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.
My list... of people I remember from Viet-Nam. I hope most of the names are correct...
Captain Shaver CDR Cameron Mixon CDR Lovett LCDR Robert Teague LCDR Fenick LCDR David Kalb LT A.D. Leone LT Hearn LT Gunderson or Gannon (also our barber) WO Dills WO Dickerson LCDR Hogg and counterpart LT Hia
MCPO (SS) Merlin, EM, electrician EN-1 CPO Bill Woods GM-1 Bill Dewitt GM-2 Mathews GM-2 Lloyd Warren YN-1 Paulson YN-1 Smith PN-2 Dave Lange PN-3 Chadwick PN-3 Bruce (Butch) Lindsay BM-1 LaForte BM-1 Guy
PO-1 Jackson PO-1 Masterson PO-1 Lewis
Thornson Truly Jolly Geremo Richter Thornson Bosley or Boswell
RVN Captain Doan Bich, VNNSY shipyard commanding officer RVN CDR Vo Som SN Ha, my counterpart Ung Fu
SERE: CPO Carter Rick Miller
Hometown/Beaver Dam people I met: Glen Wright Dave (Matherson?)
Shipyard... two floating dry-docks Main dry-dock, LST largest ship to fit (350-400')
Size was paramount.. everything was built around the concept of self sufficiency. - VIETNAMIZATION - If it wouldn't fit in the shipyard's dry-dock, then they would not be able to maintain it...
Ferro-cement boats. Designed to replace the $10,000 fiberglass hulls on the PBR and other small / river craft. (PBR's had sonar and radar onboard). Lt. Leon's project with a Florida firm was to develop rebar hulls with chicken wire structures covered with cement.
Shops.. Ordnance heavy weapons /guns repair and maintenance Foundry Sail shop.. made my radio cover Motor pool, fuel and grease pit Supply depot, north end secure area NAS supply, along river front Green door, barbecue & horseshoe pits Pistol range NAG Admin/VNNSY Admin Medical, ground across from NAG steps NAG offices, ground floor building north of the admin offices. Chief of supply, second floor, my second office on first floor, Fink's office (with AC) other end had other older AC office (commander with 3 yrs in shipyard) outside... wall of wiz NAG Admin.. personnel, captain, two interpreters, Hern, the can, barber chair, conference room with duplicator (spirit master), hall with my office and Teague's, VNNSY command offices.
Fleet Command, Brown Water Navy Headquarters, north end of the shipyard. Sailors in deuce and a half's and five tons.
Pigs and chickens..
Across river in burned out village handing out Hawaiian Red Cross clothing to villagers. Buildings rebuilt by Sea Bees.
Gas bottle fire outside warehouse nineteen (the London Bar, No. 19 Tu Do St.).
.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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