Crowder, Fred, HMC

PLEASE DESCRIBE WHO OR WHAT INFLUENCED YOUR DECISION TO JOIN THE NAVY.
My family has always been part of the Navy since the Revolutionary War. Several of my great-uncles were on battleships in the very early 1900s to the bombing of Pearl Harbor. My father was nominated to attend the Naval Academy class of 1939. Still, just prior to leaving for the

The Reason I joined the Navy

Academy, he had to decline his nomination as his father had a stroke, and my Dad was the only means of family income in 1935. My Dad's half-brother, Fireman First Class Samuel Warwick Crowder, was killed on the Battleship USS Oklahoma (BB-37) during the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. He was one of the 429 casualties of Oklahoma's attack. Unfortunately, my uncle's remains have never been identified and are believed to be in one of the common graves at Honolulu's National Cemetery of the Pacific (Punchbowl). My Dad's two other brothers also joined the Navy just after the Declaration of War against Japan.

UPDATE ON AUGUST 29, 2017:

Our family received wonderful news from the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) that our uncle's remains were positively 100% identified. My two cousins from Louisville, Kentucky, called me at home just as I was pulling into our driveway. They told me to sit down, and I knew immediately that this was the phone call we were waiting for. A few minutes later, I also received a call from DPAA. My cousins and I were interviewed via SKYPE by several Kentucky and Washington TV Stations about what it meant to receive the news and when we expected to bring Uncle Samuel to his hometown of Louisville, KY. After weeks of planning, we made the burial date of December 9, 2017, with the arrival from DPAA on December 7, 2017.

One of my two brothers flew out to Louisville with me, and we landed on December 6. Uncle Samuel arrived at 7:01 pm on Pearl Harbor Day evening with the Louisville Patriot Guard, Lexington Rolling Thunder, and numerous police escorts from the airport to Louisville Resthaven Cemetery. There were hundreds of veterans who paid their respects by visiting his coffin. Two sons whose fathers were killed on the Oklahoma paid their respects as well and introduced themselves to many of us Crowders. This was a moving experience for our family as none of us there ever met Uncle Samuel, but we ALWAYS knew about him.

Again we buried him on December 9, 2017, with full military honors 20 feet from his mother and also near his grandfather and grandmother Samuel Butler and Bettie Barton Stoner Crowder.

Our family is more than thankful for the great work done by DPAA and the Navy POW/MIA Office, and Naval Personnel Command.

WHETHER YOU WERE IN THE SERVICE FOR SEVERAL YEARS OR AS A CAREER, PLEASE DESCRIBE THE DIRECTION OR PATH YOU TOOK. WHERE DID YOU GO TO BOOT CAMP AND WHAT UNITS, BASES, SHIPS OR SQUADRONS WERE YOU ASSIGNED TO? WHAT WAS YOUR REASON FOR LEAVING?
I first attempted to join the Naval Reserve in my hometown in January 1969, but I failed the entrance physical due to a heart murmur. After 12 months of going to Naval Hospital, Bremerton, AFEES (now MEPS) in Seattle, then Madigan Army Hospital, and then back to the NRC in

I've got a what Murmur?

Aberdeen, Washington, I passed my physical in late December in 1969. I got my draft notice the very same day, on Jan 5, 1970, and joined US Naval Reserve as a 2 x 6 Reservist. that night. Thirteen days of NR Boot Camp at NTC San Diego and then 13 days ACDUTRA at Naval Hospital Bremerton March 1970.

I left for my required two years of Naval Reserve active duty on12/27/1970: Reported to Naval Station San Diego until 1/4/1971. Then on Jan 2, 1971, I started: HM "A" School at Naval Hospital Corps School, Naval Hospital, San Diego. I graduated in April 1971. Upon graduation, I received orders to Naval Hospital, Bremerton. Apr 1971-Feb 1972: Reported to Naval Dispensary, Seattle, WA at NSA Sandpoint. in Seattle, WA (my best command) in Feb 72-Sep 1973. I then received orders to the HM "C" X-ray Technician School at HCS San Diego from Sep73- Oct 30, 1974. When we received verbal orders in School, we were told that only one set of orders to Haze Gray & Underway was available, and that was for someone who had never been to sea or with the Marines, which turned out to be me since I had been a reservist on active duty until re-enlisting for X-Ray School.

When we did receive our orders, I was told someone onshore duty volunteered for the USS Ranger orders, dam? My new orders were to report to Naval Regional Medical Clinic, Pearl Harbor, HI. TAD permanently to MCAS Kaneohe Bay Medical Clinic as Radiology Department LPO. I was also TAD to Tripler Army Hospital and Pacific Missile Range Facility at Barking Sands, Kauai, HI.

Dec 16 76 - Aug 1 78 USNH Guam, Marianas Islands. Dec 1976 - Aug 1978, which was my best overseas command).

Aug 17, 1978: Released from active duty and enlisted back into the USNR at NRC Bremerton, WA on Aug 8 78 drilling with several units:

18 Aug 78- Jan 79 USS Dixon (AS3722) unit from NRC Bremerton

Jan 79-Jan 80 Naval Hospital Bremerton Unit:

Jan 80 - Feb 84 Medical Crutingency Unit Detachment 422, NRC Bremerton

Feb 84 -Jul 10, 1984, NRC Dallas, TX., NH San Diego Unit (Returned when to active duty status)

Jul 10 84 - Aug 16 78: NAVET School at NTC San Diego. (Received orders to NH Oakland, CA)

Aug 1984 - August 1986: LPO of Radiology Department, NH Oakland, CA.

Aug 1986 - Oct 1988: LPO of Radiology Department, US Naval Hospital Yokosuka, Japan.

Oct 1988 - Dec 1988: Instructor School, NTC, San Diego.

Dec 1988 - Feb 1993: Instructor at Navy's Basic X-Ray Technician School, NSHS San Diego Detachment, Oakland, CA. as Senior *Instructor at the time of transfer.

Feb 1993 - Jan 1996: LCPO Ancillary Dept., USNS Mercy (T-AH 19) homeported in Oakland, CA.

Jan 1996 - Feb 1996: Navy Officer Recruiting Leadership Academy, Navy Recruiting School, NAS Pensacola.

Feb 1996 - Aug 31, 2000: Navy Recruiting Area EIGHT (Region WEST), Oakland, CA.

Retired from Naval Service after 25 years of active duty and nearly six and a half years of Naval Reserve service.

IF YOU PARTICIPATED IN ANY MILITARY OPERATIONS, INCLUDING COMBAT, HUMANITARIAN AND PEACEKEEPING OPERATIONS, PLEASE DESCRIBE THOSE WHICH MADE A LASTING IMPACT ON YOU AND, IF LIFE-CHANGING, IN WHAT WAY?
1989 San Francisco Earthquake, I was an Instructor at the Navy's Basic X-Ray Technician School in Oakland, CA. At 5:04 PM, our staff was just ending a staff meeting when the quake hit, and the building was shaking with cracks going up the walls. We immediately yelled for all

Lima Preitta Earthquake of 1989

to evacuate the building and meet in the parking lot outside our building. About an hour later, I took my students to the Naval Hospital 2 blocks away, and we were expecting to work for quite a long time that night as the Admiral of the Hospital announced that the Bay Bridge partially collapsed and the Cypress Structure had totally collapsed with what we first heard were hundreds of trapped victims.

The hospital received about 70 civilians who were injured throughout the area of Oakland near Naval Hospital Oakknoll. Later we were told that there were about 40-50 people trapped in the Cypress Structure, and it would be hours before any hospital received victims. I left the hospital about 0230 the next morning and hit the sack for about 3 hours.

A few weeks later, several instructors, including myself, received the Humanitarian Award but the memories of that night still trouble me whenever I go under an overpass and have to stop.

DID YOU ENCOUNTER ANY SITUATION DURING YOUR MILITARY SERVICE WHEN YOU BELIEVED THERE WAS A POSSIBILITY YOU MIGHT NOT SURVIVE? IF SO, PLEASE DESCRIBE WHAT HAPPENED AND WHAT WAS THE OUTCOME.
I was in two separate helo crashes. The first one was quite high up, and we did auto rotations all the way down. The Commanding General of the First Marine Brigade told us we should have been dead. We lost our main rotor about 25 feet off the ground in the second one.

In 1988, I was TAD to Naval Hospital MCAS Iwakuni from NH Yokosuka, Japan. I was supposed to be there for only a few days but was asked to stay for a month as both the hospital X-ray techs were either on emergency leave or admitted to the hospital as a patient.

One Sunday morning, we received word that a Marine CH53 crashed and that another helo was being dispatched to retrieve survivors (unfortunately none) and victims. I was asked to go on this as I was qualified in 53’s and 46’s as a SAR HM. I stated no as I previously stated, I was in 2 previous accidents, and I believed I would not survive the third accident. Well, there was nearly another hello accident as a Japanese news helo nearly crashed mid-air into the helo, which was retrieving the bodies of the Marines killed in the original helo.

Once the remains arrived at the hospital, I and one of the staff X-ray techs returned from emergency leave x-rayed all the casualties, which took all night long.

That was a horrible experience for all involved.

OF ALL YOUR DUTY STATIONS OR ASSIGNMENTS, WHICH ONE DO YOU HAVE FONDEST MEMORIES OF AND WHY? WHICH WAS YOUR LEAST FAVORITE?

Sandpoint 1972 Softball Champs

My favorite duty station was Naval Dispensary at Naval Support Activity, Seattle, Washington. Our Commanding Officer, CAPT Roy G. Brown MC, a Cardiologist, was my CO at my previous duty station at Naval Hospital, Bremerton, Washington. He and our XO, CAPT Leslie Joslin MSC, made our command a favorite for all enlisted members as well as the rest of the staff. CAPT Brown was a WWII Physician, while CAPT Joslin's father was a crew member of the first Aircraft Carrier USS Langley.

Both of them were members of our volleyball team and attended every football and softball game at Sandpoint. They both held open-door policies for all staff which was a high morale booster for us all. Upon both their retirements, only a few staff were required to attend, and the rest of the staff were put on liberty. I can tell you that every one of us who were not on duty reported in the Uniform of the Day to honor them both at their Retirement Ceremony. I still think of these great leaders.

FROM YOUR ENTIRE MILITARY SERVICE, DESCRIBE ANY MEMORIES YOU STILL REFLECT BACK ON TO THIS DAY.
Again my tour at Naval Dispensary, Naval Support Activity, Seattle, WA due to the command environment by my Commanding Officer, CAPT Roy G. Brown (MC) USN and Executive Officer, CAPT Lesley Joslin, (MSC) USN. These two officers, in my opinion, were always committed to command excellence. The command was tight,

ME AND MY THREE BEST BUDDIES

and due to our small staff, we all got together for all command functions. Many of the command members, including myself, stay in touch with each other. Three of my former shipmates were like my brothers, and we stayed in touch with each other for nearly 40 years. One of the three, HM3 Steven M. Beck (my best friend), died in 1995 from cancer. My son, who was born in 1992, was named after him, and Steve (Beck) was honored that we named him.

A picture of Steve Beck (who died in 1996 due to cancer), Scott Dinsmore, Lee (Big Fred), Frederick, and myself (Little Fred) is enclosed at Naval Dispensary when the four of us got together for the first time since 1973. Unfortunately, Scott Dinsmore died from liver cancer in Dec 2020. This leaves Big Fred and me as the only two of our best friends group.

WHAT PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF FROM YOUR MILITARY CAREER?
In January 1975, I volunteered for SAR Duty at Kaneohe Marine Corps Air Station and was awarded my designation as an Air Crewman; After I returned to active duty from the Naval Reserve, Making HMC at Naval School of Health Sciences in Oakland, CA.

Also received my Master Training Specialist designation and award at NSHS as well. To receive my Master Training Specialist award, I was required to be to teach all 14 courses of instruction at the X-Ray Technician School.

OF ALL THE MEDALS, AWARDS, FORMAL PRESENTATIONS AND QUALIFICATION BADGES YOU RECEIVED, OR OTHER MEMORABILIA, WHICH ONE IS THE MOST MEANINGFUL TO YOU AND WHY?

LOMA PREITA EARTHQUAKE

I received the Humanitarian Award: I was stationed in Oakland, CA at Naval Hospital, Oakland base as an Instructor on the Day of the Loma Prieta Earthquake. I mustered all my X-Ray School students as all personnel's liberty was secured. We worked at the Navy Hospital until nearly 0230, the day after the quake receiving at least 80-90 civilian personnel who were injured in the local community.

That day was a terrible day in the Bay Area, and we thanked God that not as many people were killed as we were first reported to expect. Word was spread that we could have expected between 400-600 dead and injured just on the Cypress Structure.

WHICH INDIVIDUAL(S) FROM YOUR TIME IN THE MILITARY STAND OUT AS HAVING THE MOST POSITIVE IMPACT ON YOU AND WHY?
There are several. Once again, I think that Captain Roy G. Brown, who was my Commanding Officer at both Naval Hospital, Bremerton, and at Naval Dispensary, Seattle had a big impact on my career. He got me to apply for an x-ray technician school in early 1973, and I was accepted for the class starting in Sept 1973. Another was HMC Carmen A Baker, at Naval School of Health Sciences in Oakland, CA. She was one hell of a Chief and later transferred to the Bureau where she made HMCS and later was commissioned as an MSC Officer. When I made HMC in 1992, she personally called me at 0600 when I arrived at our school office and was the first person to congratulate me.

Finally, LCDR Gloria Russell at Naval Recruiting Region WEST Medical Programs Officer when I first reported from my Ship, USNS Mercy. She showed me the ropes, and after she transferred about a year later, I took over her billet and 6 other billets due to the downsizing of our command. We had a staff in the Officer Recruiting Department of 10 personnel and went down to 2, myself, and our Nuclear Officer Recruiter, who was on the road an average of 18-20 days a month. This required me to take over as the Acting Officers Program Officer, Statistician, Minority Programs Officer, Medical Programs Officers, and my own Billet as the Assistant Medical Programs Officer.

LIST THE NAMES OF OLD FRIENDS YOU SERVED WITH, AT WHICH LOCATIONS, AND RECOUNT WHAT YOU REMEMBER MOST ABOUT THEM. INDICATE THOSE YOU ARE ALREADY IN TOUCH WITH AND THOSE YOU WOULD LIKE TO MAKE CONTACT WITH.
My three best friends, Steve Beck, Scott Dinsmore, and Lee (Big Fred) Phil Frederick, were stationed at HM "A" School, NH Bremerton, and Naval Dispensary together. A year after I transferred to HM "C" X-Ray Technician School in San Diego, Big Fred followed.

These three buddies have been part of my life for going on 49 years. Steve, unfortunately, died from cancer in 1996, BUT all four of us were able to get together in mid-1995 for the 1st time in 22 years; being able to see all of us together brought back so many great memories and the fun we had used to have. Big Fred, Scott, and I STILL stay in touch with one another even after all these years. In 2006, Scott and I were able to fly out to Maine, where Big Fred lives. He knew Scott was coming but had NO idea that I would be coming as well. I surprised him and shocked the hell out of him at Portland, Maine Airport. Stayed there for a week.

The four of us were brothers, and we still feel this way even after 49 years.

Update: Scott passed away in December 2021 which devastated me as we again were brothers from another mother.
I was on Facebook last month (Sept 2023) and seen a message that Big Fred's wife passed away and he also died the very same due due to a heart attack. Out of the four of us "brothers", I am the only one left.

CAN YOU RECOUNT A PARTICULAR INCIDENT FROM YOUR SERVICE, WHICH MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE BEEN FUNNY AT THE TIME, BUT STILL MAKES YOU LAUGH?
I was stationed in Seattle and was on the Command Football Team. It was my last day prior to transferring to San Diego. I usually played an end, but for the last game, I was rooked into playing quarterback. Well, I had never played that position, and I did as

Bombs Away

everyone wanted. The ball was hiked to me, and I threw the ball to the receiver, I so thought. The ball must have gone up about a hundred feet straight up and MAYBE 50 feet in front of me and into the hands of an opposing player. The other player was shocked at how he caught the ball and dropped it with no one picking it up. One of our players got the ball and ran for a touchdown. Whenever I go to Seattle and see a lot of my old shipmates on the team, that incident comes up.

Another thing I think about that was scary to me at the time, and now I laugh about was back in 1978 was during Typhoon Kim. I was on duty and the only single tech, so of course, I got assigned to stay in the department. During the Typhoon, water started pouring in an open window, and I was grabbing towels and anything I could get my hands on to stop the water from flooding our department. This went on for hours until the center of the typhoon was in Guam. Several other hospital staff were able to come up and assist me in cleaning up the department. I had never been in a Typhoon, and I was scared as hell because of the wind and rain. We had minimal damage to equipment and were back up the next day.

I just remembered something from 1973, a couple of months after I started X-ray Technician School in San Diego. I was taken out of class and informed to go to the CMAA. I was charged with the destruction of private property overseas in Italy, which the CMAA had listed on the report? I was dumbfounded at what he was talking about as I had never been overseas and been stationed previously in Seattle. The CMAA didn't seem to care or want to listen as he stated he had everything he needed. I was charged and CAPT's Mast the next day. I was informed to go to my school and report in SRBs at 0900 the following day. Once I got back to my class, I went to the head instructor and asked, "what the hell do I do as I was totally innocent of the charges and again had never been overseas or in Italy where this had happened." My instructor got my service record and a copy of the report chit and noticed that the SSN on the chit was close to mine but not mine and that the name was the same but different middle initials.

During the date the incident happened, I was stationed at 32nd Street in San Diego. The next day my Head Instructor oriented the CO with the facts with the proof and all charges dropped and an apology by him. The CMAA was informed to stay in his office after I was dismissed. I later heard he got his ass chewed out for not investigating this which he could have seen the mistakes in about 2 minutes. I was able to finish school, which was a year-long school.

WHAT PROFESSION DID YOU FOLLOW AFTER YOUR MILITARY SERVICE AND WHAT ARE YOU DOING NOW? IF YOU ARE CURRENTLY SERVING, WHAT IS YOUR PRESENT OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALTY?

X-Ray Technician School Class

I am still in the field of Radiologic Technology, which I have been in since 1971. I was hired one week after my Navy Retirement Ceremony by Oregon Health Sciences University. I was on terminal leave at that time. While on terminal leave, I had 8 job offers and decided to choose Oregon Health and Sciences University.

I am ready to fully retire after nearly 15 years as I am now 65 and ready for a change.

WHAT MILITARY ASSOCIATIONS ARE YOU A MEMBER OF, IF ANY? WHAT SPECIFIC BENEFITS DO YOU DERIVE FROM YOUR MEMBERSHIPS?
The American Legion. It's a good way to reconnect with other Navy Veterans; Disabled American Veterans: They have helped me get some disability assistance after I was denied disability from a shipboard accident while I was on the USNS Mercy.

National Chief Petty Officer Association; This association is a good

American Legion, DAV, NCPOA, NCOA, FRA, ICPOA, NMA

way in which to stay in touch with other Chief Petty Officers. I had planned on going to last year's convention, but my stepdaughter's wedding occurred that same week.

Disabled American Veterans (DAV): Have been a member since retirement. I am a member of the Portland, Oregon Chapter and am of the officers of the Chapter.

Non-Commissioned Officer's Association. I have attended a couple of meetings at Joint Base Fort Lewis-McChord in Tacoma, Washington. They have a large club, and not too many Navy people go there.

International Chief Petty Officer Association. Joined this association immediately after it was formed.

Fleet Reserve Association. A funny thing happened the first time I went to the Portland, Oregon meeting. I was the youngest member there, and I was in my mid-50s at the time.

Navy Memorial Association. I love going to the Navy Memorial. I have been there about 5 times in my career but not in the past 15 years since I retired. I want to go there once more. If you are ever in Washington, DC, you HAVE to visit the Navy Memorial.

IN WHAT WAYS HAS SERVING IN THE MILITARY INFLUENCED THE WAY YOU HAVE APPROACHED YOUR LIFE AND YOUR CAREER? WHAT DO YOU MISS MOST ABOUT YOUR TIME IN THE SERVICE?
The one thing we do is to take responsibility for our actions. If you do something wrong, ADMIT it, don't lie or blame others if you are in the wrong. Treat others as you want to be treated. Set a goal and go for it, whether it is the short or long term. Never forget that you are and will always be a part of the world's "Greatest" Navy. When you make Chief, remember where you came from. The camaraderie in the Navy really did help my career, especially when going through my Chief's Initiation. As we were told, have trust in the Mess. I instilled that when I helped new Selectees the years after I made Chief.

I miss the Navy and have run into a few, and recently one retired Chief who I was initiated with.

If I were younger, I would do it all over again but stay totally active duty.

BASED ON YOUR OWN EXPERIENCES, WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO THOSE WHO HAVE RECENTLY JOINED THE NAVY?
Talk to a recruiter and pick a field that you can take with you after you get out or retire. Stay focused. Get your degree and study hard. Get advanced. Learn from those who came before you. Go to sea on a haze gray and underway. It's GREAT!! Unfortunately, I was on only two ships, USS Uhlmann (DD687), a Reserve WWII Tin Can, and USNS Mercy (T-AH19), although I drilled on the USS Dixon Reserve Unit out of Bremerton in 1978. The Dixon was homeported in San Diego when I joined the Unit.

IN WHAT WAYS HAS TOGETHERWESERVED.COM HELPED YOU REMEMBER YOUR MILITARY SERVICE AND THE FRIENDS YOU SERVED WITH.

REFLECTION ON THE PAST

I have been able to email numerous old shipmates whom I have not seen in decades. Several of these people have been trying to get in touch with me as well.

Additionally, I have been able to find out which commands have been decommissioned or deactivated. I have received an email from people who have found my name and asked me if I knew others who were stationed at the same command.

If only I could be 21 again, I would do it all over again!! Being a part of NTWS makes me wish even more that I was still in. I miss being in, at sea, and being with old friends and shipmates.

KC 10.10.23