Rank
Petty Officer Third Class
Where were you or your family stationed?
US NAVAL ASSIGNED DUTY STATIONS 1966 TO 1970
May 2nd 1966 - Sworn into the US Navy Reserves in part of the “Cache Program” a three month delay for reporting for active duty. Allowed me to graduate from High School and avoid the possibility of being drafted.
August 10th, 1966 – Reported to US Navy Recruiting Representative Armed Forces Entrance Station, White Street, Building #116, Fort Hamilton, Brooklyn to be sworn into the regular Navy for active duty and transportation to US Naval Training Center Great Lakes, Illinois to begin 12 weeks of Naval boot camp.
November 2nd, 1966 - Ordered to Basic Electricity and Electronics School at NTC Great Lakes Illinois for 12 weeks of very intense training regarding Electricity and Electronics.
January 26th, 1967 - Ordered to Radioman “A” School at Naval Training Center, Bainbridge, Maryland for 12 weeks of very intense training in communications including operating and repair of communication equipment, Morse code and teletype equipment. Also ordered to complete the Military Requirements for PO 3&2 NAVPERS 91206-E. Made rate, RM3 (E4) on March 10th, 1967.
April 8th, 1967 – I got my orders to proceed from Radioman “A” school, Bainbridge, Maryland to Comseventhflt Staff Det. “A”, Formosa – Fordu (sea). On the orders it states, MUST HAVE TOP SECRET CLEARENCE WITH CRYPTO ACCESS DOCUMENTED IN SERVREC PRIOR TRF.
May 29th 1967 – I was transferred, TAD (Temporary Additional Duty) from Comseventhflt Staff, Det “A” on Taipei, Taiwan to Seventhflt Naval and Air Coordinator Element Danang, Vietnam and upon my arrival, handed over to the 1st Marines, Monkey Mountain.
Dec 15th 1967 – I was ordered back to Comseventhflt Staff Det “A” at Taipei, Taiwan. Felt really good to be out of Vietnam Bush, was like being on R&R.
Feb 10th, 1968 – I was ordered, TAD, to Osan Korea to work with the Naval Section TACC (Tactical Air Coordination Center) in regard to the North Korean attack and capture of the USS Pueblo on January 23rd, 1968. Stayed there for three months in the coldest weather I have ever had to deal with in my entire life.
April 30th, 1968 ordered back to Comseventhflt Staff Det “A” on . Felt good to be in Taipei once again. But it was not for long.
May 17th, 1968 - I was ordered, TAD, back to Seventhflt Naval and Air Coordinator and reassigned to the 1st Marines at Monkey Mountain and was back in the bush.
July 29th, 1968 - I was ordered back to Comseventhflt Staff Det “A” on Taiwan to be given my orders to Mare Island Naval Inshore Training Facility in Vallejo, California to learn how to operate the Alpha Boat. I was being assigned to as part of the MRF (Mobile Riverine Force). I was going back into combat in Vietnam. My second tour in Nam.
October 15th, 1968 I was transferred to Dong Tam, South Vietnam to begin my service onboard Alpha Boat A-91-3.
December 4th, 1969 – Ordered to the USS Chevalier, DD 805 out of San Diego. For a period of three years and eight months I have been part of six man teams, operating in the jungles of Vietnam around the DMZ and then on an Alpha Boat operating on the Rivers of Vietnam’s Mekong Delta. I was at constant combat readiness; found myself in an atmosphere of jealousy and being ostracized by both Enlisted and Officers including the Captain of the Chevalier because of the medals, citations and ribbons, all combat orientated, he had to present to me with his crew at quarters. The Captain told me he was not happy about having to present medals to me that had nothing to do with his ship or his crew. Not the Navy I dreamed of as an 8 year old boy!
May 1st, 1970 – Based upon my Vietnam Service and the nastiness I found on the USS Chevalier DD 805, though offered E-5 and a $10,000 ship over bonus, I opted for a 3 month early out.
End of my Naval Career.
Current Status with the US Navy
Honorably Discharged
Start date of your service
August 10, 1966