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.
Of the many people I met along the path of my active duty only a few really left a life changing mark on me and my journey. One was a boatswain-mate I met in Dam Neck, named was Leland "Lee" Friday.
This was a rough patch along a bumpy road in my life. When I joined the navy I had requested electronics schooling. I was trying go hedge a bet by shooting high and hoping for the best. It was a gamble for both me and the navy because although my course of studies in high school qualified me, my grades were far from remarkable. But I got the school, with a really big hitch? I had to sign on for a six year enlistment, which I did, and my orders out of Boot Camp were for FB-MT (Fleet Ballistic - Missile Technician) Class A School in Dam Neck, Virginia. When completed, I would have been sent north to submarine school and should have served in that fleet. But, life didn't go exactly as planned.
Shortly after arriving in Dam Neck I was assigned to the second shift- night school. This started a 1500, 3 in the afternoon, and ran until midnight when we were set free to go to the mess hall for breakfast before wondering back to our barracks and crashing in our racks.
After about seven weeks of classes we had a Christmas/New Year's break. This didn't go well either, as five of us pooled together for a road trip to Milwaukee and return. I made it on to central Wisconsin to a rather cold shoulder reception and was almost glad to get back on the road for the miserable trip back to Dam Neck. By the end of January I had failed a weekly exam and been set back a week to repeat that week's lesson. I believe that was week 15 of 24. The problem was, nothing had really changed and exhausted at week 19 or 20 I failed a second examination and was immediately, without any warning, withdrawn from the program and sent to X Division. I now had a six year sentence and no prospectives other than being sent to the fleet as an unassigned, unrated, Seaman Apprentice.
X-Division was like no-wheres-land. I was just waiting orders and daily given tasks by the Bosun in charge, a Second Class Boatswain Mate who had recently returned from a tour in Vietnam. We spent time in his office where he made alterations for people on his sewing machine. He was a Native American, Arapaho I believe, and I had him peg the legs on my dungarees and dress blues while he talked about being on a Minesweeper in Nam.
So, I figured, "What have I got to lose?" and I put in a chit for MINESWEEPER 113 VIETNAM. In less than ten days I was on a flight for San Diego and orders for SERE Training (Survival Evasion Resistance and Escape) and on to Naval Ground Forces Viet-Nam.
The rest is another story for another time. But, at least I wasn't going to the fleet to wash dishes, that never happened. Thanks Boats.
- - - - -
Several years ago I purchased a solid silver pin with the Naval Advisory Unit patch on it. This is the patch I wore on my uniform in Vietnam, the pin was made by Leland Friday, an Arapaho silversmith who served in Vietnam. I am sure we are talking about the same person. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.
Thanks for stopping by. I have attached a couple of photographs of Leland Friday, Class of 1962 from CHILOCCO INDIAN SCHOOL in Oklahoma. The other photographs are of pin he made for Vietnam Vets, including the one I own, and wear.
.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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