Finally, retired-retired and time to enjoy life! Continue to enjoy the hobbies of model railroading and photography (with some success). Eleven (11) photographs published by the International Library of Photography. Have also won several local photo contests with cash awards, ribbons and photographs in local calendars... the "Bank of Wilmington" and the "WECT's Collector's Calendar(s)" 2005, 2007, 2010 and 2011. WECT is a local "NBC" TV station here in Wilmington, NC.
Other Comments:
RETIRED with Thirty (30) Years and Five (5) Days of continuous active duty service. That way..."no one uld say; I didn't do a full thirty. After retiring from the navy on 1 July 1987, I worked part-time and full- time teaching English conversation. Lived in Japan for a total of 18 years (3 tours of duty) plus 8 years after retiring. Taught English conversation in Japan for a total of 16 years. Also worked as a "U. S. Civil Service" employee in Japan for 5 years. Working in a military "post office" at the U. S. Naval Hospital, Yokosuka, Japan. Transfering to the United States in Febryuary 1995, (Civil Service) worked at the Marine Corps Logistic Base, Albany, GA... Branch Medical Clinic in the "Industrial Hygiene Department. As an "Industrial Hygiene Technician" for 6 1/2 years. Retired from Civil Service in December 2000, and then moved to Wilmington, NC in February 2001. Shortly after coming to Wilmington was employed by the "Wilmington Railroad Museum" for 4 1/2 years. As a "tour guide," "model railroad engineer/ maintenance person and worked in and managed the Gift Shop for a brief period of time. Stopped working for about a year. In April 2007 when the railroad museum moved to a new location, I returned and managed the gift shop until 2 January 2014. I have been a member of the Wilmington Railroad Museum since 1992. Also a member of the "Model Railroaders." A group of men who do the maintenance, up-grading, and operations of the three (3) major train layouts in the museum. The model railroaders in five (5) years have built and continue upgrade and improve two (2) "HO gauge" and one (1) "O gauge (Lionel)" train layouts in the railroad museum. There is currently some discussion about building a "G Gauge" train or (large scale) train to circle the Gift Ship, though we have a short run track now which the children love and are delighted to watch. I'm known as the "Lionel Train Guy." I've been a Lionel Train collector and operator for many year............Yes, I "Still Play With Trains" and enjoy the sounds, actions and operation of electric trains. ******SPECIAL EVENT****** The Model Railroaders of the Wilmington Railroad Museum on Saturday April 23,2011 attempted to set a new record for the longest model train as certified by "Guinness World Record's." The event was held at the Wilmington Convention Center in Wilmington, North Carolina, At 3:55 PM, Saturday April 23, 2011, the Guinness World Records was set for the world's longest model train (925.55 feet - 1,653 assorted railroad cars and 31 ALCO C628 Locomotives) and the most distance traveled 750 feet. In model length, the train was 190 feet longer than the battleship USS North Carolina. Which by the way... is here in Wilmington purchase by the children of North Carolina through a penny drive. Actual Train weight was 472 pounds (real weight 64,380 tons) Real Length 15.10 miles. Real engines would generate 93,500 horsepower combined. QUITE A DAY... to say the least. Additional, taught "English as a Second Language (ESL) at the local community college... "Cape Fear Community College :from November 2002 to May 2012. Classes were two (2) nights a week for three (3) hours Monday and Wednesday evenings 6:00 to 9:00 PM. Most of the students spoke Spanish (which I did not) ; however, I did have students from several European and Asian countries. I did teach English conversation in Japan for 16 years, so teaching in Wilmington at the community college really presented very few problems if any. Actually ...it was a lot of fun; however, I enjoyed teaching more in Japan to be perfectly honest. I finally decided... it was time to retire- retire and just sit back and enjoy life. So effective "2 January 2014" "I NO LONGERWORK nor am EMPLOYEED. This way a can do a little more photgraghy, play with trains and spend a little more time with my "Lady Friend (Peggy)." Met Peggy in 2009, on a blind date set up by one of my railroad friends and his wife. Peggy was a retired nurse (my Florence Nightingale) who also Line Danced ( for 20 years) three days a week at the Senior Center here in Wilmgton, NC
Peggy was never going to fall in LOVE, but she did and we had and enjoyed the most wonderful relationship a couple could ever possible have. I LOVE Peggy more than any lady I had ever in my life. She was the kindnest, most thoughtful person, had a heart of gold and she was always two steps ahead of everybody, never met a stranger and sweeter then sugar, and a TURE SOUTHERN COUNTRY GAL SMART as a whip and never stopped studying. Peggy could have been number one her graduating class from Nursing School, but she missed one question so another student could be number one in the class. Peggy was NOT A SELFISH PERSON nor did she seek fame and gorly.
Vietnam War/Tet Counteroffensive Campaign (68)/ Yankee Station, North Vietnam
From Month/Year
January / 1968
To Month/Year
April / 1968
Description Yankee Station was a point in the Gulf of Tonkin off the coast of Vietnam used by the U.S. Navy aircraft carriers of Task Force 77 to launch strikes in the Vietnam War. While its official designation was "Point Yankee," it was universally referred to as Yankee Station. Carriers conducting air operations at Yankee Station were said to be "on the line" and statistical summaries were based on days on the line.
The name derived from it being the geographic reference point "Y", pronounced "Yankee" in the NATO phonetic alphabet. In turn the term Point Yankee derived from the launch point for "Yankee Team" aerial reconnaissance missions over Laos conducted in 1964. It was located about 190 km due east of Dong Hoi, at 17° 30' N and 108° 30' E.
During the two periods of sustained air operations against North Vietnam (March 2, 1965-October 31, 1968 and March 30, 1972-December 29, 1972) there were normally three carriers on the line, each conducting air operations for twelve hours, then off for twelve hours. One of the carriers would operate from noon to midnight, another from midnight to noon, and one during daylight hours, which gave 24-hour coverage plus additional effort during daylight hours, when sorties were most effective. However at the end of May, 1972, six carriers were for a short period of time on the line at Yankee Station conducting Linebacker strikes.
The first aircraft carrier at Yankee Station was USS Kitty Hawk, which was ordered there in April 1964 for the Yankee Team missions. Kitty Hawk was joined by Ticonderoga in May and Constellation in June, two months prior to the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution. Ticonderoga and Constellation launched the first bombing missions from Yankee Station on August 5, 1964. Constellation was also the last carrier conducting operations at Yankee Station on August 15, 1973. USS Forrestal suffered a major accident while at Yankee Station when a series of fires and explosions on her deck killed 134 men and injured another 161.
A corresponding Dixie Station in the South China Sea off the Mekong Delta was a single carrier point for conducting strikes within South Vietnam from May 15, 1965 to August 3, 1966.
My Participation in This Battle or Operation
From Month/Year
January / 1968
To Month/Year
April / 1968
Last Updated: Dec 22, 2023
Personal Memories
Memories Was in the " Gulf of Tonkin" three (3) times: 1964, 1967 and 1968 aboard the U. S. S. Bon Homme Richard (CVA-31). Was award
The "VIETNAM SERVICE MEDAL" Seven (7) times.
