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.
AWARDS NOT SHOWN: Two Vietnamese awards were bestowed on all U.S. Naval Forces who served in country. The Civil Actions Ribbon and the Naval Service Honor Medal. They were given to us as a Thank You by the Vietnamese Congress. Neither is on my DD-214 so I have removed them from the rack showned in this profile. What is shown is what I wore on my uniform.
The First One Is:
Name of Award Vietnam Civil Actions Unit Citation
Year Awarded 1971
Details behind Award: I never wore this award. I found out that I rated it several years ago.
The Republic of Vietnam Civil Action Unit Citation was authorized to all USMC, USCG and USN personnel who served in-country (on-land). (Ref: SECNAVINST 1650.1G N09B13; 7 January 2002).
Foreign Award - Republic of Vietnam Meritorious Unit Citation (Civil Actions Medal First Class Color w/Palm)
A unit award known as the Vietnam Civil Actions Unit Citation. The unit awards was also referred to as the Civil Actions Unit Award with Palm or as the Vietnam Meritorious Unit Citation with Civil Actions Colors. The First Class (officer's) ribbon, with two thin red vertical stripes in the center, enclosed in a gold frame, was used as the Unit Award for both officers and enlisted.
I never wore this ribbon while on active duty. I was never informed that it had been awarded. However, I posted it here because I do rate it: The Republic of Vietnam Civil Action Medal is authorized as an individual foreign award to all US Navy personnel who served in-country Vietnam. (Ref: SECNAVINST 1650.1G N09B13; 7 January 2002)
Not being a personal award, I still assume only the ribbon is authorized. It does however remind me of a few non-military or goodwill events that took place. One was a time when I put out a fire in an old man's sandwich shack along the river front, another were trips to an orphanage with a Second Class from supply. He would gather up stuff, especially kids clothes that came in from Hawaii's Red Cross, and we would drop them off at an orphanage on the Saigon/Cholon border.
One day I was sent along with a small convoy to the other side of Song Sai-Gon (river). I believe the entire village had burned to the ground by the VC. Navy Seabee's were finishing some small houses to replace those that had been lost. They were cement slabs with brick walls and tin corrugated roofs. I imagine it was deafening in a rain storm. My job was to hand out clothing from large boxes that were in the back of the deuce and a half which I had ridden over in. What amazed me were the dresses in this lot. Large, American evening dresses. I remember one big red one with sequins and I thought, "Who the hell is sending this stuff to Viet-Nam?!" Handing them to these little Vietnamese women was like a cruel joke. The looks on their faces told the rest of the story.
The Second One Is:
Name of Award Republic of Vietnam Navy Service Medal
Year Awarded 1971
Details behind Award: This is an odd one, or at least the story behind it is a bit odd...
Technically, this was not awarded until 1974. Received for service from June 1970 to June 1971. I never wore this award. I found out about it a few years ago and discovered that I rated it for my year of in-country service in Viet-Nam.
RVN Naval Service Medal (Honor Grade) was awarded to all Navy Personnel who served in-country Viet-Nam. Medal Awarded by the Republic of Vietnam Congress, January 1974 as per the Agreed Upon Cessation of Hostilities, following Ratification of the 1973 Peace Agreement.
Vietnamese Naval Service Medal (Honor Grade) Class B Eligibility (Dress Uniform & Civilian Wear) Authorized by DOD for Wear by Military Personnel
There are three designs of the medal and awarded at four levels. The first and original medal is a stylized compass rose on an anchor. The second version, the most common, is a stylized whale in a circle of ocean and sky with an anchor behind it. The third version was made only in the US and is the least common with a very stylized whale over a ships wheel with an anchor above connecting to the ribbon.
The four levels this medal was awarded at are: 15 years of service in the Vietnamese Navy, and the attachment on the blue and white fabric are two sets of three ocean waves with a ships wheel in between. Level 2, 10 years service and two sets of three waves. Level 3, 5 years of service and one set of three waves. LEVEL FOUR... awarded to other services including foreign navies such as the United States. It contains NO ATTACHMENT.
.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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