Best Friends
My classmates: AECS O'Shaughnessy, RMCS Rheinlander, AMCS Mueller, AOC Mitchell, FTC Guthrie, CPO Jenkins, LT Cover, "The Colonel"
Other Memories
Accepted to PEP for duty with German Navy. Checked into Washington Navy Yard and the Defense Language Institute but berthed at Ft. Myers, VA and trained at US Dept of State's Foreign Service Institute in Rosslyn, VA. Studied German language 8 hrs a day for 9 months.
Other Memories
When I got to NAMTD-1012, NAS Moffett Field, CA, I came from duty with VP-46, where we flew P3B aircraft. Lockheed was introducing the P3C aircraft to the Navy. The first squadrons to receive the P3C were the training squadrons VP-30 for East Coast and VP-31 for West Coast. I attended training from Lockheed Aircraft at Burbank, CA, along with others from NAMTD in Patuxent River, MD and Moffett Field, CA, VP-30 and VP-31. Because the P3C was the first to integrate all systems through a mainframe computer, I was part of the original group tasked with developing the P3C Inflight Tech training. I also received training in all the electronic systems of the P3C aircraft from the instructors who received that training from Lockheed and the OEM companies. After setting up the course, I managed to teach a few classes before I was jumped to my next assignment.
Criteria The Navy Unit Commendation may be awarded by the Secretary of the Navy to any unit of the Navy or Marine Corps that distinguishes itself by outstanding heroism in action against an enemy (but not suff... The Navy Unit Commendation may be awarded by the Secretary of the Navy to any unit of the Navy or Marine Corps that distinguishes itself by outstanding heroism in action against an enemy (but not sufficiently to justify the award of the Presidential Unit Citation). It may also be awarded to a unit that distinguishes itself by extremely meritorious service not involving combat (but in support of military operations), which renders that unit outstanding when compared to other units performing similar service. MoreHide
Criteria The Navy Good Conduct Medal (NGCM) is a decoration presented by the United States Navy to recognize members who have completed three years of honorable service. Medals awarded before January 1, 1996 r... The Navy Good Conduct Medal (NGCM) is a decoration presented by the United States Navy to recognize members who have completed three years of honorable service. Medals awarded before January 1, 1996 required four years of service. MoreHide
Criteria The Vietnam Service Medal was awarded to members of the Armed Forces of the United States who served at any time between July 4, 1965, and March 28, 1973, in Vietnam or its contiguous waters or airspa... The Vietnam Service Medal was awarded to members of the Armed Forces of the United States who served at any time between July 4, 1965, and March 28, 1973, in Vietnam or its contiguous waters or airspace; or, for any period of service during the same time period in Thailand, Laos, or Cambodia or the air spaces thereover and in direct support of operations in Vietnam. MoreHide
Criteria This medal is awarded to members of the Armed Forces of the United States who: 1. Served for 6 months in South Vietnam during the period 1 Mar 61 and 28 Mar 73; or 2. Served outside the geographical l... This medal is awarded to members of the Armed Forces of the United States who: 1. Served for 6 months in South Vietnam during the period 1 Mar 61 and 28 Mar 73; or 2. Served outside the geographical limits of South Vietnam and contributed direct combat support to the RVN Armed Forces for an aggregate of six months. Only members of the Armed Forces of the United States who meet the criteria established for the AFEM (Vietnam) or Vietnam Service Medal during the period of service required are considered to have contributed direct combat support to the RVN Armed Forces; or 3. Did not complete the length of service required in item (1) or (2) above, but who, during wartime, were: a. Wounded by the enemy (in a military action); b. Captured by the enemy during action or in the line of duty, but later rescued or released; or c. Killed in action or in the line of duty; or 4. Were assigned in Vietnam on 28 Jan 73, and who served a minimum of 60 calendar days in Vietnam during the period 29 Jan 73 to 28 Mar 73. MoreHide
Other Memories
Arrived from VP-31 as an AT1 and worked at NAS Moffett Field AMD. When I became an ATC in 1968 I transferred back to squadron Avionics, but on the Adak deployment '68-'69 I worked as second shift Maint. Control Chief. On the Cam Rahn Bay deployment '69-'70 I worked Avionics.
Criteria The National Defense Service Medal is awarded for honorable active service as a member of the Armed Forces during the Korean War, Vietnam War, the war against Iraq in the Persian Gulf, and for service... The National Defense Service Medal is awarded for honorable active service as a member of the Armed Forces during the Korean War, Vietnam War, the war against Iraq in the Persian Gulf, and for service during the current War on Terrorism. In addition, all members of the National Guard and Reserve who were part of the Selected Reserve in good standing between August 2, 1990, to November 30, 1995, are eligible for the National Defense Service Medal. In the case of Navy personnel, Midshipment attending the Naval Academy during the qualifying periods are eligible for this award, and Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps (NROTC) Midshipmen ae only eligible if they participated in a summer cruise that was in an area which qualified for a campaign medal. MoreHide
Other Memories
I was at VP-31 for training in NAS North Island, San Diego and at NAS Moffett Field, at Mountain View. I went through Survival school (SERE) and Deep Water Survival school (DWST) for the second time each, in San Diego. I received training as a "Julie" operator, then maintenance training on several P3 systems.
Other Memories
I taught in the AT(A)"N" school, covering all the Communication and Navigation equipment taught by the school. It was a 3 year tour which I thoroughly enjoyed. My wife gave birth to a new baby daughter and I worked nights as a food and drink waiter to help pay the bills. I advanced from AT2 to AT1.
Criteria The Navy Good Conduct Medal (NGCM) is a decoration presented by the United States Navy to recognize members who have completed three years of honorable service. Medals awarded before January 1, 1996 r... The Navy Good Conduct Medal (NGCM) is a decoration presented by the United States Navy to recognize members who have completed three years of honorable service. Medals awarded before January 1, 1996 required four years of service. MoreHide
Best Friends
Don Stark, ATCS James Whetstine, AT2 Robert Wilhite, AT2 (2) Hake brothers
Other Memories
My first duty station after AT school was VU-5 Detachment Bravo, in Naha, Okinawa. I began as a technician working on the KDA drone electronics and in training to drop the drones from the wings of P2 aircraft. I was sent to Barbers Point, Hawaii for survival (SERE) school and Deep Water Survival training. One day I was in the electonics shop and in the background I was listening to the base radio while an aircraft was communicating via CW. Someone asked about the status of that plane and I answered. ATCS Stark realized I was copying CW in my head at over 30 wpm and asked how. I admitted I had been a ham (Amateur Radio Operator) since I was 12. I was immediately transfered to the Avionics Dept and began training as a P2 radio operator. I earned my Aircrew wings, and thoroughly enjoyed flying all over the Western Pacific (Japan, Okinawa, Taiwan, Philippines, Hong Kong, and other places). My original tour was 18 months, but I got a voluntary extension for 12 months, and an involuntary extension of 6 months. I advanced from ATAN (E-3) to AT2 (E-5) and re-enlisted for another 6 years.
Criteria The Navy Good Conduct Medal (NGCM) is a decoration presented by the United States Navy to recognize members who have completed three years of honorable service. Medals awarded before January 1, 1996 r... The Navy Good Conduct Medal (NGCM) is a decoration presented by the United States Navy to recognize members who have completed three years of honorable service. Medals awarded before January 1, 1996 required four years of service. MoreHide
Other Memories
Like most other recruits I learned most of what I was expected to learn. But, in the month of July in San Diego, where the temps were always in the 70s and 80s, I got pneumonia and was admitted to the hospital. That meant I had to be set back two weeks and I graduated from Boot Camp two weeks later than my original shipmates. There were two others in Boot Camp who were in other units but who were from my hometown. Later one of them (Ben McCarthy Greenan) married one of my sisters, and the other (Gary Hildebrand) married another of my sisters.
Assigned to VP-2622. Yep, became a Weekend Warrior! Back to P2s - where I started! Advanced to AVCM first time up.