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.
Three months after I left the Navy I was enrolled in a technical college. Free At Last...but I would often reflect on those four years I had spent on active duty.
I graduated Class of '69. I was a product of the 60's. RFK was killed in '68 as was MLK and I was in High School. JFK was killed when I was 13 so LBJ was President all the way into my Senior year. The Viet-Nam War and The Great Society defined that era. I joined the Navy in the spring of my Senior year, Nixon had just become President and I would go on active duty right after I graduated. Within a year I was in Saigon and did a year tour.
A lot was changing in the Navy. Traditional jobs held by Filipinos, such as Stewards, had opened up to other ratings. Civil Rights and Johnson's Great Society had a lot to do with the feelings Americans had toward us Viet-Nam Veterans. By the time I became a fleet sailor the Blacks had what seemed like the upper hand. Or, or at least 'hands off' in many regards. I felt like "whitey" was blamed for everything. And me... a Northern (mid-west), White, Blond, Republican, Episcopalian of Engish descent. Well, you know, I may have been the definition of the American WASP.
Especially when I reflect on situations... Like when I was leaving the EM club at Long Beach, 1972, and two blacks approached me. One on either side one grabbed me and put a cigarette out on the side of my neck. On-board my ship I heard a phrase all too often that went.. "I know my civil rights" and "Your just prodigious because I'm black" when you would tell one it was his turn to clean the compartment. Something all of us were expected to do.
I saw it as petty but I wasn't looking for a fight, not on-board a ship at sea. I would just let it go and was thankful I was only a Third Class. I could just walk away from it.
Then some of the Filipinos, Puerto Rican's and Blacks got into it and nothing was seemed to be done about it. Several of us went to our Legal Officer and complained. We told him that if a White had been involved he would have been blamed, it happened all too often. Now, without a White Guy to blame they didn't know what to do. Nothing really came of it but we wanted to be on the record so that our command realized we were aware of the reverse discrimination and were tired of it.
I believe it had a lot to do with my getting out of the Navy back then.
So, here we are, 2008, with a real "African American" elected to the Presidency, a colored man by any African standards. The product of an African and a disgruntled, left over hippie, Army brat. It will be interesting indeed.
I've been fortunate to manage the Instructional Materials Center (audiovisuals, photography, video, graphics and publications, a media library and the printing dept) of a school district for more that twenty years now. I've seen our student population change from 45% Hispanic to 97% with a reduction in the White student population so low it is less than 1%. Over the years I've hired Blacks, Whites, Hispanic and Native American and/or a mix of those groups. At one time or another nearly every one of my staff positions have been occupied by a man and then a woman, leaving sex out of the picture. I set myself up many years ago to hire people with the talent needed for the job. It has proven to be the answer for me and has provided me with a great team. Not bad for a guy who usually votes Republican...in fact, I'm rather proud of that, and at the same time, I was honored to vote for John McCain.