After a very fulfilling 38-year Navy career, I completed a second career in the government. Now retired, I'm doing some of the other important things in life!
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A New Jersey native, after high school in 1968, I immediately enlisted in the United States Navy. Following basic training at RTC, Great Lakes, I was first assigned to USS ISLE ROYALE (AD 29) followed by the USS JOHN PAUL JONES (DDG 32) -- both home ported in Long Beach, CA. After a Viet Nam deployment, in May 1971 I was assigned to the A-6 Intruder training squadron, Attack Squadron Forty Two, at NAS Oceana, VA.
In August 1975, I reported aboard USS BORDELON (DD 881) as the Ship's Admin/Personnel petty officer in charge. After an at-sea collision with the USUAL John F. Kennedy resulting in BORDELON's decommissioning, I completed my sea rotation aboard USS SIMON LAKE (AS 33), also home ported in Charleston, SC where I was selected for Chief Petty Officer. In 1978 I was assigned to NAS, Brunswick, ME as the Asst Personnel Officer. During my enlisted career, I advanced to Senior Chief Personnelman, crossed the Equator, made several WestPac and Med deployments, and was one of the first Sailors to earn the Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist (ESWS) designation.
After submitting three applications for a direct commission, I was selected as an Admin Limited Duty Officer (LDO) and commissioned as a new ensign, in 1980. I was immediately assigned as Ship's Secretary aboard USS MOUNT WHITNEY (LCC 20) home ported in Norfolk, VA. In 1982, I returned to the West Coast as OIC of PSD Lemoore, CA. From 1984 to 1992 I served several tours in Pearl Harbor, HI -- first as Executive Officer Flag Allowance, Commander THIRD Fleet on Ford Island and embarked in USS CORONADO (AGF 11); then as the Admin Officer, Commander, U.S. Pacific Airborne Command Post (ABNCP), Hickam AFB; and as the Executive Officer/Commanding Officer and Flag Secretary, Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet. It was during my three tours in Hawaii that I was selected for the College Degree Program (CDP) and earned my bachelors degree in Business Administration in 1988 from Chaminade University of Honolulu.
In 1992 I returned to the East Coast and was assigned as the Director of Administration in the NATO Headquarters, Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic, Norfolk, VA. In 1996 I traveled cross-country again, this time as a geo-bachelor to Bremerton/Everett, WA aboard USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN (CVN 72) as the Admin Officer. In 1998, I returned to Norfolk and was assigned as Executive Officer, Personnel Support Activity Norfolk, VA. In 2000, I received a command assignment as Commanding Officer, Personnel Support Activity, Jacksonville, FL. In 2002, I was reassigned to the Navy Personnel Command in Millington, TN as Director, Field Support Division (Pers-33/673). In May 2004, I returned to Norfolk as the Chief of Staff, Task Force Warrior (Sea Warrior project). In February 2005, I reported to my last Navy assignment as Assistant Chief of Staff of Administration/Resources and Commanding Officer Staff, at Commander Operational Test and Evaluation Force in Norfolk, VA. After a fulfilling, 38-year Navy career, I retired from the Navy in 2006 and immediately began working as a consultant/senior analyst for a government contractor, C.A.C.I. where I accomplished a myriad of management projects.
In January 2012, I began the latest chapter in my career in the civil service as the Director Global Operations at the Navy Pay and Personnel Support Center, in Norfolk, VA in support of the 60 Personnel Support Detachments (PSDs) world-wide.
In February 2017, I retired from government service and beginning to write the newest chapter in my life.
A proud father of three wonderful children and a grandpa to seven adorable grand children, my wife and I currently reside in Northeast Florida. Life is Good!
Other Memories Reporting aboard a rust-running old Navy warship, even in a leadership role as a division leading petty officer had its challenges. You're inherently looked upon to ensure quality of life and morale in the workplace is of the highest standard, while responding to the needs of the 200+ man crew and their families. Notwithstanding all the extra painting and preservation it requires to keep a 40 year old Navy destroyer battle-ready, there always seem to be a lot of things that breakdown or fail at the most inopportune times. When things like the ship's air conditioning system or fresh water producing evaporators go down on a hot 'tin can,' you can bet your bottom dollar that levels of performance and motivation dive proportionately to speed of heat elevation. I won't even get in such things as 'water hours,' or 'Navy showers,' or what a week's worth of soiled work clothes hanging from dozens of laundry bags in a berthing compartment inhabited by 30 men can smell like ... but suffice it to say -- springtime fresh it wasn't.
I scarcely had time to find and move my wife and our one-year old daughter into a little Charleston condo before it was time to pack up my seabag and deploy to the Mediterranean. Pay was very low and to help us manage our pay day to pay day living expenses, we signed up for assignment to government housing if/when it became available. Little did we know at the time, that government housing opportunity would come sooner than later as Jean not only delivered our son, but also had our entire household packed and delivered to our new address while I was out to sea! It kind of gives the term 'planned parenthood' an all new meaning, don't you think?
I learned about the birth of our son via a Navy telegram I received while enroute a port visit to Marseilles, France. Oui, it's a boy! Even though I needed little else to lift my spirits that day, I certainly don't remember buying my own drinks that first night in port. It was a little over three months later that our ship returned from our mission to Charleston and I finally got to hold my son for the first time. Ah yes, homecoming. While I'm thinking about it, please let me share an old Sailor's observation with you. Having experienced many a homecoming in my career, a ship homecoming is a lot like Thanksgiving (without the turkey). It presents an opportunity to humbly count your blessings, hug your loved ones, and most of all to give thanks for all the wonderful and important things in life we somehow manage to overlook.
It was during my tour aboard USS BORDELON two life-changing events occurred that involved loss of lives, critical injuries, major structural damages and highlights what I consider the kind of significant teamwork and confidence in each other that prevented even greater losses.
It was during a cold and wet weekend in November 1975 that we all witnessed a horrific collision at sea when one of our sister ships, the USS BELKNAP accidentally turned into and collided with the USS JOHN F. KENNEDY about 60 miles off the coast of Sicily. The fires, explosions and intense heat emitting from the severely disabled ship made our night-long rescue and assistance seem futile at times. But we hung together to save the ship and her crew, and helped evacuate the severely injured to the emergency medical teams aboard the aircraft carrier. It was a horrific night that tested our training, stamina, and teamwork to the max. Afterwards, our mission was diverted as we towed the BELKNAP's burnt hull into Augusta Bay, Crete for damage assessment and emergent repairs. To this day, I'll bet none of us aboard have forgotten that experience.
And if it is said that history repeats itself, the truth be known that a year later in 1977, our ship also experienced a significant collision with the JOHN F. KENNEDY while deployed in the icy waters of the North Atlantic during a nighttime underway replenishment evolution. It was another incredible test of our wills, our dependence on each other and how our team training saved the ship and ourselves. While sustaining a dozen significant injuries at least we suffered no fatalities in this incident. But due to the age and extensive damage to the super structure of our ship, it was inevitably declared unserviceable and ultimately decommissioned.
Looking back, to better highlight some of the accounts and events that took place during that gut-checking Mediterranean deployment, perhaps this poem I wrote can better summarize? From our 1976 BORDELON 'Cruise Book,' I called it, "Together We Steamed..."
It was late in October we left for sea. Not without several tries believe you me! But together we made it, together we steamed, All together we saw what none could have dreamed.
Who can forget that late November night When we stared in the dark and saw intense light? The BELKNAP was in flames, My God could this be? Would they all perish or be lost to the sea?
Hell no, was our answer, not with us here As we raced to her rescue, our heats pounding with fear. We all fought together to extinguish the fire When it was finally over, boy were we tired.
When we saw what was left as we took her in tow A tragedy so unbelievable, yet fatalities were low. Together we saw it, together we steamed Together we avoided an even more horrible dream.
On we continued, our mission not all that clear Yet we trained and we steamed right into a new year. It was in Palermo we unwound and enjoyed the rest. Then on to Marseilles and Messina right after that test.
When we pulled out of Greece, independent ops at that time, Then back into Naples with Zulu Five Oscars to keep us in line. And then onto Barcelona a place of sheer fun So much in fact, we request a re-run.
Remember Toulon, we worked hard and steady To be sure our old ship was materially ready. Yes she looked good all freshly painted out And who could forget those nights we parties about?
But even better to come was Valencia, Spain. Had a restaurant and bar pier side, even great if it rained! And on to Malaga the women looked so good They even spoke English -- so nice to be understood.
And now we head back -- too good to be true. Yet who could not envy those who flew? With personnel inspections, training drills and such Our shipmates on leave sure aren't missing this much.
But now that it's over and we're back home at last We are reunited with loved ones and look back on our past... For it was together we made it, together we steamed, Together we lived what others could not dream.
