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.
Notes on the La Cross stopover: THE DAILY DIARY OF PRESIDENT GERALD R. FORD
6:55pm The President was greeted by: Patrick Zielke, Mayor of La Crosse, Wisconsin; Warren P. Knowles, Chairman of the Wisconsin State PFC and former Governor (R-Wisconsin); Patrick Zielke, Mayor of La Crosse, Wisconsin; Warren P. Knowles, Chairman of the Wisconsin State PFC and former Governor (R-Wisconsin); Dr. Adolf Gundersen, M.D., Republican candidate for Congress, 3rd District, Wisconsin. 7:05 - 7:15 The President participated in a question and answer session with members of the press. 7:15 The President went to his motorcade. 7:17 - 7:34 The President motored from the La Crosse Airport to the Mary E. Sawyer Auditorium, 6th and Vine Street. 7:34 The President was greeted by: H. Michael Gebauer, Manager of the Mary E. Sawyer Auditorium; Mrs. H. Michael Gebauer. 7:35 The President went to the holding room. 7:40 The President went to the offstage announcement area. 7:42 to 9 :03 The President attended a Public Forum. 7:42 The President went to the platform in the auditorium. For a list of platform guests, see APPENDIX "E." 7:48 The President was introduced by Dr. Gundersen. 7:50 - 8:09 The President addressed approximately 4,000 guests attending the forum. 8:09 - 9:03 The President participated in a question and answer session. 9:03 The President returned to his motorcade. 9:03 - 9:20 The President motored from the Mary E. Sawyer Auditorium Crosse Airport.
CST 9:34/EST 12 :20: The President flew by the "Spirit of '76" from La Crosse Airport to Andrews AFB, Maryland. For a list of passen gers, see APPENDIX "F." (Actual flying time: 1 hour, 46 minutes).
. . . . . . . . My Story:
I was a young photographer employed at Saint Francis Hospital in La Crosse. Upon hearing of the President's pending visit I went to the Republican Headquarters and filled out an application for a Press Pass.
Within a few days the pass was granted and I received tentative itinerary information to report to the La Crosse Airport around 6:30pm pending his arrival around 7:pm. I got to the airport lounge, showed my Press Pass and was directed out to the fence leading to the tarmac runway. Showing my pass there I was allowed to enter an area set up with a microphone and a few other media types waiting.
The first aircraft to arrive was the Press Corps, and they filed out, pushing their way to the front of the lineup and waited for the President's aircraft, The Spirit of '76" to arrive. which was just before 7:pm.
Dignitaries, listed above, gave the Presidential introduction and we took a few photographs. When suddenly we were escorted to waiting buses for the motorcade. This came as a total surprise to me as I had drivin my car to the airport which is located north of the city on French Island.
The motorcade crossed the Mississippi River into Minnesota, down river to the bridge leading to downtown La Crosse and came to a halt behind the barricades and we were whisked into the city's auditorium and directed to the Press Box. It was all very exciting, at least for me as I'd never been in the presence of a President before, or since. My photographs were nothing to brag about as I had the least adequate equipment of any photographer there, but, somewhere in my files is the contact sheet of the black and white photographs from that evening.
An interesting tidbit: The last time a sitting president had visited La Crosse was Harry Truman in 1948. I wasn't even born then and 28 years later I got a front row seat.