Dauel, August, AE3

PLEASE DESCRIBE WHO OR WHAT INFLUENCED YOUR DECISION TO JOIN THE NAVY.
I was alway interested in joining the military. My first thought were of joining the Marines. When I was finishing High School I looked into the Navy after reading the the book "A Man Without a Country about Philip Nolan" I became interested in the Navy after the book. Looking back on my choice of the Navy instead of the Marines it's interesting that I retired from the US Army.

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?
I Joined the Navy so my first career path would have to be plane pusher AB as I worked on the hanger deck of the USS Kitty Hawk before becoming involved with the supply system in the S3 department about Kitty Hawk.

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?
Yankee Station - aboard Kitty Hawk Day / Night operations what a blur Then I put in a chit to transfer anywhere I got my wish transferred to the silver strand training in SEAR then an assignment to RVN. Wow what a change no more ports of call just the NAF on Cam Ranh RVN, about half way through the year I got a chance to go work on a smaller base south of Saigon at Na Be. Got to be part of Tet during 1968 - never looked at the operations I was in as an E3 at the time I was interested daily ops not the higher level stuff. Just a sailor doing his job.

OF ALL YOUR DUTY STATIONS OR ASSIGNMENTS, WHICH ONE DO YOU HAVE FONDEST MEMORIES OF AND WHY? WHICH WAS YOUR LEAST FAVORITE?
USS Kitty Hawk I am still in contact with some of my shipmates.

FROM YOUR ENTIRE MILITARY SERVICE, DESCRIBE ANY MEMORIES YOU STILL REFLECT BACK ON TO THIS DAY.
My Last tour in Iraq. 2006

WHAT PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF FROM YOUR MILITARY CAREER?
None of my awards were for Valor. Thank God. I honor all who have be awarded awards for Valor.

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?
My Bronze Star that I received for my performance of duty in Iraq.

WHICH INDIVIDUAL(S) FROM YOUR TIME IN THE MILITARY STAND OUT AS HAVING THE MOST POSITIVE IMPACT ON YOU AND WHY?
LT PACE USN he was an enlisted man prior to becoming a LT in the Navy - I still remember the first word he said to me when I was Introduced to him in the hanger deck control I had just got off the C-1 mail plane and was chewing gum. He told me he smoked and he notice I was chewing gum and told me to chew gum in the right places. Well I learned to like him later. Kind of a hard nut.

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?
Looking for the mail watch on the fan tail of the USS Kitty Hawk - Yes I fell for the old mail watch gage.

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?
I have worked within the telecommunication industry most of my career.

WHAT MILITARY ASSOCIATIONS ARE YOU A MEMBER OF, IF ANY? WHAT SPECIFIC BENEFITS DO YOU DERIVE FROM YOUR MEMBERSHIPS?
AL, VFW, VVA,

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?
I have tried to be honest and willing to change as required - the military really make you get use to change every day is different.

BASED ON YOUR OWN EXPERIENCES, WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO THOSE WHO HAVE RECENTLY JOINED THE NAVY?
Stay in and gain as much education and experience as you can the time really fly - when you look back at the history you create for yourself.

IN WHAT WAYS HAS TOGETHERWESERVED.COM HELPED YOU REMEMBER YOUR MILITARY SERVICE AND THE FRIENDS YOU SERVED WITH.
So Far I am just starting with my Together site and info I am sure I will find more Vets I served with.