Summers, Stanley K. SKS., GMCM

PLEASE DESCRIBE WHO OR WHAT INFLUENCED YOUR DECISION TO JOIN THE NAVY.
From a very young age, I was told stories of two uncles who served in World War 1. One was in the Navy and one was in the Army who was wounded while serving in France with the AEF. I was old enough to understand the purpose and then

Joining the Military

came the sneak attack on Pearl Harbor. I didn't fully understand the extent of this tragedy but I knew what the rationing was about. I remember the prayers my father gave in church for those who had been lost in battle as some of them were related to members of the congregation. In 1944, my oldest brother enlisted in the Navy and that is when I set my goal to follow in his footsteps. Another middle brother enlisted in the Air Force in 1948 and that just gave me one more reason to want to enlist in the service and enhanced my determination to serve my country. From then on it was anticipation as to when we would be old enough to enlist.

In June of 1950, when the Korean War broke out, we knew it would not be long before we would be old enough to enlist and that was all we would think about. In 1952, we decided no matter what, we were going to try to enlist. We tried the Marine Corps first, but the recruiter knew me and sent me out the door. So armed with a slightly doctored birth certificate, we decided to try the USNRTC/USMCRTC across the river in Duluth. Two of the guys who knew who I was in school, just kept quiet and we were successful in enlisting in the Navy. Ten months later, we asked for active duty and bingo, we were off on our naval career.

WHETHER YOU WERE IN THE SERVICE FOR SEVERAL YEARS OR AS A CAREER, PLEASE DESCRIBE THE DIRECTION OR PATH YOU TOOK. WHERE DID YOU GO TO BOOT CAMP AND WHAT UNITS, BASES, SHIPS OR SQUADRONS WERE YOU ASSIGNED TO? WHAT WAS YOUR REASON FOR LEAVING?
In 1953, I was assigned to Recruit Training Company 113, RTC in Great Lakes, Illinois and directly after graduation I was retained as a Recruit Swimming Instructor. I then received orders to my first ship, USS Ashland (LSD-1) and served in the Deck Department for a short while. I

My Military Service Path

was then transferred to the Gunnery Department and became a Gunners Mate. My sea duty assignments also included the USS Glynn (APA-239), USS Kleinsmith (APD-134), USS Oglethorpe (AKA-100), USS Boston (CAG-1), USS Sierra (AD-18), USS Hassayampa (AO-145) and the USS Maury (AGS-16). We worked on all small arms of the time, heavy AA machine guns, 20mm, 40mm, 3" 50 and 5" 38 Dual Purpose Gun Mounts and I served as a school instructor and taught all of the aforementioned armament.

In 1965, I was selected for cross training in the TALOS Missile Launching Systems, GMLS MK 7 and GMLS MK 12 Mod 0 and 1. I then returned to sea duty on board ships with these systems including USS Little Rock (CLG-4) and USS Long Beach (CGN-9). In 1969, I returned to Great Lakes as a "GM" Instructor with follow on orders to USS Chicago (CG-11) in 1971. A few of my other duties throughout my career included serving as a Senior 3M Coordinators Instructor for the Pacific Fleet and CNO's 3M Program just to name a few.

I retired as the GM "C" School Division Officer / GM School Command Master Chief called "Senior Enlisted Adviser" at the time and was a collateral duty.

IF YOU PARTICIPATED IN ANY MILITARY OPERATIONS, INCLUDING COMBAT, HUMANITARIAN AND PEACEKEEPING OPERATIONS, PLEASE DESCRIBE THOSE WHICH MADE A LASTING IMPACT ON YOU AND, IF LIFE-CHANGING, IN WHAT WAY?
I served in the European Theater of Occupation (Navy 1954-1955), Armed Forces Expedition Lebanon (1958), Armed Forces Expedition Quemoy Matsu (1960/1961), and Vietnam (parts of 1966, 1967, 1968, 1971 and 1972), all were shipboard in the various theaters of operation.

The most memorable was while we waited for what seemed

My Military Operations

like years for the "Missiles Free" order while tracking hostile aircraft over Vietnam and some possibly incoming. The action finally came about in May of 1968 when we were given "Birds Free" as we called it, and two TALOS missiles were fired from the USS Long Beach (CGN-9) and destroyed a MIG-21 at approximately 70 miles out from the ship. This was confirmed and witnessed by the Combat Air Patrol (CAP) of a direct hit by both missiles. There was the satisfaction of the confirmed kill as one of our missile house Gunners Mate's brother was a Marine Lance Corporal and had just been killed in action by a land mine a few days before. This action was the first time in Naval History and made Naval History when a missile had been fired at an enemy in combat from a naval surface ship and was a successful kill to boot.

The Long Beach TALOS team again in September of 1968 engaged a hostile aircraft, received "Birds Free" and launched a twin set of TALOS missiles at the suspected hostile. The aircraft was believed to be another MIG-21 and was destroyed at a range in excess of 80 miles. In April of 1972, while assigned to the USS Chicago (CG-11) and being responsible for the fore and aft Twin TALOS systems, we engaged another hostile aircraft just before the mining of Haiphong Harbor in North Vietnam. The hostile was reported to be a MIG-17 fighter and it was a successful kill at approximately 40 miles from the plane's base. The good radar persons said there were actually two aircraft playing leap frog at the time of intercept and when the debris field cleared, there was nothing to track on the scope and we only got credit for one kill.

During that cruise, USS Chicago along with other Combat Air Patrols (CAPs) accounted for 15 MIG shoot downs. Unsurpassed by any other units, Randy Cunningham became the only Navy Ace in Vietnam during that period and two of his kills occurred with the guidance of USS Chicago's Air Control Team. Both the USS Long Beach and USS Chicago were awarded the Navy Unit Commendation for their crew's actions. I had the privilege of being the Launching System Captain (EP2 Panel Operator) during these successful engagements and was also the Missile House Chief Petty Officer.

We had read reports that USS Chicago's forward Missile House engaged the kill in April of 1972, and this would have been correct if the forward system had not been down due to a missile strike-down problem. The launch and kill was from the aft TALOS Missile House, one bird fired from the A-Rail. USS Chicago also was awarded the Combat Action Ribbon when she came under fire from an enemy shore battery. Approximately 30 to 40 rounds splashed around USS Chicago and her attached destroyers. No hits or casualties occurred.

OF ALL YOUR DUTY STATIONS OR ASSIGNMENTS, WHICH ONE DO YOU HAVE FONDEST MEMORIES OF AND WHY? WHICH WAS YOUR LEAST FAVORITE?
USS Long Beach CGN-9, Classified, Did not really have a least favorite

FROM YOUR ENTIRE MILITARY SERVICE, DESCRIBE ANY MEMORIES YOU STILL REFLECT BACK ON TO THIS DAY.
There are so many memories that stand out, but to answer the question there is one in particular that is burnt into my memory and is with me every day of my life. That is the loss of my closest Shipmate who was killed during an in-shore fire support mission while on the USS Stoddert June of 1972. He was TAD from a Washington assignment to assist in problems incurred with the 5" 54Cal. MK 42 Gun Mount. Nothing overrides that and never will. I owe that to Gus and all who have gone before us. Rest in Peace mates, you are not forgotten.

WHAT PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF FROM YOUR MILITARY CAREER?
Combat Action Ribbon, Vietnam, Navy Unit Commendation, 2nd award Vietnam, Meritorious Unit Commendation, Vietnam, Navy Occupation Medal with Europe Clasp. All indicated in my profile.

OF ALL THE MEDALS, AWARDS, FORMAL PRESENTATIONS AND QUALIFICATION BADGES YOU RECEIVED, OR OTHER MEMORABILIA, WHICH ONE IS THE MOST MEANINGFUL TO YOU AND WHY?
Combat Action Ribbon. Participation in Mining of Haiphong Harbor, North Vietnam 1972.

WHICH INDIVIDUAL(S) FROM YOUR TIME IN THE MILITARY STAND OUT AS HAVING THE MOST POSITIVE IMPACT ON YOU AND WHY?
Master Chief Gunners Mate Robert C. Mersereau USN, Retired (Passed). His role and example as a leader, and exceptional military bearing, he was just exemplary in all areas. You cannot improve on the best. I was an E-5 when Bob and I met and the last time I saw him was in 1972 and we were both Master Chiefs. His guidance paid off.

CAN YOU RECOUNT A PARTICULAR INCIDENT FROM YOUR SERVICE, WHICH MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE BEEN FUNNY AT THE TIME, BUT STILL MAKES YOU LAUGH?
Oh, Christmas Eve of 1954 in Toulon, France comes to mind. My shipmate (Al Bowlby) and I had put in for an overnight pass and the requirement was to attend a bonifide church service. We had actually been invited to a Christmas party at the Toulon Bar and would

My Funniest Military Memory

spend the night there, but just before midnight the bar was closed and all of us went to the Cathedral down the street for midnight mass. Neither Al nor I were Catholic so we just stood in the back with some other people. Most were ladies that were dressed fit to kill. It turned out they were ladies of the evening and we found this out when two of them got into a knock down drag out during the high point of the Mass and the police showed up and hauled them out of the church. Anyway, when church was over, we left to go back to the party at the bar and Al decided he needed to relieve himself and stepped around the corner of the church building. Did I mention that Al was drunk? All I heard out of Al was a rather loud screech and then silence.

I went back into the church and found a gent who had a flashlight and told him what had happened. Why I did not just go see what was up with Al, was probably because there was a sign he walked under and printed in big red letters was "CAUTION UNEXPLODED BOMBS BEYOND THIS POINT." I kind of muttered under my breath, "dumb ass soldier, can't he read?" I shined the light down on Al and he had fallen into the empty basement of a bombed out church building and was just setting down there cussing out the French saying "God...Frogs have done it to me again." Anyway I told him what he had fallen into and advised him not to do too much moving around or to start beating on anything as there were possible unexploded bombs down there with him. He never said another word, even after we retrieved a ladder and got him out. Old Al was white as a sheet when he came out of there. Turns out he had been setting next to the fin assembly of a hunk of U.S. Ordnance (BOMB) partially buried, smoking a cigarette.

Did I also mention that Al was a former Master Sergeant in the Army and had fought all the way through Europe, had about as many decorations as Ike and had a great dislike for the French? They were the first troops he got into a firefight with when he landed in France. Back then, most of the French Fleet was still partially submerged in Toulon Harbor and you could not walk a block without encountering a red and white danger sign of unexploded ammo of some type. That was the only time I remember having a good time in France. Never liked the place, maybe some of Al's bitterness rubbed off on me. Rest in Peace Brother Al.

WHAT PROFESSION DID YOU FOLLOW AFTER YOUR MILITARY SERVICE AND WHAT ARE YOU DOING NOW? IF YOU ARE CURRENTLY SERVING, WHAT IS YOUR PRESENT OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALTY?

My Post-Military Career

After retirement, we were accepted for employment on the staff of Shell Oil Company's home office in Houston, TX but assigned to Shell Western E&P Inc., Michigan Operations Purchasing. That was on October 13th, 1980 and we remained employed with Shell until our retirement on July 1st, 1998. Now I'm totally retired and enjoying life with my bride of forty nine years.

WHAT MILITARY ASSOCIATIONS ARE YOU A MEMBER OF, IF ANY? WHAT SPECIFIC BENEFITS DO YOU DERIVE FROM YOUR MEMBERSHIPS?
All listed in my profile. Life Member of just about all.

IN WHAT WAYS HAS SERVING IN THE MILITARY INFLUENCED THE WAY YOU HAVE APPROACHED YOUR LIFE AND YOUR CAREER? WHAT DO YOU MISS MOST ABOUT YOUR TIME IN THE SERVICE?
The Navy gave me the opportunity to fulfill my lifetime goal. No one can ask for more than that, and we gave them our best back. What I learned in the Navy, we applied in our civilian employment (not always to their liking) but they got the best.

BASED ON YOUR OWN EXPERIENCES, WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO THOSE WHO HAVE RECENTLY JOINED THE NAVY?
Put forth 100% in your job and attitude. There is never a bad day, some just not as good as others. Learn your job completely and train those assigned in the same manner. Always lead and always set a prime example. Treat all fairly, but firmly when needed. f there is a job that will help in your advancement, volunteer for it. Never sit and wait for opportunity to knock. You do the knocking in advance.

Never discriminate, treat all Sailors as equals no matter what the gender. Colors do not exist, race does not exist, and gender does not exist. A Sailor is a Sailor is a Sailor and if they ever learn that then you will have a solid, cohesive Navy career.

There are NO ratings more necessary than others. There are no services more important than others, and everyone is part of the team. In doing so, you will accomplish the Navy's goal and that is to win. Remember, take away the discrimination in all matters and the walls will come down and Team Navy will prevail.

I know this because we have "Been there, and done that!" Have at it.....Guns!

IN WHAT WAYS HAS TOGETHERWESERVED.COM HELPED YOU REMEMBER YOUR MILITARY SERVICE AND THE FRIENDS YOU SERVED WITH.

TWS and the US Navy

For the most part it has enabled us to reconnect with a few shipmates (both Marine and Navy) that we had not seen, or communicated with for years. It also keeps an old guys memory active. NTWS is just a great site.

DS 6/9/16

Published in TWS "Voices" Jan 3, 2011