Balija, Ed, RM2

PLEASE DESCRIBE WHO OR WHAT INFLUENCED YOUR DECISION TO JOIN THE NAVY.
My father and my uncle were both in the Navy during World War II and by brother was in the Marines in Vietnam and I would say that listening to their experiences plus the fact that I really didn't know what I wanted to do after I graduated high school was the biggest decision in me joining the Navy. Plus the fact that one of my closest friends from high school was also joining so we entered in the buddy program.

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?
Not sure what was the actual reason for me leaving when I did other than the fact that I guess I just wanted to see what I could do in the civilian world. Plus, my father had passed away a year prior to my enlistment ending, I went back home to help my mother take care of her house since she was not in the best of health.

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 spent a lot of time off the coast of Iran during the time of the US Embassy workers were held hostage including the rescue attempt that was made. I had just transferred to my last ship, USS O'Brian (DD-975) and I don't even think I was aboard her 2 hours when I just happened to be on deck having a cigarette when I was one of the first people to spot a small boat carrying Vietnamese Refugees. I guess the impact for me came much latter when I was telling my wife, daughter and son about my experiences and the reactions I got from them. I never put much thought into these experiences and they were mesmerized.

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 a staff Radioman for COMCARGRU Five aboard the USS Midway when we were involved in a collision with a civilian cargo ship on our way to the Middle East. We were actually send to our abandon ship stations because the damage from the collision could have resulted in fires and/or explosions because of the fuel lines and LOX tanks that were damaged. It didn't happen but I did hear from an officer that it was a close call.

OF ALL YOUR DUTY STATIONS OR ASSIGNMENTS, WHICH ONE DO YOU HAVE FONDEST MEMORIES OF AND WHY? WHICH WAS YOUR LEAST FAVORITE?
My favorite was stationed aboard the USS San Jose (AFS-7). The ship was going through a major overhaul when I reported about her in San Francisco. It seemed that most of the Radiomen that I worked with transferred to her around the same time, so we were able to build a really solid time as we came out of the shipyard. I still maintain contact with my shipmates to this day, over 40 years ago. The ship was homeported in Alameda, California when I first got there but was changing to Guam shortly after. Our C.O., Captain Bull allowed me to have my dad ride the ship from Alameda to Hawaii as a guess of the captain. My Dad was in WWII and loved every minute of that trip. My Dad raved about that experience till the day he died. My least favorite was choosing Naval Communications Station San Miguel in the Philippines. I did not get along with my Department Head and the feeling was mutual but the thing I will never forget is when my dad died, he said if it were up to him, I would not be given emergency leave to attend his funeral. That is when I decided that I did not want to continue my enlistment.

FROM YOUR ENTIRE MILITARY SERVICE, DESCRIBE ANY MEMORIES YOU STILL REFLECT BACK ON TO THIS DAY.
There are so many wonderful memories, probably a few of the best memories was when I was assigned to CTF-70 staff, I have the privilege of having been launched off and later back onto an aircraft carrier in a C2 COD, what a rush that was! My first crossing the line ceremony where I became a shellback was pretty awesome too. The bulk of my memories are from my days on the USS San Jose. The friendships I had with my shipmates plus the experience of traveling with my dad between Alameda and Hawaii was incredible and I will never forget that.

WHAT PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF FROM YOUR MILITARY CAREER?
My experience as a Navy Radioman helped in getting hired at a major telephone company shortly after I left the Navy. I have been in the telecommunications industry for 38 years not, not including my time in the service. I made it up to E5 in the Navy and at one time in my civilian career I was promoted to Director level. I attribute my civilian success to my training and experience in the military.