Reflections on PO2 Smith's
US Navy Service
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PLEASE DESCRIBE WHO OR WHAT INFLUENCED YOUR DECISION TO JOIN THE NAVY.
My father. He was in the army 1st then went into the navy. I was just the opposite, and I went into the navy for 10 yrs. Then went army for 11 yrs. Both were the best times of my life. Had to retire for medical reasons.
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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?
I retired for medical reasons. I came down with hairy cell leukemia think I got it while off the coast of Vietnam.
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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?
Firing from a heavy cruiser ( 8", 5", 3" guns ) 50 & 30 cal machine guns, at the coast and small boats running guns to n.v.n, we took a hit near one of our 5" guns, and that made a lasting impression on me.
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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.
When we took a hit from a North Vietnam coast artillery gun, it put a large hole in the o2 level. We went out to sea, and they came charging back in firing with everything we had to offer. We took out the coastal artillery.
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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?
I didn't have a least favorite. All my duty stations were great?a learning experience in both navy and army. I enjoyed the combat engineers most because just like a big kid...we got to build bridges and blow them up. Built underground bunkers and blow them up. Great times.
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FROM YOUR ENTIRE MILITARY SERVICE, DESCRIBE ANY MEMORIES YOU STILL REFLECT BACK ON TO THIS DAY.
Running the officers' motorboat and the captain's gig as the engineer and building bridges and bunkers the getting to blow them up.
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WHAT PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF FROM YOUR MILITARY CAREER?
Army achievement medal and all my rifle & pistol expert qualifications.
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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?
Army achievement medal, weapons qualifications, presidential unit citation. Why, because of the personal satisfaction of earning those by myself except for the presidential unit citation, that was the combined effort of the entire crew of the ship.
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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?
Navy chief k.j. Johnson. That man knew more about that ship, both history and every inch of electrical and plumbing than even the captain and exec. Put together. I wanted to have that kind of knowledge that he had.
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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.
Tom Goodall, doc Livingston, too many to recall. Doc Livingston is the guy I would like to contact. Tom Goodall has passed away.
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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?
The time I couldn't figure out why the landing craft I was engineering died on us. Stupid me opened up the fuel filling cap, and the pressure blew fuel all over me. After I figured out what was wrong, we still had ops to finish?several hrs. Later I was burning up from the fuel burns I received by not washing off the fuel that was all over me?what a weekend.
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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?
Major machinery repair in plastics manufacturing. Now I'm retired, but still working as a negative pressure technician (vacuum & air purifying machines.)
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WHAT MILITARY ASSOCIATIONS ARE YOU A MEMBER OF, IF ANY? WHAT SPECIFIC BENEFITS DO YOU DERIVE FROM YOUR MEMBERSHIPS?
I was the commander of the American legion in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. And several different units in that area of Idaho. The satisfaction of being able to help other vets in their life situations.
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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?
Being able to teach the younger kids how to stay alive in combat and skills to better themselves
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BASED ON YOUR OWN EXPERIENCES, WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO THOSE WHO HAVE RECENTLY JOINED THE NAVY?
Stay in, learn as much as you can about your job and duties. Pass those along to new people coming into your life. Get your education thru the service.
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IN WHAT WAYS HAS TOGETHERWESERVED.COM HELPED YOU REMEMBER YOUR MILITARY SERVICE AND THE FRIENDS YOU SERVED WITH.
It was being able to put messages out to fellow service members to find out what has happened to them. A lot of the crew from my old ship came down with symptoms of illnesses associated with agent orange, as I did. KC 6.26.20
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