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 don't have a crystal ball, but I did get a high school diploma. And now that I am retired, I get to enjoy looking back and remembering things, especially the things that worked and got me to where I am today.
I understood that the Navy required a high school education and diploma. I enlisted during the spring of my senior year with the Navy's CACHE (delayed entry) program. During high school I took college preparatory courses including the sciences (biology and chemistry), mathematics and geometry courses along with mechanical drawing and architectural drafting, and last but not least, typing. All of these courses served me well when I was in the Navy. First, during my initial skills testing, and later in Viet-Nam where both my drafting background and the fact that I could type were more than just useful.
I didn't take the normal shop courses, as I had over four years of woodworking sciences from my years in 4-H, where I had also taken electrical and basic electronics courses. My years of 4-H photography would show up in some photographs, but it was after I got out of the Navy that I studied media and have an Associate of Applied Science degree in Visual Communications.
You never know where life will take you, but a sound yet varied background will inevitably be a great advantage as you find yourself working in a field that you enjoy.
ideas:
Basic Training, MT-A School, SERE . . . My year in Saigon, charts and graphs etc. Pre-commissioning and going to sea Switching majors, graduated with honors OJT, that first year on the job Overseas contract experience London, printing school Major published photographic works Public/Community Relations Audiovisual roadshows Medical photographer, SFH, SJH, PBH Printing and publishing Public education Retirement
.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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