atlantic, Mine Force Atlantic, Service Force Atlantic, Submarine Force Atlantic, Training Command Atlantic, Research and Development Group, Second Fleet, Sixth Fleet and Vietnam.

I have met such luminaries as Pope John XXIII, Bob Hope, Senator Sam Nunn, Chiefs of Naval Operations, Fleet and Force Commanders and Master Chiefs of the Navy. I’ve testified before Congressional Committees on matters affecting enlisted personnel, and was reenlisted by Under Secretary of the Navy Goodrich.

Being privileged to see many of the great wonders of the world was an added bonus. St. Petersburg, the Sistine Chapel, Rome, the Leaning Tower of Piza, Anzio, Isle of Capri, Mt. Vesuvius, and Pompeii of Italy. Admiral Nelson’s Flagship, Big Ben, Buckingham Palace of England. The Eiffel Tower and French Riviera of France, the Acropolis of Greece, the Apes of Gibralter, the Fez of Morocco, the Ginza of Tokyo, the Panama Canal, Monte Carlo, the World Zoo at Barcelona Spain. A list too long for this BIO.

My Decorations include the, Navy Commendation Medal, Navy Achievement Medal (Four Awards), Navy Unit Commendation, Meritorious Unit Commendation, Battle “E” Ribbon, Navy Good Conduct Medal (Eight Awards), National Defense Service Medal, Navy Expeditionary Ribbon, Vietnam Service Medal, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, Vietnam Campaign Medal (Four Campaigns) and various Letters of Commendation.

I would be remiss if I failed to mention my family. In 1957 I finally got up enough fortitude to as my High School sweetheart to marry me. We were married December 31, (needed an income tax deduction) and have been together ever since. Two daughters came along in short order with an oops third born December 30th, 15 years later. Guess I needed another tax deduction. Our time since retirement has been traveling the United States, having recently completed visiting all lower 48 States.

It’s been a good life.

All Naval Minecraft Sailors are invited to participate in sending in your personal biography. You can have a photo added too. Contact Rick Szpyrka ex-RM2 USS Conflict MSO-426.

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