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.
I met an English Secretary while working in Saudi Arabia. At the end of my contract we came to Platteville, Wisconsin, where I resumed my college studies at the UW-P. Before her visa ran out we decided to get married. On the day after Christmas, 1979, we arrived at the county court house in Darlington. We were alone and Judge McDonald brought the two clerks from the front desk as witnesses. At the last moment the judge said... "Let's do this right" and disappeared into his chambers to put on his black robe. He returned to the court room and married us. I have very fond memories of that day.
In 1981 we moved to Phoenix, Arizona, and have not been back for more than a few days for a high school reunion. Then one evening, just a few years ago, we saw a TV show that stopped us both in our tracks...
Darlington Wisconsin: Judge Accused in Killing Of Lawyer. June 1985.
"Circuit Judge Daniel McDonald of Lafayette County, 43 years old, was found guilty of first-degree murder in the stabbing death of James Klein a Darlington lawyer."
In 2004, Darlington, Wis. was featured in an episode of the A&E show City Confidential. The episode focused on former Lafayette County Judge Daniel McDonald, who had murdered James Klein by stabbing him multiple times. Klein was an associate attorney in the office of William Johnston, who had unseated McDonald two months earlier after 14 years as judge.
Mr. Johnston defeated Judge McDonald in an election earlier this year after a bitter campaign. Mr. Klein was a partner in Mr. Johnston's firm, Johnston & Doherty.
McDonald was found guilty in a trial held in Milwaukee, and sentenced to life imprisonment. Just six months after entering prison at Dodge Correctional Institute at Waupun, McDonald committed suicide by taking an overdose of medication.
We will celebrate our 30th wedding anniversary this December (2009) and to me, that little town where we got married will always be a Darling Town.
Judge, thank you for a kind and graceful time, back in the good old days. Rest in peace my friend.
Side note: Recently, the Lafayette County courthouse in Darlington was closed to the public but court was in session -- Hollywood style. Universal Studios is in Darlington with its star, Johnny Depp, were there to shoot scenes for the film "Public Enemies". The courthouse was build in 1905.
..................
I served with U.S. Naval Ground Forces (Naval Advisory Group) in Viet-Nam. I met my wife in Saudi Arabia, she's English and was born at home in Police Housing, London. Her father was a WWII paratrooper, 1st Airborn Div (POW) captured at Arnham, and a Metropolitan (London) Police Officer, a Bobby. And, to top it off... my wife is due to retire from the Phoenix Police Department in the coming year. That's close enough to win at horseshoes!
.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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