Best Moment
Mady and I both loved being stationed in Hawaii. The weather was perfect 95% of the time and we also enjoyed living in the Army Housing in Alimano Crater close to SUBASE Pearl Harbor. The cost of living was not bad if you stayed in Government Housing and shopped at the commissaries and exchange facilities on the military bases. There was always something to do for entertainment and dining in Honolulu and the beaches were fantastic. If the cost of housing wasn't so expensive off base and if there were better opportunities for getting a good job for a second career, I would have seriously considering retiring there.
Other Memories
I was the Leading Chief for the Training Department on the Staff and was responsible for obtaining quotas and funding travel for all officers and enlisted personnel assigned to submarines, Submarine Squadrons, and Submarine Tenders in the Pacific Fleet. It was a big jog but I had outstanding personnel working for me that made it seem easy. I had planned that my assignment to COMSUBPAC Staff in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii was going to be my final tour in the Navy.
I was selected for advancement to Master Chief in 1985, but made the decision to decline advancement and retired as an YNCS(SS) with 27 years in July 1986.
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
Comments
SIXTH AWARD for service completed 14 December 1984.
Criteria The Sea Service Deployment Ribbon is awarded to members of the Navy and Marine Corps assigned to U.S. homeported (including Hawaii and Alaska) ships, deploying units, or Fleet Marine Force commands, f... The Sea Service Deployment Ribbon is awarded to members of the Navy and Marine Corps assigned to U.S. homeported (including Hawaii and Alaska) ships, deploying units, or Fleet Marine Force commands, for 12 months accumulated sea duty, or for duty with the Fleet Marine Force that includes at least one deployment of 90 consecutive days. MoreHide
Description
Served on five diesel submarines and two nuclear submarines for a total period of 15 years if active sea duty.
Best Moment
Outstanding Tour as the Senior Chief Yeoman (SS) in the Administrative Department. It was amazing to see the Navy's newest and most modern Base being built during my tour. What beautiful facilities we had.
Other Memories
When Mady and I arrived at Submarine Base Kings Bay, Georgia we were surprised at how small the closest cities were. There were a few gas stations and auto repair shops, a couple of grocery stores, drug stores and a few small restaurants that catered to tourists. We couldn't find a vacant apartment to rent in the area and ended up renting a small apartment in Fernandina Beach, Florida about 40 miles from the base for four months while we had a new home being built. As I best recall, there was very little traffic and only a couple of traffic lights in the city back then. One of the nice things about the area was that everyone seemed real friendly and made us feel right at home. In January 1981 we were blessed with the birth of our son Mark and he quickly became the center of all our attention for the remainder of our three year tour there. We quickly found out that this was going to be a good place to retire and to raise our son. The school systems were already good here and the Navy was getting a lot of special funding sent to the area to help them build new schools and other facilities to make them even better.
Criteria The Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal may be awarded to members of the Armed Forces in the grades of lieutenant commander (or major) and below. It is awarded for meritorious service or achieveme... The Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal may be awarded to members of the Armed Forces in the grades of lieutenant commander (or major) and below. It is awarded for meritorious service or achievement in either combat or noncombat based on sustained performance or specific achievement of a superlative nature but which does not warrant a Navy Commendation Medal or higher. It may not be awarded for service involving participation in aerial flight after January 1, 1969. MoreHide
Comments First Award for Professional Achievement in the superior performance of duties as Leading Yeoman in USS GRAYBACK (SS 574) from March 1977 through July 1980.
Second Award for Professional Achievement fr... First Award for Professional Achievement in the superior performance of duties as Leading Yeoman in USS GRAYBACK (SS 574) from March 1977 through July 1980.
Second Award for Professional Achievement from September 1980 through June 1983 at Naval Submarine Base, Kings Bay, Georgia MoreHide
Best Moment
Six months prior to transfer back to the "real world" a "sweet and innocent" 19-year old Filipino Ship Repair Facility Apprentice worker (Madelyn Borja) came on board the GRAYBACK to put some tile in the Wardroom. I had a touch of temporary insanity, allowing myself to be captured, married Mady, and brought my newly acquired "Philippine Souvenir" back to "reality" in the good old USA! We had a beautiful wedding in Mady's home town San Felipe, Zambales, Philippines. The Commanding Officer of GRAYBACK Jim Carroll and his wife Joan acted as my parents during the ceremony and about 15 other GRAYBACK Officers and enlisted men attended the wedding.
Worst Moment
I never had a "worse moment" on the GRAYBACK. It was the best tour I had in the Navy and the only place I was stationed that proved to be better than all the wonderful stories I had heard about the liberty there. Really enjoyed traveling to other ports around WESTPAC on GRAYBACK.
Chain of Command
To provide an example of how great our Chain of Command was, we requested permission to have a "Filipino Sweetie Cruise" instead of a dependents cruise because the majority of our officers and men were single and only a few of our crew members were married. Not sure how he did it, but our CO announced later that he received approval to have a "GRAYBACK Sweetie Cruise." We ended up taking our Philippine National Girlfriends at sea on GRAYBACK for a trip overnight to Manila, stayed there for the weekend, and returned with us overnight again to Subic Bay. What a fantastic trip that was!!!
Other Memories
In February 1977, USS GRAYBACK (SS 574) home ported in Subic Bay, Philippines needed a leading yeoman. Being the patriotic shipmate that I was, and considering that I was a "single chief" and didn't want to have to place this burden on my married constituents, I volunteered to undertake that tremendous burden to represent his country in the Philippines for a 15-month tour. Not wanting anyone else to have to bear the heavy responsibilities I was faced with on that tour in WESTPAC, I also agreed to keep extending and stayed there for 3 1/2 years. When I first arrived in the Philippines, every night that I went out in Olongapo on liberty I became more convinced that "I had died and gone to Heaven!" Every bar, nightclub and restaurant you went to there were beautiful young Filipino girls. There was no doubt that the only reason they were there was "to make us sailors happy" and they were extremely good at accomplishing that task.
I was advanced to YNCS(SS) in 1980 just prior to transfer to SUBASE Kings Bay, Georgia.
Criteria The Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal may be awarded to members of the Armed Forces in the grades of lieutenant commander (or major) and below. It is awarded for meritorious service or achieveme... The Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal may be awarded to members of the Armed Forces in the grades of lieutenant commander (or major) and below. It is awarded for meritorious service or achievement in either combat or noncombat based on sustained performance or specific achievement of a superlative nature but which does not warrant a Navy Commendation Medal or higher. It may not be awarded for service involving participation in aerial flight after January 1, 1969. MoreHide
Comments
Professional Achievement in the superior performance of duties as Leading Yeoman in USS GRAYBACK (SS 574) from March 1977 through July 1980.
Best Moment
Working as a Nuclear Submarine Personnel Detailer was a good job and I learned a lot about how to get things done at the Bureau of Naval Personnel. It really felt good when you were able to get someone an assignment that they wanted or provide a submarine with the background and training they needed. Being stationed in the DC area was also ideal for a single Chief. There was always something different to do while on liberty and if you ate at a different restaurant every day, you would never be able to eat at all the restaurants in DC in a three year tour. I especially enjoyed going on Detailer Trips both in CONUS and Overseas several times each year to meet with our shipmates and offer them assistance in getting their next assignment.
Other Memories
In January 1975, I was offered a TEMAC Yeoman Billet in BUPERS, Washington, DC in the Deserter Section. Within a few months at BUPERS in early 1975, I was also offered an assignment to become a Nuclear Submarine Detailer if I would recall to active duty for two years. I accepted that also and became Nuclear Detailer Office Distribution Coordinator and Nuclear Power School Graduate Student Detailer.
Best Moment
I thoroughly enjoyed being a TEMAC Reserve Recruiter at the Naval Reserve Center in Stockton. The only Navy Base in the area was a small Navy Communication Station there and you rarely saw anyone out in town in uniform. Almost everywhere I went in uniform I was treated very well and made a lot of new friends while I was there.
Worst Moment
I only spent about eight months after reporting to the Naval Reserve Center, Stockton, CA to recruit prior active duty members into the reserve units there. Because of commencement of the All Volunteer Force and end of the Draft System, I was forced to transfer to the Regular Navy Recruiting Station in downtown Stockton to recruit active duty members. I still enjoyed Recruiting, but the long hours and problems trying to find qualified applicants made it extremely difficult to make our monthly recruiting quotas assigned to that station. I eventually ended up being the Recruiter-in-Charge and our monthly required quotas per recruiter doubled. We were constantly being scolded and micro-managed by the Recruiting District and morale was terrible. It got so bad that I decided to terminate my Temporary Active Duty Contract there. After talking to the Naval Reserve TEMAC Detailer in BUPERS, I was offered and accepted a TEMAC Yeoman Billet in the Deserter Section in BUPERS.
Other Memories
While I was in separations in Treasure Island, CA I was recruited to become a TEMAC Recruiter and assigned to the Naval Reserve Center in Stockton, CA. I had passed the advancement exam for advancement to Chief just prior to getting out of the Navy, so when I reported as a TEMAC Reserve Recruiter, they received authority to advance me to YNC(SS) in July 1972. I stayed in Stockton and eventually ended up being the Recruiter-in-Charge of the regular Navy Recruiting Station in downtown Stockton at the beginning of the All-Volunteer Force in the military and served there for two years.
Worst Moment
I received a set of message orders to report in nine days to the USS SEAWOLF (SSN 575) in Groton, CT because they lost their YNC due to injuries in a bar fight in St. Thomas, Virgin Islands. They had been without a Yeoman or striker for almost two months when I reported aboard and had to leave on a five month MED Cruise four days after reporting aboard. There were several bags of mail stacked outside the ships office that had not been opened, about 20 service records of shipmates that needed to be transferred off the ship or reported on board properly prior to departure, and no pre-deployment reports had been submitted yet. I walked into the Ship's Office in time to catch the XO trying to "hunt and peck" type a report to Admiral Rickover. You get the picture of what kind of tour that was going to be! Upon returning from the MED Cruise (which crew members had less than 15 liberty days and only three liberty ports) within a few weeks they were sent on a six-week Northern Run. Upon returning they found out SEAWOLF had been picked to be a Special Project Boat and would be changing home port to Mare Island, CA within a couple of months. Shortly after arriving in Mare Island, the Division Commander came aboard and was not happy with the pre-overhaul nuclear testing. He relieved the CO, sent the entire engineering department Chiefs and about 12 petty officers to the Submarine Group for disqualification and NEC removal. Shortly after that, the XO was transferred early to another XO tour and later the Engineer was also canned. The whole engineering department was on 12-hour watches and port and starboard duty for over six months until we could start getting some qualified reliefs. The morale was terrible! I would have done anything to get back to a diesel boat!
Other Memories
I had been selected to attend junior college for two years under the ADCOP Program in mid-1970. At the end of his SEAWOLF tour in July 1972, they continued to tell me that they couldn't let me go to college because they did not have enough Yeoman in the Submarine Force to provide a relief, so I made the decision to get out of the Navy. Strangely enough, just before I got transferred to separations, the detailers found a YNCS(SS) and YNSN to relieve me.
Best Moment
I enjoyed my short tour on RONCADOR and had some good times there. I learned a lot about the Naval Reserve Programs from the active duty Station Keepers at the Naval Reserve Center. I was kept busy taking care of our Reserve Training Submarine Administrative/Personnel Records and Reports while also maintaining the personnel records and administrative duties for two Submarine Reserve Divisions Divisions there. The only down side was that I had to be there all weekend once each month and one night each week to assist the reserve divisions.
Worst Moment
After only completing 18 months of his 48 month shore tour on RONCADOR, Bob received a set of message orders to the USS SEAWOLF (SSN 575) in Groton, CT because they lost their YNC due to injuries in a bar fight in St. Thomas, Virgin Islands. He had to report within nine days with no leave authorized because SEAWOLF was scheduled to depart on a five month MED Cruise five days after I reported aboard.
Criteria The Meritorious Unit Commendation may be awarded by the Secretary of the Navy to any unit of the Navy or Marine Corps that distinguishes itself under combat or noncombat conditions by either valorous ... The Meritorious Unit Commendation may be awarded by the Secretary of the Navy to any unit of the Navy or Marine Corps that distinguishes itself under combat or noncombat conditions by either valorous or meritorious achievement which renders that unit outstanding compared to other units performing similar service, but not sufficient to justify the award of the Navy Unit Commendation. MoreHide
Description
Awarded to Staff of Commander Submarine Development Group TWO on 15 MAY 1969
Best Moment
This was one of the best tours I had in the Navy. The Wardroom was outstanding and the crew was great too. I can't recall any period when the morale wasn't the best I had seen on any boat up to this point in my Naval Career. I went TAD to Yeoman "B" School in Bainbridge, MD and graduated 20 JAN 1967.
Worst Moment
In March of 1968, shortly after advancing to YN1(SS), I received my first set of shore duty orders (after 8 years of sea duty) and the orders told me to report to the Brig at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard for a three year tour of shore duty. I nearly went crazy! I immediately got on the phone to the detailers at BUPERS and wanted to know why I got those orders since everything on his Duty Preference Card was for West Coast and Overseas Duty. As you can guess, one of the detailers thought he was doing me a favor when he saw I was from the state of Maine. Needless to say, after some horrid threats, the detailer sent me a new set of orders to report to the USS RONCADOR (AGSS 301), a Reserve Training Submarine in Long Beach, California for a four year tour.
Other Memories
I was advanced to YN2(SS) prior to being transferred back to TULLIBEE in August 1966, undergoing a major overhaul back in Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, Kittery, Maine. The boat was in dry dock my entire tour and liberty was great, but I was a New England Yankee that joined the Navy to see the world and wasn't happy being transferred back to Portsmouth Naval Shipyard three miles from his home where I grew up!
Best Moment
In April 1963 I was sent TAD to Yeoman "A" School in Bainbridge, Maryland. I found out I had passed the YN3 advancement exam and was advanced to YN3(SS) during YN "A" School. Needless to say, that was the closest I ever came to being "God" while in the Navy. As a YN3(SS) in "A" school I didn't have to march to class or put up with any crap the other students were taking.
Other Memories
While assigned to the Staff I was the Classified Material Control Clerk and later became the Personnel Support Clerk. We were in three section duty and had to go to sea on submarines at leas 48 hours per month to continue to draw Submarine Pay. Since DEVGRU TWO was a Research and Development Squadron we prepared and published a lot of documents and reports reguarding new systems and equipment being tested on our submarines.
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
Best Moment
ALBACORE was an Amazing Boat. Her official motto, "Praenuntius Futuri" or "Forerunner of the Future" was to prove appropriately chosen for the many innovative systems and devices that were to be tried on Albacore. Even with her limited conventional battery power, she could reach twenty-seven knots in short bursts. But speed was not her sole asset. She could do tight turns and dives as if she were a jet plane. In fact, her control room resembled the cockpit of a jet, her diving officer directing her course and depth with a single "stick" while strapped into a bucket seat complete with seat belt. Her crew, as she dived and turned with startling swiftness, hung on to overhead straps like subway riders. Albacore was a bust as a target. She easily outran and outmaneuvered anything that went after her. It would take time, but the end was inevitable. From Albacore, the design all of the Navy's modern, nuclear-powered submarines has evolved. A Phase 3 Modification placed the after control surfaces in an X-configuration which increased the size of the controls for greater maneuverabilty and reintroduced the dorsal rudder. A new bow was installed and a series of ten dive brakes were installed around the periphery of the hull to aid in slowing the boat down in case of an uncontrolled high speed dive. An earlier alternate to the dive brakes was the use of a large parachute, borrowed from the local Air Force base, which was used to decelerate a B-47 jet bomber after landing. The chute was mounted on the top of the sail with the expectation that the deployed chute would not only slow the boat down but would also pull the bow up and decrease the down angle. The next Phase 4 Modification configuration added a second main motor driving a second, counter-rotating propeller for greater propulsion efficiency. A high capacity silver-zinc battery was installed as was a new, semi-automatic propulsion control cubicle. Also installed were an emergency recovery system and a new main ballast tank blow system. Albacore received a high capacity silver-zinc battery with many times the energy storage capacity of the lead-acid battery it replaced. It was with this battery that Albacore reclaimed the title of the world's fastest submarine in 1966. Albacore pioneered the single control yoke for bow and stern planes and rudder. Thus, one person (the pilot) was able to perform the functions formerly done by three. By combining other functions, the number of crew members required to dive and operate the boat submerged was reduced from ten to three - the Conning Officer, a pilot and another crew member to operate the blow and vent and trim manifolds. A Combined Instrumentation Panel placed a set of miniaturized instruments in front of the pilot and co-pilot. These instruments included a depth gauge, inclination bubble, gyro repeater, and bow and stern plane indicators. An aircraft artificial horizon was used as a single flight instrument for high speed submerged cruising. An autopilot system was also tried on Albacore. It was essentially a system borrowed from a blimp. The system eliminated human failures due to lack of coordination or slow reaction, stress, fatigue, boredom, and distraction. With the autopilot engaged, the boat was quieter and operated with less large control surface motion. A totally separate hydraulic system was added during Phase 4 that gave the Conning Officer the capability to take control of the stern planes in case of a casualty. Operation of the system was by a lever, referred to as the 'chicken switch', which was located overhead at the conning station in the Control Room. The loss of the Thresher brought about a review of existing ballast tank blow systems which determined that valve and piping changes were necessary to maximize air flow to the tanks. Albacore tested various components of an improved ballast tank blow system which was incorporated in all submarines.
Worst Moment
I remember the time we were coming out of the yard in Portsmouth and on our first dive, the bow dropped like a rock. Next thing I knew, we were headed straight down and wound up hitting the bottom hard and stopping. I recall being told later that we apparently had got stuck in mud. Fortunately, we were only in a couple of hundred feet of water, but we were stuck in large degree down angle which would make it almost impossible for a rescue attempt. Everything was dark and quiet until the Captain gave the order to switch to emergency lighting and "Blow the forward tanks, and ordered All back full." The boat shook a lot but we didn't break loose from the bottom. Our batteries were low on power and we were limited on air pressure to do another emergency blow. In addition, we were low on oxygen in the boat, so the Captain ordered the Smoking Lamp Out and for everyone not on watch to rest in their bunks to limit the use of oxygen in the boat. Needless to say everyone in the crew had been saying prayers that we get out of that situation safely. After resting for several hours, the Captain tried the Emergency Blow System again and Ordered All Back Full and we finally shook loose and wound up surfacing backwards."
Other Memories
I was ordered to report to the ALBACORE because their Leading Yeoman and Yeoman Striker both had been reassigned to he USS THRESHER (SSN 593) to fill a vacancy there. I only stayed on ALBACORE for five months until they had a YN1(SS) replace me.
Best Moment
I went TAD to Yeoman "A" School in Bainbridge, Maryland for six weeks. I found out I had passed the YN3 advancement exam and was advanced to YN3(SS) during YN "A" School. Needless to say, that was the closest I ever came to being "God" while in the Navy. As a YN3(SS) in "A" school I didn't have to march to class or put up with any crap the other students were taking.
Worst Moment
In April 1963 I was told I would be required to drive the Commodore up to Kittery, Maine and ride the USS TRESHER (SSN 593) out on sea trials with him to get my sea time for Submarine Pay. The night before we were scheduled to leave, the Commodore received a call from Admiral Grenfell (COMSUBLANT) telling him to cancel his trip to THRESHER and come to Norfolk for an important meeting. Three days after our trip to THRESHER was cancelled we received a message that THRESHER was missing. Later it was determined that THRESHER had sunk at sea in the Atlantic Ocean with 126 men aboard. Everyone in the Submarine Force was shocked. We had not lost a submarine since WWII. I felt very lucky that fate had left me back in New London instead of riding the THRESHER out on sea trials. I was extremely saddened at the loss of all those men. I had served with both of the Yeoman while on the ALBACORE. I also lost a 19 year old Seaman cousin of mine from who I had helped get assigned to THRESHER and an Uncle who was a shipyard worker who were both from Portsmouth, NH. I had also been shipmates with several of the other navy men that went down with THRESHER.
Other Memories
Our Commodore was responsible for the investigation to search and locate the THRESHER and find out what happened. All of us on the Staff were working long hours typing and preparing the investigative reports of the THRESHER Search Team. For several months the Staff was frantically trying to assist the families of the men lost on THRESHER in getting their affairs in order and obtaining their benefits and entitlements. There is no way to describe the horrible experience it was for those families during that period. At that time there was no government sponsored life insurance for active duty men and very little financial assistance to provide their families. Only a couple of the men had a Will. But because of that horrible situation, Congress quickly acted and passed laws to provide active duty military life insurance , legal assistance for wills, and more death benefits to help families in the future.
Best Moment
It was a very busy time for me trying to learn a new job handling all incoming and outgoing mail for this large staff with very little experience and limited typing ability. I was standing three section duty where I had to stand duty all night at the building and was normally assigned administrative tasks to accomplish each evening that I had duty. This actually turned out being a good thing because it forced me to learn a lot about all areas of the Yeoman Rating.
Other Memories
I was transferred to COMSUBDEVGRU TWO Staff in New London, CT when they needed a yeoman striker.
Best Moment
I then transferred to the ALBACORE in the shipyard in Kittery, Maine in June 1962. How many sub sailors have had the opportunity to be on a boat with "dive brakes," and "Air Force B-59 Drag Chutes" to slow them down in high speed operations, and can't go to sea more than a few days because they have to come back to home port to recharge the Silver Nitrate batteries!
Worst Moment
I wasn't very happy when I got my orders because I had joined the Navy to "See the World" and the ALBACORE was in the shipyard about two miles from my home in Eliot, Maine. However, I decided to move into the barracks at the Shipyard rather than living at home with my parents to feel a little more independent. The ALBACORE already had a Yeoman Striker on board, so I was assigned to the Deck Department. Because of the shortage of Seaman on board, I had to do another tour at Mess Cooking even though I was already Qualified in Submarines. One time we made a trip to operate in the New London, Connecticut area and had to be towed into the pier at the SUBASE for repairs. Needless to say that was a little embarrassing!
Other Memories
We did have some neat port visits at Bar Harbor, Maine during a Lobster Festival and Salem, Mass. for the Witchcraft festival while on ALBACORE and the Liberty was great in both places.
Best Moment
Upon completion of overhaul, TENCH went back to it's homeport in Groton, CT and commenced normal operations. They had port visits in Bermuda and Halifax, Canada; went South on a Springboard Operation, and did some Sub School Operations. The most memorable event was a five-month MED Cruise. It was fantastic! They spent more than 85% of their time in port tied up to the main pier area in each city and had a chance to see a lot of different places. They visited Rota and Palma Mallorca, Spain; Naples (twice), La Spezia and Geneva, Italy; Athens, Greece; Cagliari, Sardinia; Palermo, Sicily; Nice, France; spent 20 days in Monaco for Christmas and New Yearâ??s; and went to Lisbon, Portugal before returning home. I Qualified in Submarines while on that trip in Spain and his shipmates said I really enjoyed "drinking my Dolphins" in that bar in Palma. For some reason I couldn't recall most of that memorable event!!
I can recall when stationed on the diesel submarine USS TENCH (SS417) back in 1961 doing operations in the MED we were playing war games with the SIXTH Fleet and pretended to be a Russian Diesel Boat trying to attack the U.S. Aircraft Carrier.
At that time, our Commanding Officer had no restrictions on depth, or any other methods he decided to utilize to evade detection to get through the fleet of ships surrounding and protecting the carrier from attack.
Our Captain (LCDR Mills) was extremely sharp and was able to get us through the pack of ships undetected.
We got so close to the Carrier that we were able shoot flares up close to him, that must have scared the heck out of anyone on the carrier deck, to show we could have hit him with several torpedoes.
In addition, the Navigator was able to take periscope photos of the Carriers' screws turning close in front of us submerged at periscope depth. Needless to say when copies of the photos were sent to the CO of the Carrier, word got back to us that he wasn't to happy seeing them.
Worst Moment
Prior to departure on the MED cruise, the Yeoman noticed that I had the highest Clerical Score on my ASVAB Test of anyone in the Seaman Gang and told the XO he needed a striker. The XO called me in and told me that I will work for the Yeoman about 4 hours a day during the trip. I told him I didn't know how to type and didn't want to become a Yeoman. The XO got a typing manual from his wife (a teacher in a local school) and gave me a direct order to teach myself how to type during the MED cruise. At the end of the cruise I could barely type 30 words per minute on an electric typewriter. Also, every time we pulled into a new port on the MED Cruise there were a lot of bags of mail waiting on the pier for us and I had to help the Yeoman take care of before I went on liberty. In addition, I was still required to keep up with the Submarine Qualification Program and also stand Lookout, Helmsman, Planes, Topside Watches and perform other Deck Seaman Duties. Needless to say, this made it difficult to keep from becoming "Delinquent" in Submarine Qualifications.
Other Memories
upon completion of Submarine School, I reported to the USS TENCH (SS417) undergoing an extensive overhaul in Philadelphia Naval Shipyard. As luck would have it, the Canadians in my SUBSCOL class also were reporting to their new boat in Philadelphia. What an experience! You couldn't begin to imagine how hard it was to spend six months in Philadelphia being supervised on liberty by the Canadian " Bubbleheads." What better way to start a Navy career!
Best Moment
I enlisted in the Naval Submarine Reserve Division at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, Kittery, Maine aboard the Naval Reserve Submarine USS SEA LION when I turned 17 in FEB 1959 and still a Junior at Eliot High School, Eliot, Maine. When I was ordered to report for two years active duty in December 1960 I wasn't required to go to Boot Camp and reported directly to Naval Submarine School.
Other Memories
I really enjoyed attending weekly and sometimes weekend reserve meetings on the USS SEA LION. I also attended two weeks of Naval Submarine School, New London, CT in July 1959 and graduated with a designator SN(SP). It was a lot of fun being able to ride the diesel submarines conducting Submarine School Training and learning how to stand lookout, helm, planes and other watches at sea.
Best Moment
I commenced active duty in DEC 60 at Naval Submarine School, Groton, Connecticut. Because I was advanced to SA(SP) prior to commencement of active duty, I was ordered directly to Submarine School without being required to attend Boot Camp.
Worst Moment
Submarine School was quite difficult for me even though I had been in a Submarine Reserve Division for about a 16 months prior to reporting for active duty. I really didn't a lot of knowledge of basic mechanical, electrical or electronic systems so I had to study a lot more than most of the other students to be able to pass required tests on the systems weekly.
Other Memories
At Submarine School I was fortunate that half of my class were Canadian Submarine Sailors being trained to operate a U.S. Diesel Submarine to be turned over to Canada. In February 1961 upon completion of Submarine School, I got orders to report to the USS TENCH (SS417) undergoing an extensive overhaul in Philadelphia Naval Shipyard. As luck would have it, the Canadians in my class also were reporting to their new boat in Philadelphia.
Mady and I both loved being stationed in Hawaii. The weather was perfect 95% of the time and we also enjoyed living in the Army Housing in Alimano Crater close to SUBASE Pearl Harbor. The cost of living was not bad if you stayed in Government Housing and shopped at the commissaries and exchange facilities on the military bases. There was always something to do for entertainment and dining in Honolulu and the beaches were fantastic. If the cost of housing wasn't so expensive off base and if there were better opportunities for getting a good job for a second career, I would have seriously considering retiring there.
I was the Leading Chief for the Training Department on the Staff and was responsible for obtaining quotas and funding travel for all officers and enlisted personnel assigned to submarines, Submarine Squadrons, and Submarine Tenders in the Pacific Fleet. It was a big jog but I had outstanding personnel working for me that made it seem easy.
I had planned that my assignment to COMSUBPAC Staff in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii was going to be my final tour in the Navy.
I was selected for advancement to Master Chief in 1985, but made the decision to decline advancement and retired as an YNCS(SS) with 27 years in July 1986.