Reger, Gilbert, SM1

PLEASE DESCRIBE WHO OR WHAT INFLUENCED YOUR DECISION TO JOIN THE NAVY.
Wanted to get out of Yuma, I was getting into trouble and needed to leave. So I enlisted in the Navy 22 Dec 72.

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 had no intention of staying in the Navy for a career. I first enlisted for 3 years as an undesignated airman. In bootcamp the CC convinced me to extend a year and get a "A" school and stay out of deck dept. So I picked RM, IC, EM and SM as my choices and ended up becoming a Signalman. I was gonna get out,but once Capt Ramsey became our CO on the USS Vancouver, I was shown that the Navy wasnt as bad as I was thinking it was and decided to re-enlist on 16 Dec 76 for 6 yrs and I was on my way to retirement.

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?
The one that stands out the most to me was Operation Frequent Wind, the evacuation of Saigon. We got out as many as we could during those 2 days off the coast of VietNam. Took them to Subic Bay and I often wonder what happened to all the ones we saved. Was a very intense 2 days...no sleep and up on the signal bridge the entire time...

OF ALL YOUR DUTY STATIONS OR ASSIGNMENTS, WHICH ONE DO YOU HAVE FONDEST MEMORIES OF AND WHY? WHICH WAS YOUR LEAST FAVORITE?
My first ship, the USS Vancouver LPD-2....simply cuz its where I made such great friends, who I'm still in contact today.....and grew up onboard her. A close 2nd is the USS Schenectady, great friends and great memories....I made great friends on the USS Hoel,USS Durham and USS Juneau also....friends for life.

FROM YOUR ENTIRE MILITARY SERVICE, DESCRIBE ANY MEMORIES YOU STILL REFLECT BACK ON TO THIS DAY.
Almost going over the side in a bad storm onboard the USS Schenectady. Was so rough, I wanted to secure the watch on the signalbridge and have the guys stay in the pilot house.....but noooooooo DivO wanted someone manning the Sigbridge....So being the SM1 that I was, I told all my guys to hit there racks and I would take the watch all night.. Oh, and did I mention that LST'S are flat bottomed........and rock and roll like no other ship. So there I was, I jammed myself nice and tight sitting on the safe and bracing my legs against the bulkhead......rockin and a rolling like only a LST can.....Finally 6am came around and I was gonna head down to wake up my relief. Problem was, during the night some general detergent somehow spilled on the deck and yup, the wind caught the door and as soon as i planted my foot I was whisked right out the doorway...hit the deck with my chin, a burst of stars and I'm heading for the STBD side rails, sliding across the deck. Thank God my feet hit the bottom rail and arm caught the pole next to the flagbag...thats all that kept me from flying out over the Stbd side..........ship rolled the other way and I whipped around the pole and ended up sitting in front of the flagbag, wonderin WTF just happend. Gonna have to leave a bit out here, but lets just say I was the beginning of a long day for sickbay...lol as you could see my veins etc thru the huge cut on my chin......needless to say, the watch was secured on the signalbridge and my guys stood watch in the pilot house.....damn DivO finally figured out he needed to listen to his SM1.

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?
The ones we got for Operation Frequent Wind and Operation Eagle Pull.....

WHICH INDIVIDUAL(S) FROM YOUR TIME IN THE MILITARY STAND OUT AS HAVING THE MOST POSITIVE IMPACT ON YOU AND WHY?
Has to be Capt D. Ramsey.....he was a great C.O. and was instramental to me making the Navy a carreer.

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?
Ha, to many, they all just run together in my head lol...gonna leave it at that....hahahahaha

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?
Enjoying life.......

WHAT MILITARY ASSOCIATIONS ARE YOU A MEMBER OF, IF ANY? WHAT SPECIFIC BENEFITS DO YOU DERIVE FROM YOUR MEMBERSHIPS?
American Legion, VFW

BASED ON YOUR OWN EXPERIENCES, WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO THOSE WHO HAVE RECENTLY JOINED THE NAVY?
Stay in. The time goes by so fast, you won't believe how fast 20 years fly's by. Out here in Civie land everyone works 30 years or more if they can.....So stay in, retire and you can start a new career when you retire....like me and alot of my friends have.....

IN WHAT WAYS HAS TOGETHERWESERVED.COM HELPED YOU REMEMBER YOUR MILITARY SERVICE AND THE FRIENDS YOU SERVED WITH.
Simply put, it got us all re-connected.