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 was standing in front of the juke box in a bar listening to Elvis Presley sing "If I Can Dream". It was the My Lyn Bar in a rough part of Saigon, actually Cholon, the China-Town in the south-west of Saigon. The VC had over-run this area in the 1968 TET, the year this song was released. Because of Cholon's reputation most of those living up in Saigon did not wonder down our way.
It was now late 1970 and Elvis was belting out his song when some asshole tossed a grenade through the door. It bounced near me and went off.
It was a tear-gas grenade and it filled the small bar with CS gas. Immediately, I felt a small hand in mine and her voice calling to me to follow her as we stumbled to the back of the bar and out into an alley.
With my eyes still stinging I looked down at her and smiled... by now her eye makeup was running down her cheeks like black rivers. I wiped it from her face and I remember her saying.... "You GI's Number 10"... Well, maybe we were, but, those little bar girls were Number 1. And when I hear Elvis singing that song a little tear may come to my eye, but then again... it may be from a bit of gas. LOL (Sorry Elvis. We all have our memories. RIP)