Donaldson, Robert, Sr., AWC

PLEASE DESCRIBE WHO OR WHAT INFLUENCED YOUR DECISION TO JOIN THE NAVY.
I had many influences in joining the Navy. My step-father was a career (22+ yrs) Sailor and a veteran of WWII, Korea, Cuban Missile Crisis & Vietnam. I was an alternate appointee to the US Naval Academy, but never got selected. I had always wanted to be involved with aviation in general and flying in particular. The Air Force recruiter didn't have any openings available. My kid brother was friends with the local Navy recruiter and introduced me to him, he showed me a video about Naval Aircrewman and I was hooked.

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?
Boot Camp @ RTC Great Lakes; AW "A" School @ NATTC Memphis; S-3A Sensor Operator (SENSO) Training @ VS-41, NAS North Island; 1st sea duty tour was with the VS-28 "World Famous Hukkers" of NAS Cecil Field. Deployed to the Mediterranean Sea aboard the USS America (CV-66) & to the Indian Ocean aboard USS Independence (CV-62); Re-enlisted for Instructor Duty; Instructor Basic Training @ NATTC Millington; Instructor @ Fleet Aviation Specialized Operational Training Group Atlantic Fleet Detachment (FASOTRAGRULANT Det.) Cecil Field for shore duty; 2nd sea duty tour, again with VS-28, deployed to the North Atlantic Ocean, Mediterranean Sea & Indian Ocean aboard the USS Forrestal (CV-59). Selected for and advanced to Chief Petty Officer during this tour; Re-enlisted again; 2nd shore duty tour was as an instructor with the VP-30 Pro's @ NAS Jacksonville, with a TAD assignment to Commander, Patrol Wing Eleven (CPW-11) as Leading Chief (LCPO) of the Tactical Training Team (TTT).

Re-enlisted again; Anti-Submarine Warfare Operational Center / Tactical Support Center (ASWOC / TSC) Watch Officer training @ Fleet Combat Training Center, Atlantic Fleet (FCTCL) Dam Neck; 1st overseas tour @ Commander, Fleet Air Keflavik (COMFAIRKEF) Iceland. LCPO of the Special Projects Department & the Operations Department. I was one of the first CPO's to fully qualify and be designated as an ASWOC / TSC Watch Officer; 3rd shore duty tour was as an instructor and assistant LCPO @ AW "A" School, first @ NATTC Millington, then after a Base Re-Alignment Committee (BRAC) move, NATTC Pensacola. I Re-enlisted for the final time during this tour. The Presiding Officer was my brother, LT Ken Donaldson, aboard the "Memphis Belle" B-17 memorial park in Memphis, TN. This site was chosen to honor my great uncle, who had been a B-17 pilot during WWII; I retired from active duty aboard NATTC Pensacola after 22+ years of faithful and honorable service.

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 was very fortunate that I never had to conduct actual combat missions during my career, but my career did span some of the more heightened tensions of the Cold War Era. The closest I came to an actual combat mission, was during my second deployment to the Indian Ocean. As part of Operation "Ernest Will", our squadron planned and implemented the first low level reconnaissance missions into and around the Persian and Arabian Gulf areas, from the Straits of Hormuz to Kuwait and back just outside the territorial waters of Iran. We had fighter, tanker & ECM cover the entire time we were there, but we never got any reaction from Iranian forces. Also once my plane kind of drifted into foreign airspace without permission. We were there only a minute or two, but the pilot and TACCO had some tap dancing explaining to do with the Battle Group Commander. While we weren't intercepted, an alert had been generated. Names, date and location have been omitted to protect the guilty. :-)

FROM YOUR ENTIRE MILITARY SERVICE, DESCRIBE ANY MEMORIES YOU STILL REFLECT BACK ON TO THIS DAY.
Pick one? You're kidding right? My career was so full of excitement, opportunity and fellowship it would be impossible to chose. It's like asking which child do you love most.

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?
Without a doubt my Naval Aircrew Wings are the most meaningful to me. They represent not only the hard work I had to accomplish to get them, but also the continuing hard work to keep them.

WHICH INDIVIDUAL(S) FROM YOUR TIME IN THE MILITARY STAND OUT AS HAVING THE MOST POSITIVE IMPACT ON YOU AND WHY?
Again it's impossible to pick one individual. AW2 Clyde Coleburn was my "Sea Daddy" during my first tour. He taught me how to be the best AW / naval Aircrewman I could be. AW1 Larry Walker was my first LPO, and from him I learned how to be the best sailor I could be. AWC Cecil Watkins saved my career with his council when I had lost sight of my responsibilities as a young petty officer, and CDR Ray Laturno saved my career again when I had made a serious error in judgement. The leadership & council of these four men were the cornerstone to my having the successful career I did. I am forever grateful to them.

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?
The devil may care "Blue Viking Flight Demonstration Team" routine is always good for a memorable laugh. Included maneuvers are the "Turkey on a Spit" 360 degree slow roll, the "Bat-A-Buoy" with your tailhook, and the "Fuel Dump" over the F-4's or F-14's that were in our air wing.

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?
After I retired, I took on several different jobs. I was a bartender, a waiter and a restaurant manager. I worked customer service in a call center for a major cable company. I was a delivery driver for the daily newspaper and a flower shop. Currently I am a Safety Observer for Sikorsky Aerospace Maintenance.

WHAT MILITARY ASSOCIATIONS ARE YOU A MEMBER OF, IF ANY? WHAT SPECIFIC BENEFITS DO YOU DERIVE FROM YOUR MEMBERSHIPS?
For a long while I was a member of the Fleet Reserve Association (FRA). I left that organization as I felt that their lobbying efforts were not bearing the fruit needed to protect our veterans and recognize the sacrifices they are still making today.

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?
Yes, an easy question. Self-discipline and personal responsibility.

BASED ON YOUR OWN EXPERIENCES, WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO THOSE WHO HAVE RECENTLY JOINED THE NAVY?
If you are making the military a career, do not get married. The stresses of today's deployment schedules make a married life almost impossible to survive. Sure there are exceptions, as there are in everything about life, but save yourself the grief, enjoy YOUR career, retire, then get married. If you feel you must get married before you retire, ensure you learn EVERYTHING about the Uniformed Services Former Spouse Protection Act (USFSPA) before tying the knot. If you are not making the military a career, take advantage of every training and educational benefit available and ensure your accomplishments are documented properly in your records for later use in the civilian world.

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

TWS and the US Navy

I first became aware of Togetherweserved.com through an invite from my good shipmate, AWCS Roger Mabry. Since becoming a full member (and plankowner) I have been able to update the status of numerous people I was associated with, whether it was a casual, formal or lasting relationship. I recommend this site regularly to those I meet through other means, so that they may do the same. I have found that this site is the best for remembering and documenting your own service or for honoring the service of others. The format is easy to use, the topics are current and relevant, and the administration and costs are most reasonable. Without a doubt, I find this the best veteran's site for pure fellowship with former shipmates.

DS 2/7/17