| Aviation Electronics Technician |
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| Service Photo |
Service Details |
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Current Service Status
USN Veteran
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Current/Last Rank
Petty Officer Third Class
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Current/Last Primary NEC
AT-6612-Aircraft Tacan/Radio Navigation Equipment IMA Technician
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Current/Last Rating/NEC Group
Aviation Electronics Technician
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Primary Unit
1964-1965, USS Coral Sea (CVA-43)
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Previously Held NEC
9521-Collateral Duty Alcoholism Advisor
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Service Years
1961 - 1965
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| Official/Unofficial US Navy Certificates
Cold War
Tailhook
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Reflections on PO3 Baker's
US Navy Service
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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?
I probably would have stayed in the Navy if it had not been for Vietnam! When we solved the problems with the Sparrow air to air missiles, I went into DaNang to modify their test equipment. I saw first hand what war really was and realized that I was not trained for that s*^t and wanted no part of it. I was a short timer then and flew off the ship on 04 July, 1965. The happiest 4th of July of my life!
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FROM YOUR ENTIRE MILITARY SERVICE, DESCRIBE ANY MEMORIES YOU STILL REFLECT BACK ON TO THIS DAY.
The mortar, rocket attack on the DaNang airbase in Feb. 1965. I have never been so scared in all my life. I messed my drawers and cried like a baby when it was over. Like I said, I was not trained for that at all.
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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?
LCDR. Gallagher, Commander GM Div. USS Coral Sea. "Do what you are asked to do quickly and to the best of your ability. Everything you do has your name on it."
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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?
Kercheval falling into the Benjo ditch, Mickeys Bar, Yokosuka, Japan.
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WHAT MILITARY ASSOCIATIONS ARE YOU A MEMBER OF, IF ANY? WHAT SPECIFIC BENEFITS DO YOU DERIVE FROM YOUR MEMBERSHIPS?
VFW, Life Member Post 7583. Offices held; Post Jr. Vice Commander, Sr. Vice Commander, Post Commander, State District Jr. Vice Commander, State Sr. Vice Commander.
As the WWII Vets get older, the control and leadership of the VFW has shifted to the Vietnam Vets and the younger guys. We are now able to insure that none of the younger Vets get the treatment that we got when we came home.
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BASED ON YOUR OWN EXPERIENCES, WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO THOSE WHO HAVE RECENTLY JOINED THE NAVY?
Keep your head down and never volunteer!
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IN WHAT WAYS HAS TOGETHERWESERVED.COM HELPED YOU REMEMBER YOUR MILITARY SERVICE AND THE FRIENDS YOU SERVED WITH.
Have not been able to contact anyone out of our Division, but that was 45 years ago and there were only 40 of us in the GM Division in 1965 - '66.
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