Previously Held NEC SR-0000-Seaman Recruit
SN-0000-Seaman
SN-9740-Seaman - Other Technical and Allied Specialists
IC-0000-Interior Communications Electrician
I retired on the last day of June, 2011, the month I turned 61,
and took my Arizona State pension, then Social Security at 62.
I spent my post-navy life as a photographer and media manager.
The Navy gave me gypsy feet, and I've enjoyed them all my life.
As a result, traveling was not just a bucket list item for me.
With the way things have gone, it was a good investment.
I'm a direct descendant, tenth generation, of Joseph Loomis.
The Loomis Family arrived in the New World on 17 July, 1638.
We have defended America ever since.
Other Comments:
"Service included boots-on-the-ground in Viet-Nam"
[ One year, 365 days, 24/7 -- 7 June 1970 to 7 June 1971 ] U.S. Naval Advisory Group, Vietnamese Naval Shipyard, Saigon RVN.
I am also a Plank Owner and Shellback, USS Harlan County (LST-1196).
During my 4 years of active duty, 3 years were credited as foreign or sea service.
Technically, I was on Active Duty, USN, 3 years, 11 months and 16 days. However, I was in the Naval Reserve before that and after that, both Active Reserves and Inactive Reserves. So N/TWS has credited me from April 1969 through April 1983, 4 years active USN plus 4 years USNR and 6 years inactive Naval Reserves, and that is why my profile may occasionally show three hash marks. 1983 was my final Inactive Naval Reserve discharge date. Also, because I worked overseas, I never managed to take the 2nd Class Exam. So, actually I never wore more than one hash mark on my dress blues. And yes... there is a "V" on my Navy Achievement Medal even without having a Combat Action Ribbon because that's the way it was awarded. For more information click on the NAM w/V ribbon in my ribbon rack.
I am glad, proud, to have been born an American.
I voluntarily joined the armed forces, and for that
matter I volunteered for duty in Viet-Nam.
What I had hoped for was to not bring the violence,
the lack of value of a human life that I experienced
in Viet-Nam, back to America. It is that simple.
During my civilian career I spent over ten years as a hospital/medical photographer, two years in Saudi Arabia with Lockheed, and then two and a half decades as the media specialist and manager for a 9,000+ student public school district in Phoenix, Arizona. I feel fortunate to have retired without ever having a single unemployment or welfare check.
Real bank, used as movie facade: When I was ten we moved to Columbus Wisconsin. Population was around 1100. My father gave me an allowance of a dime each week. On Saturday I would go to the corner store and swap pennies for my penny collection, one of those little blue books you pressed coins into in hopes of collecting each year and each of the mint marks. The year was 1960. But, some weeks I would take my dime and walk to the bank, the Farmers and Merchants Union Bank, and make a deposit. The teller would take my little savings booklet and would make an entry... 10 cents.
They used the facade of that bank in the upcoming movie Public Enemies staring Johnny Depp as John Dillinger. It will be interesting to see the movie when it's released just to see my old bank building.
The next year, 1961 we moved up the road to Beaver Dam. The Hotel Rogers, where I worked at during my high school years, is also in the movie.
Side note: I recently found this: The Lafayette County courthouse in Darlington, Wisconsin, was closed to the public but court was in session -- Hollywood style. Universal Studios came to Darlington with its star, Johnny Depp, to shoot scenes for the film "Public Enemies". The old courthouse was build in 1905. My wife and I were married in that courthouse, 26 December, 1979. (see my profile page: Family, Events and Photos "I Was Married By An Axe Murder").
The Band EXISTS I found this old newspaper clipping of an evening back in the summer of '67. That was our band, THE EXISTS. I was the drummer and we were playing at the local roller rink. Billed as: "YMCA" pizza/skating/dance. What a deal, all that for $1.25. From the Beaver Dam Daily Citizen, Thursday, July 20, 1967.
A blast from the past. Life was good and we were in the limelight and the place was packed. At 17 I was the oldest member of the band.
............
Louis Ziegler Brewing 516 Madison Street, Beaver Dam, Wisconsin "Closed"
We once had the Farmers, Binzel, Goeggerle and Ziegler Breweries. The most successful of our small town brewers was Louis Ziegler, a big deal in my home town of Beaver Dam many years ago. Ziegler, like the other old breweries was forced to close due to Prohibition, however, Ziegler re-opened the day after Prohibition was repealed.
In our downtown was the Hotel Rogers with it's bar which was once called the Ziegler Tap. After Ziegler closed the bar changed it's name to the Stein Room. But, I often look back at those wonderful old enterprises when comparing today's world with plant closures and layoffs.
Back in the 1930's there were at least thirty different automobile manufactueres.... in the state of Wisconsin alone.
Things come and things go.
..........
I remember as a kid you couldn't buy colored oleomargarine in Wisconsin like you could in Illinois.
I was told there was a yellow colored food capsule enclosed that you had to mash into the oleo to make it look like butter.
Remember... Don't mess with Nature (the dairy industry... I mean).
...............
This is cool, and I found it interesting on a couple of levels:
Do you remember the Ventures and Babbitt the drummer who played "Walk Don't Run"? Do any of you remember the USAF Four Star General George Babbitt from Tacoma, WA? Anyone who thought the military is all spit and polish and discipline? Pretty interesting. General Babbitt was a drummer at one time for the Ventures. This is cool. Watch it. You will love it if you like rock n' roll. Some of you probably don't remember the Ventures. Those that do, enjoy the clip. It should bring a smile to your face.
http://www.stumptownblogger.com/2012/04/what-a-cool-video.html (this program will not link, sorry)
I was also the 17 year old drummer of a band. The Ventures released a version of WIPE OUT, but I played it the way The Surfaris did. We always took a break after that song finished because I needed one.
. . . . . . . . . .
In the summer of 1967 the members of The EXISTS included Dave Cooper, Mike Seering, Keith Bobholz, Paul Huza and myself. I may not have been a great drummer, but I had what was needed... (a full drum kit). And today, I still have the memories of that wonderful experience of "being there".
.png?ixlib=java-2.3.0&w=100&s=d40e366bb55af1e70293eedccb148713 "Brown Water Navy (Vietnam)")
.png?ixlib=java-2.3.0&w=100&s=0cb147133885c62667d8969c50b66659 "Order of the Ditch (Panama Canal)")
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