Aviation Structural Mechanic |
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Service Details |
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Current Service Status
USN Retired
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Current/Last Rank
Senior Chief Petty Officer
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Current/Last Primary NEC
AM-8305-E2/C2 System Organizational Maintenance Technician
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Current/Last Rating/NEC Group
Aviation Structural Mechanic
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Primary Unit
1976-1978, AMH-0000, HC-3 Pack Rats
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Previously Held NEC
AMH-0000-Aviation Structrual Mechanic Hydraulics
AMH-9585-Navy Recruiter Canvasser
AMH-8319-P-3 System Organizational Maintenance Technician
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Service Years
1968 - 1994
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Other Languages
Spanish
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Official/Unofficial US Navy Certificates
Operation Desert Storm
Cold War
Gulf of Tonkin Yacht Club
Order of the Arctic Circle (Bluenose)
Order of the Shellback
Plank Owner
Sailor of the Quarter
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Voice Edition
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1968-1968, NATTC (Staff) Memphis, Naval Air Technical Training Command (Staff)
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1968-1968, AMH-0000, VA-128
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1968-1969, AMH-0000, USS Constellation (CVA-64)
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1968-1972, AMH-0000, VA-196 Main Battery
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1969-1970, AMH-0000, USS Ranger (CVA-61)
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1971-1972, USS Enterprise (CVN-65)
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1972-1972, AMH-0000, RVAW-110
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1972-1974, AMH-0000, VR-24
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1973-1973, AMH-0000, USS Kitty Hawk (CVA-63)
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1973-1973, AMH-0000, USS Intrepid (CVS-11)
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1973-1973, AMH-0000, Souda Bay, Crete
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1974-1975, AMH-0000, Naval Air Station (NAS) North Island, CA
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1974-1976, AMH-0000, RVAW-110
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1976-1976, AMH-0000, Naval Air Station (NAS) Miramar, CA
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1976-1976, AMH-0000, MCAS Tustin
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1976-1978, AMH-0000, HC-3 Pack Rats
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1977-1978, AMH-0000, USS Niagara Falls (AFS-3)
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1978-1979, AMH-0000, HC-11 Gunbearers
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1979-1982, AMH-9585, Navy Recruiting District Dallas, TX, Commander Naval Recruiting Command (CNRC)
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1982-1982, AMH-0000, HS-10 Taskmasters
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1982-1983, AMH-0000, Det 3, HC-1 Pacific Fleet Angels
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1982-1983, AMH-0000, Naval Air Facilities (NAF) Diego Garcia BIOT
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1983-1984, AMH-0000, FRAMP VP-31, VP-31 The Genies/Black Lightnings
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1984-1985, AMH-8319, VP-48 Boomerangers
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1985-1987, AMH-0000, VT-21 Redhawks
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1987-1990, AMH-8319, VP-17 White Lighting
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1990-1993, AMH-0000, Aircraft Intermediate Maintenance Department (AIMD), Naval Air Station (NAS) Whidbey Island, WA
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1993-1993, AMH-0000, USS George Washington (CVN-73)
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1993-1994, AMH-0000, VAQ-140 Patriots
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- Aldrich, LeeRoy, PO3, (1958-1962)
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- DelaO, Israel, PFC, (1967-1967)
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Reflections on SCPO Ramos's
US Navy Service
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PLEASE DESCRIBE WHO OR WHAT INFLUENCED YOUR DECISION TO JOIN THE NAVY.
The Draft in the 1960s got you into the US Army through the draft during the Viet Nam Conflict. It was called your one-way ticket to your funeral. I made my decision when I received my letter to report for the AFEES physical, was to enlist in the US Navy | VA196 NAS Whidbey Island, Wa. 1968 |
to serve my country as a volunteer. When I turned 18, it was the law to register for the draft, and I was still in high school as a senior. I finished high school and knew for sure I would be called into the US Army, as many of my friends did too. The first step was to be called to take a physical exam at the AFEES station in Dallas in September 1967. I passed the physical exam classified 1A and returned to the Draft Board office at Temple, and I was told to wait to be called for enlistment. So I walked across the street where all the recruiting offices were. The Navy recruiter was the only one who was open. He gave a pre-test of the ASVAB and said he could enlist me in two weeks. What? In the medical field, as a corpsman. I said you know if I get drafted, I may go to Viet-Nam and probably in the infantry with an M16 and as a corpsman a red cross as a target and no weapon. I said no. He told me to go home and think about it, and he would tell the draft office I had the intention to join the Navy, and it would keep my name off the call list for the draft for a while. The Navy Recruiter would call me every two to four weeks to ask if I was ready. Then I made a decision; he offered me in Naval Aviation. I finally went into Naval Aviation in Mar 1968. I did not know it as a 19-year-old then, but my decision was an honor and an obligation to serve in the greatest Navy for this great country.
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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?
| VT21 NAS Kingsville, Tx. QA Division |
I went into Naval Aviation in March 1968. I was an AMH (Aircraft Maintenance) at "A" School. This path led me to 10 different types of aircraft in my career that gave me the opportunity to see several countries and states while serving on several naval ships, naval stations, and a tour in Recruiting Duty. After 26 years of honorable service to my country and the greatest Navy, I retired in May of 1994. As a civilian employee, I worked with the US Army Aviation and Missile Command working Quality Assurance as a government contractor on combat helicopters, the Apache, Black Hawk, Huey, Chinook, and Kiowa Warrior for 16 years. Then I went on to teach public elementary education for three years. I retired from paid employment in 2013.
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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 Status Quo of the 60's |
I served 24 months during the Vietnam Conflict. It was a time of turmoil of being very unpopular with the public and abroad. It was a decade of extremes of transforming change and bizarre contrasts: flower children and assassins, idealism and alienation, rebellion and backlash. For many of the massive post-World War II baby boom generation, it was both the best of times and the worst "tune in and drop out." This meant people should use drugs and leave school or their job. For a young man or woman returning home from the war, it was a time of being disgraced for wearing the uniform, being called a baby killer, and being spit on while others in your generation were burning their draft cards. It changed me to be more resilient to the status quo.
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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.
In 1973 I was assigned to VR 24, a logistic squadron that flies the C2 Greyhound known as the COD (Carrier Onboard Delivery) out of Naples, Italy. At this time, we were operating in Crete, providing support for the aircraft carriers in the Mediterranian. One morning while getting ready for | VR24 NAF Capodichino, Italy 1972-1974 |
work, we had a flight that was scheduled to fly to the Independence CVA62 to go back to base in Italy, where we were stationed. Aircraft 25 was to return to Italy for needed routine maintenance but first to deliver 20-something passengers and cargo to the Independence. Aircraft 21 that was to fly to Athens, Greece. That morning my Chief asked if I wanted to go back home to Italy with aircraft 25, and I just turned it down because I did want to go back to town and get my belongings. My counterpart Tom Murphy volunteered to go back to Italy on aircraft 25 since he was just recently married. After loading the aircraft for departure, both C2s 21 and 25 were at the runway for takeoff. Aircraft 25 took off first, then we followed on aircraft 21. Then the unexpected happened over the radio from aircraft 25 that they were going down from 1600 hundred feet into the bay. Aircraft 21 reversed props and aborted the flight of the 20-something passengers and four crew. All the passengers and one crew member lost their lives. That crew member who took my place on that aircraft lost his life. This situation in a life experience has been with me ever since.
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OF ALL YOUR DUTY STATIONS OR ASSIGNMENTS, WHICH ONE DO YOU HAVE FONDEST MEMORIES OF AND WHY? WHICH WAS YOUR LEAST FAVORITE?
NAS North Island, San Diego, California. It was just a beautiful area to wake up every morning and to be glad to be alive. Waking up every morning driving my motorcycle starting at home onto I15 south, onto I8 west, then on 163 south and onto the I5 south, and | NAS North Island, San Diego, Ca. 1974-1979 |
onto the Coronado Bridge to NAS North Island. I loved going there and coming back from work. I cannot say which was my least favorite but my assignments were both PCS or TDY Whidbey Is (2 times), Capo, Naples Italy, NAS North Island (4 times), NAS Miramar, NRD Dallas (RS Killeen). NAF Diego Garcia, NAS Cubi Point, NAS Fallon, NAS Moffett Field, Misawa, JP, Kadena, JP, NAS Atsugi, JP, NAS Adak, NAS Barbers Point and not in this order. I was TDY from 1 week to 10 months on many aircraft carriers, such as The Constellation The Ranger, The Enterprise, The Kennedy, The Independence, The Intrepid, The George Washington, and including one surface supply ship The Niagara Falls. To say which was my least favorite had to be Diego Garcia for the reason it is isolated and far from other large landmasses.
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FROM YOUR ENTIRE MILITARY SERVICE, DESCRIBE ANY MEMORIES YOU STILL REFLECT BACK ON TO THIS DAY.
The loss of shipmates that you knew and knowing that their aircraft would not return at the end of the day. In 1973 while operating in Crete assigned to VR24, supporting the US aircraft carriers in the Meditteranean. I remember one evening going out into town for liberty with some 5 | VR24 Crete, Greece 1973 |
of my shipmates. While walking along the street, a young man about 18 years old was walking alone; we invited him to our group. He said that he had just completed boot camp and had gone on leave for two weeks. He had flown in from the states to meet the Independence CVA 62. We told him that he would probably fly out in the morning with us since we were to take passengers to the carrier on one of the two C2 aircraft. He said that's great. So we took him under our wing that night. The following morning he was present to board one of our aircraft. As I mentioned in question 4, aircraft 25 was scheduled to deliver cargo and passengers to the carrier. Unfortunately, that aircraft lost altitude at 1600 hundred feet due to mechanical failure and pilot error. All passengers and one crewman of 4 lost their lives. That young sailor is so enthusiastic about going to his first duty station and never making it. So young to lose his life, and the brief time we spent with him the night before is like an eternity.
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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?
Achievement medals probably detailed the accomplishment I performed in the Navy as a Recruiter because it was in black and white what you accomplished. It was not politically imposed on your evaluation. It was a tough assignment to do right after the Viet Nam conflict, the end of the draft, and the beginning of the all-volunteer force. I hope after all these years I have made a difference in someone's life. I aided in the enlistment of 148 plus Sailors from Sep 1979 thru Aug 1982. Another that I was recognized with when I was in charge of recovering one of our squadron's P3C aircraft when it was towed over an electric box in the parking ramp and the steel lid over the 4X4 ft gave with the weight 0f the aircraft. The port LDG strut fell about 5 ft that the wing was striking the ground and other damage to tail and antennae fixed on the belly aircraft. The aircraft could not be lifted with slings. I suggested air bags under the wing and some ingenuity with an aircraft wing jack after the aircraft was high enough to use it on the jack point. Also had the strut deflated of nitrogen and collapsed the oleo strut with a come-along cable to reduce the height of lifting the aircraft to slide a 3 inch steel plate under the wheels. I did not do this alone, it was a team effort but under my guidance. The CO and the XO were watching the whole evolution.
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WHICH INDIVIDUAL(S) FROM YOUR TIME IN THE MILITARY STAND OUT AS HAVING THE MOST POSITIVE IMPACT ON YOU AND WHY?
All my Chiefs above me because they were then called the backbone of the Navy.
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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.
Petty Officer Bob White, Petty Officer Rich Host, Airman Ben McAdams, Airman Mike Caballeros, Sr. Chief Juan Galvan, Chief Jesse Vela, Chief Nick Garza, Chief Carlos Murillo, Petty Officer George Armstrong, Chief John Birch, and many others. They guided, they partied hard, they played hard, they worked hard, and they were fun to be around with.
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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?
| Hot Foot |
We all were just glad to be back to the good ole US of A after returning to the states from a 10-month deployment. Some of my shipmates had a rough night before our first day back to work, coming hung over. I remember one shipmate was very sleepy, and had we put him to sleep on top of the cruise boxes. So someone had this idea to place paper at the steel toe area of his boon dockers and light it while he was fast asleep. Well, you guessed it. Funny but not funny. I laughed until it hurts.
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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?
| Retirement Ceremony 1994 VAQ140 NAS W.I. |
I went into commercial and federal aviation for 16 years after retirement. I then taught public elementary education for three years and fully retired after that.
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WHAT MILITARY ASSOCIATIONS ARE YOU A MEMBER OF, IF ANY? WHAT SPECIFIC BENEFITS DO YOU DERIVE FROM YOUR MEMBERSHIPS?
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DAV. They helped me with VA benefits that I was totally unaware of.
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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?
It has probably made me a better person, father, and husband. A better understanding that liberty is not free. It taught me a trade and gave me a chance to reach my goals in education in Physics and Science.
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BASED ON YOUR OWN EXPERIENCES, WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO THOSE WHO HAVE RECENTLY JOINED THE NAVY?
Be prepared, that it is based on the needs of the Navy. Expect the unexpected and take the challenge. Listen and get involved there is a big world out there to see and experience.
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IN WHAT WAYS HAS TOGETHERWESERVED.COM HELPED YOU REMEMBER YOUR MILITARY SERVICE AND THE FRIENDS YOU SERVED WITH.
| TWS and the US Navy |
It has allowed me to reach some of my shipmates that I served with and keep in contact with. Military service is like no other. You don't forget it, and at times you want some memories to go away, but some don't. Thank you, TWS. KC 12.19.23
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