Brock, Lynn, ENC

PLEASE DESCRIBE WHO OR WHAT INFLUENCED YOUR DECISION TO JOIN THE NAVY.
My decision to join the military was pretty much decided by the fact I was raised as a military brat. My Father was in the Army and I grew up traveling and seeing different parts of the country. When I left high school I was determined to join the Navy since I was interested in the engineering rates they offered. I am glad I did.

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 graduated boot camp in 1965 in San Diego. The offer was made to transfer to Sub School in New London CN, that was an offer hard to refuse. I was young, out on my own for the first time and couldn't resist the orders all the way across the states. It was my first time on a plane and I was thrilled to death.

Sub school didn't pan out so I transferred to the fleet and my first ship was USS Wright, CC-2 in Norfolk. From that point it was a succession of ships and a tour of Vietnam in 1968-1968. I was in the Brown Water Navy and served on an LCU.

Then went to Holy Loch Scotland in 69, then to Rhode Island for shore duty. After that it was back to the fleet in Mayport aboard USS FD Roosevelt, CVA-42 and off to the Med.

Back to shore duty after that in Dallas at NAS Dallas. Then I had cancer and was placed on TDRL for 3 years, returned to the Navy and went to Fallon NV for shore duty, then to the USS Simpson in Newport RI. Went to Persian Gulf in 1988 and was involved in Operation Earnest Will.

Got cancer again in 1988 and went back TDRL. This time when I was cured I asked for a permanent retirement and left active duty in September 1988.

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?
I was in combat in Vietnam and the Persian Gulf. In Vietnam the Tet offensive was happening while my division was operating in the Perfume River. I was attached to Literage division out of Danang. One time we were in transit and the boats were in convoy to try and avoid being attacked. We were fourth in the convoy if I remember correctly and all of a sudden there was a huge explosion aft of us. When we looked to see what happened the boat behind ours had hit a mine and blew the whole back of the boat off. All the crew was killed but the mascot, a dog, survived because he was out on the well deck. Needless to say, it was a scary day for us.

In 1988 we were patrolling the Straights of Hormus to protect the tanker convoys. We were in the company of the USS Waignwright and another destroyer. I was on USS Simpson, FFG-56. That day we were attacking oil platforms to pay back the Iranians for trying to sink the USS Roberts, FFG-58 which was our sister ship. All of a sudden GQ was sounded and we heard on the 1MC that the Iranian missile boat Joshua had launched a missile at our task force. All of a sudden we heard "Birds away" on the 1MC and then the CO announced we had sunk the Joshua. It was quite a day and was something I will never forget.

FROM YOUR ENTIRE MILITARY SERVICE, DESCRIBE ANY MEMORIES YOU STILL REFLECT BACK ON TO THIS DAY.
I will never forget the fun I had when we crossed the Equator in 1966. I was on USS Wright at the time and it was a heavy cruiser hull with a flat top that carried a bunch of antenna's. It was an all day celebration and we had a great time.

WHAT PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF FROM YOUR MILITARY CAREER?
No, I got two combat action ribbons but no ribbons for Valor.

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?
My most meaningful was the Enlisted Surface Warfare pin I earned. It was a good feeling to understand how the entire ship operated and how the team fights it.

WHICH INDIVIDUAL(S) FROM YOUR TIME IN THE MILITARY STAND OUT AS HAVING THE MOST POSITIVE IMPACT ON YOU AND WHY?
I really have no one I can recall that had an impact on me or my service. Outside of my service the person who influenced me the most was my father who introduced me to military life.

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?
I started out working in automotive repairs in a tire and battery shop. That got old fast so I went to work in Utilities maintenance at a State University. I worked for the State for about two years without a chance for promotion so I found a job in the hospitality industry working for a new resort hotel in San Antonio. I have been with that hotel now for 18 years and plan to stay until I retire.

WHAT MILITARY ASSOCIATIONS ARE YOU A MEMBER OF, IF ANY? WHAT SPECIFIC BENEFITS DO YOU DERIVE FROM YOUR MEMBERSHIPS?
I am a member at large in the NCOA located here in San Antonio TX. They offer my dependents assistance after my death which is a big deal to me. NCOA will contact the Navy and see to it they get all my benefits.

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?
My military career has helped me a lot in the job force. It has given me the ability to be punctual and on time, have a positive attitude when I am in the work place and has given me many years of training that I use in my daily work assignments. It was an easy transition when I left the military because I had gained valuable knowledge in my career rate that transferred over to my current job.

BASED ON YOUR OWN EXPERIENCES, WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO THOSE WHO HAVE RECENTLY JOINED THE NAVY?
Stay in the service as long as you can. I know about the sacrifices with deployments and such, but if you can stay until retirement you won't regret it later in life. Learn all you can about your rate and try to find a job that is similar to the job you had in the Navy and you will have a smooth transition.

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

TWS and the US Navy

I have seen many shipmates on the site and have been in contact with some of them. Togetherweserved has given me the tool I need to be able to do this. I am not a full member yet but am thinking hard of joining and probably will do so soon.

DS 3/2/17