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.Â
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.Â
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.Â
We have defended America ever since.Â
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.
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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.Â
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.Â
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. Â It is that simple.
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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.Â
I was in Boot Camp when Woodstock took place. In fact, I didn't even know Woodstock had taken place.
Less than ten months later, after combat training (S.E.R.E. school and U.S.M.C weapons instruction) I landed in Saigon.
One night, while downing several beers in the BEQ Enlisted Club of the Capitol Hotel in Cholon, I listened to a Flip Band sing that song. I couldn't believe what I was hearing and thought they made it up. Believe me, it ain't the Give me an F; Give ma a U... that bothered me, it was the line... BE THE FIRST ONE ON YOUR BLOCK... TO HAVE YOUR BOY COME HOME IN A BOX.
After I returned to CONUS I found out it was from Woodstock... which by then was in the movie theatres. There it was, Country Joe McDonald (and the F.I.S.H. by then) an ex-Navy-man, singing that song... It hit me like a brick, or hit me again... like a brick... when it occurred to me, that all my high school classmates had been driving around listening to that fucking song on their car radios and most likely they were singing along. Catch my drift.?.