Hanna, Thomas, CUCM

PLEASE DESCRIBE WHO OR WHAT INFLUENCED YOUR DECISION TO JOIN THE NAVY.
My neighbor, Bill Wilkinson, was a disabled veteran. I would help him to repair his home as he was wheelchair bound. We were discussing my financial situation one day and he said that I would make a good Seabee and that I could make extra money by joining the reserve unit just a few blocks from my home. I can't recall if I had ever heard of the Seabees before. I was 36 years old, had never served in the military. In 1970 my military lottery number was 285 so I just never really was inclined to join. Well, I talked to the recruiter, provided all the education and work experience I had and by December of 1989 I was and EA2 with NMCB 20 Det 0120. I was inducted via the Advanced Paygrade Program just like the original Seabees.

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 started out as the detachment Educational Services Officer and as a second and first class Petty Officer, having held the following detachment positions: admin. operations and training. In 1999 I was selected for advancement to Chief Petty Officer. My first assignment was in Youngstown, Ohio as detachment Assistant Officer in Charge and a year later the Officer in Charge. After two years in Youngstown, began drilling at the Battalion Headquarters in Ft. Belvoir, VA as the S6C or communications Chief, moved to S3 operations department as the Navy Reserve Order Writing System Chief. During Operation Iraqi Freedom, appointed as the CONUS Operations Officer, Home Port Liaison and Embarkation Chief during the units deployment to Iraqi from July 2004 to September 2005. After advancement to Senior Chief I was honored to be the selected as Charlie Company Chief of four detachments in Pennsylvania. Upon selection to Master Chief I requested duty as the Command Career Counselor in order to work closely with our Sailors / Seabees for my final years. I'll be retiring at age 60 in November of 2012. I will have about two weeks short of 23 years. One of the best decisions I've made in my life was serving my country.

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?
In the fall and winter of 2006-2007 I was deployed to Anbar Provence, Iraq with the Third Naval Construction Regiment, stationed in Camp Fallujah. I was the 1500 - 2300 Combat Operations Center Communications Chief. Although I was a FOBIT, never left the FOB, I was still at risk from frequent IDF, indirect fire. Fortunately, I was never in a danger close position when the IDF landed on the FOB.

FROM YOUR ENTIRE MILITARY SERVICE, DESCRIBE ANY MEMORIES YOU STILL REFLECT BACK ON TO THIS DAY.
Becoming a Chief Petty Officer and sponsoring those selected in the following years. A true honor, being asked to sponsor a new Chief.

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 first Navy and Marine Corps Achievement (NAM) and my Navy and Marine Corps Commendation (COM) medals. I earned NAM with my best friend Lou who joined the same unit I did at the same time. We worked really well together and provided some really unique training for our unit. I received the COM for my performance while I was the Operation Officer when the Battalion was deployed to Iraq in 2004.

WHICH INDIVIDUAL(S) FROM YOUR TIME IN THE MILITARY STAND OUT AS HAVING THE MOST POSITIVE IMPACT ON YOU AND WHY?
That's a pretty hard question to answer. I've had many mentors over the years and to pick out just one would not give justice to the rest.

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?
As a reservist, I have always been working in the civilian world. The first 8 years of service I was employed as a landfill construction quality control project manager traveling to projects throughout the eastern half of the United States. For the remainder of my career I've been employed as a Principle Engineering Aide for a county landfill in New York State. I have been lucky that my high school vo-tech drafting education and my college degree in Geology enable me to be employed by the military and civilian employers in the same title.

WHAT MILITARY ASSOCIATIONS ARE YOU A MEMBER OF, IF ANY? WHAT SPECIFIC BENEFITS DO YOU DERIVE FROM YOUR MEMBERSHIPS?
VFW, American Legion.

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 in the military and having the fortune to advance to the top level has been the most positive influence and confidence builder of my life. I know, whatever decision I make to challenge myself, that with proper planning and execution anything is possible. "The Difficult We Do At Once, The Impossible May Take Awhile", Seabees Can Do! Living by our Navy Core values of Honor, Courage and Commitment has guided my person, professional and military successes.

BASED ON YOUR OWN EXPERIENCES, WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO THOSE WHO HAVE RECENTLY JOINED THE NAVY?
Never give up. Always do the honorable thing when confronted with a decision. Always, always take care of your shipmates. If you do they will take care of you. After all, when you are in a fire storm, they are all you have standing between you and disaster. Do your best at all times. Never be a slacker.

IN WHAT WAYS HAS TOGETHERWESERVED.COM HELPED YOU REMEMBER YOUR MILITARY SERVICE AND THE FRIENDS YOU SERVED WITH.
TWS is a wonder place to document your military service. I've not been one to maintain an "I love me wall", TWS gives me a chance to do this and document my service for my family.

DB 10/31/2016