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Service Details |
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Personal Details
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Home State
North Carolina | |
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Year of Birth
1948 |
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This Military Service Page was created/owned by
William Hammond (BigBird), EO1
to remember
Avery, Edward T. (Edwardo), EOC USN(Ret).
If you knew or served with this Sailor and have additional information or photos to support this Page, please leave a message for the Page Administrator(s) HERE.
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Contact Info
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Home Town
Cove City |
Last Address
COVE CITY, NC
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Date of Passing
Aug 29, 2020 |
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Location of Interment
Wintergreen Freewill Baptist Church Cemetery - Cove City, North Carolina |
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Last Known Activity:
COVE CITY – Edward Thomas (Eddie) Avery, 72, of Cove City, NC died peacefully at home on Saturday, August 29, 2020 after rapidly declining health due to pulmonary fibrosis.
He was born March 16, 1948. After graduating from Jasper High School in Craven County, NC, he enlisted in the U. S. Navy Seabees, where he served his country faithfully for 20 years, achieving the rank of Chief Petty Officer. Before leaving for his first duty station, he married the love of his life, Nora Koonce Avery in 1967.
Eddie's military career took him to points all over the world including Vietnam, Guam, Okinawa, Spain, Sicily, and Puerto Rico. Stateside he reported to duty stations in California, Virginia, Mississippi, Alaska, and North Carolina, the latter as a Navy Recruiter in his hometown. In 1983 he was honored with the distinction of being the Shore Sailor of the Year for the Atlantic Fleet Seabees.
Eddie was a member of Wintergreen OFWB Church. Before his health declined, he served as a Deacon and sang in the church choir. He had a keen sense of humor and loved to share anecdotes about his years in the military.
Eddie was preceded in death by his parents, Ernest and Hazel Avery, and his sister, Nancy Riley. Eddie leaves to cherish his memory his wife of 52 years, Nora Avery, sons Jerry Avery (Laura) and Chris Avery (Gina), grandsons Joshua Avery (Kayla) and Matthew Madore, great-grandson Vinny Avery, several nieces and nephews, and his faithful furry companions Tori, Buddy, and Aggie.
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1968-1969, NAB Coronado, CA
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1969-1969, Naval Construction Regimemt (NCR) 31
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1969-1970, Construction Battalion Maintenance Unit (CBMU)-302
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1970-1971, Navy Cargo Handling Battalion 1 (NCHB-1)
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1971-1973, Navy Cargo Handling & Port Group 1 (NAVCHAPGRU 1)
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1973-1976, EO-9585, Navy Recruiting Region South, Commander Naval Recruiting Command (CNRC)
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1976-1980, EO-5710, Naval Mobile Construction Battalion One (NMCB 1)
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1980-1983, EO-9502, 20th Naval Construction Regiment, Naval Construction Battalion Center (NCBC) Gulfport, MS
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1983-1985, Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 133
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1985-1987, Commander Construction Battalions Atlantic Fleet (COMCBLANT)
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Reflections on CPO Avery's
US Navy Service
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TO THE BEST OF YOUR KNOWLEDGE, WHAT INFLUENCED HIS/HER DECISION TO JOIN THE NAVY?
No influence... Had draft papers on the way. My uncle, Willie Avery, retired US Navy helped me enlist in Oct 1968. Didn't want the Army. I chose the Navy because I wanted to be a Seabee. A farm boy became an Equipment Operator!!!!!!
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TO THE BEST OF YOUR KNOWLEDGE, PLEASE DESCRIBE THE DIRECTION OR PATH HE/SHE TOOK IN HIS/HER MILITARY SERVICE. WHERE DID THEY GO TO BOOT CAMP AND WHAT UNITS, BASES, SHIPS OR SQUADRONS WERE THEY ASSIGNED TO? WHAT WAS HIS/HER REASON FOR LEAVING?
Recruit training to retirement.
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IF HE/SHE PARTICIPATED IN ANY MILITARY OPERATIONS, INCLUDING COMBAT, HUMANITARIAN AND PEACEKEEPING OPERATIONS, TO THE BEST OF YOUR KNOWLEDGE, PLEASE DESCRIBE THOSE YOU FEEL WERE THE MOST SIGNIFICANT TO HIM/HER AND, IF LIFE-CHANGING, IN WHAT WAY.
Yes, Operation Market Time. 30 Sept. 1969- 22 Sept. 1970. CBMU 302 under rocket attack and small arms fire. TAD to Binh Ba Island Mar 1970-May 1970. Building housing for Vietnamese Sailors and their families. Came under attack by small arms fire. Worst case of being scared I've ever had.
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OF ALL THEIR DUTY STATIONS OR ASSIGNMENTS, ARE YOU AWARE OF ANY HE/SHE HAD FONDEST MEMORIES OF AND WHY? WHICH WAS THEIR LEAST FAVORITE?
NMCB 133. I had been stationed with a lot of Equipment Operators while stationed with NMCB 1. Most of them transferred to NMCB 133 and of course my orders sent me to NMCB 133 too. The Battalion had me transferred a month early for a (SPECIAL PROJECT), Initiation. My "SPECIAL PROJECT" was pushing a wheel barrow that was called "THE CPO TAXI".
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FROM THEIR ENTIRE MILITARY SERVICE, DESCRIBE ANY PERSONAL MEMORIES, YOU MAY BE AWARE OF, WHICH IMPACTED HIM/HER THE MOST.
Being advanced to CPO.
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OF ALL THE MEDALS, AWARDS, FORMAL PRESENTATIONS AND QUALIFICATION BADGES HE/SHE RECEIVED, WHICH WERE THE MOST MEANINGFUL TO HIM/HER AND WHY?
2nd Navy Commendation, 9 months of pure hell while paving a 6600 foot taxiway and 4 tow ways 150 feet wide on MCAS Futenma (H), Okinawa.
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IF KNOWN, PLEASE LIST ANY INDIVIDUAL(S) FROM HIS/HER TIME IN THE MILITARY WHO STOOD OUT AS HAVING THE MOST POSITIVE IMPACT ON THEM AND WHY?
EQCM James Brasher. He was an E-8 when I made CPO. After initiation and promotion. He asked me, are you any smarter today than you were yesterday? My answer was "no". He said, don't ever forgot that as a Chief. He was correct. God Bless His Soul. Rest in Peace Jim.
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ARE YOU AWARE OF ANY PARTICULAR INCIDENT FROM HIS/HER SERVICE, WHICH MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE BEEN FUNNY AT THE TIME, BUT STILL MADE THEM LAUGH LATER ON?
1- Yes, EQCM James Brasher was driving our Atlantic Fleet Commodore around our job sites for his inspection while we were in Puerto Rico. He backed into a ditch with an M151 Jeep while the Commodore was in the jeep. Our CO, Operations Officer and the Commodore had to push the jeep out of the ditch. Jim decidedly got the "STUPIDIOUS ASSUS AWARD" at our next CPO Association meeting.
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IF HE/SHE SURVIVED MILITARY SERVICE, WHAT PROFESSION(S) DID HE/SHE FOLLOW AFTER DISCHARGE?
Heavy equipment operator, mechanic, logger, supervisor at Moen Inc. Presently retired.
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IF KNOWN, WHAT MILITARY ASSOCIATIONS WAS HE OR SHE A MEMBER OF, IF ANY? ARE YOU AWARE OF ANY SPECIFIC BENEFITS THEY DERIVED FROM THEIR MEMBERSHIPS?
USN, Together We Served.
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IF HE/SHE SURVIVED MILITARY SERVICE, IN WHAT WAYS DO YOU BELIEVE HIS/HER SERVING IN THE MILITARY INFLUENCED THE WAY THEY APPROACHED THEIR PERSONAL LIFE, FAMILY LIFE AND CAREER?
Don't give up. You only fail if you stop trying. You may not be successful, but you never give up trying.
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IF THEY WERE HERE TODAY, WHAT ADVICE DO YOU THINK HE OR SHE WOULD GIVE TO THOSE WHO FOLLOWED IN THEIR FOOTSTEPS AND RECENTLY ENTERED MILITARY SERVICE?
Always do your absolute best, no matter what your task.
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HOW EFFECTIVE HAS TOGETHERWESERVED.COM BEEN IN HELPING YOU RECORD YOUR REMEMBERED PERSONS MILITARY SERVICE? DO YOU HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS OR SUGGESTIONS YOU WOULD LIKE TO MAKE?
I have reestablished contact with a few of my old shipmates. It gives me a chance to visit with them over the internet. It also allows me too share condolences with families of those who have passed on.
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