Previously Held NEC AO-0000-Aviation Ordnanceman
AO-6801-Air Launch Weapons Technician
AO-8327-A-7 Organizational Maintenance, Powerplant and Related Systems
AO-6802-Strike Intermediate Armament Maintenanceman
Service Years
1973 - 1980
Official/Unofficial US Navy Certificates
Cold War
Gulf of Tonkin Yacht Club
Neptune Subpoena
Order of the Rock
Order of the Spanish Main
Order of the Shellback
Order of the Golden Dragon
Plank Owner
Official Badges
Unofficial Badges
Additional Information
What are you doing now:
As of December 31st I am officially retired. 45 years of service with the State of South Carolina after Discharge, not including 24 years as a Volunteer I have done my duty to my community and state. Now its time to relax and do other things.
Other Comments:
45 years in the Fire Service in various positions from tailboard Firefighter to Chief & Fire Instructor, now a Fire Marshal with 4 years in the Highway Patrol inbetween. First firefighting class was at RTC San Diego, never did I think it would be a career. First job in Law Enforcement was as Base Security at NAS Key West. As a Fire Marshal I have combined my Fire Service and Law Enforcement careers. After 8 years of blowing things up as an AO 45 years of Saving things. Not Bad.
Description A Mediterranean Cruise is a ship's deployment from her home port, usually lasting between 5 and 8 months. Ships visit different ports such as Athens, Istanbul, Izmir, Naples, Livorno and Gibralter . The ships hosted foreign militaries, performed numerous underway replenishments-at-sea and conducted general quarters drills, fire drills and maritime patrols.
US Navy provides during these deployments provocative "freedom of navigation" operations, known as FONOPS, that send warships into the disputed areas around the world on any given year.
Any cruise is hazardous with sailors injured or killed during flight, refueling, ordnance, operations or weather; day or night. Foriegn military vessels threatening by fast approach to ramming. Often at times ships are endangered by low fly overs from hostile aircraft.
My Participation in This Battle or Operation
From Month/Year
January / 1977
To Month/Year
December / 1977
Last Updated: Mar 16, 2020
Personal Memories
People You Remember Cdr. Tom Mercer CO VA-82, AOC Spiegel Pitzer AO Shop Chief, Chief Issacs,
Memories Winning the NavAirLant Battle E, Winning the McClusky Award for the best Light Attack Squadron in the Navy Gibraltar, Naples, Crete, Rota Casablanca, Tunis, Roosy Roads
