Construction Battalion |
| |
TWS Ribbon Bar |
|
Service Photo |
Service Details |
|
|
Current Service Status
USN Veteran
|
Current/Last Rate
Seaman Second Class
|
Current/Last Primary NEC
CB-0000-Construction Battalion (WW-II)
|
Current/Last Rating/NEC Group
Construction Battalion
|
Primary Unit
1946-1947, CB-0000, 121st Naval Construction Battalion
|
Service Years
1946 - 1947
|
|
|
What are you doing now:
Retired -40 yrs CSX RR. Widowed 2006.
|
|
Other Comments:
I was in Navy only two years but it was always a part of my 40 years with CSX RR and my 59 year marriage. I have never been able to explain that to myself -why that two years was so important in my life . I think I finally grew up in that short two years and the experience helped to make me who I am today..
Joe Kieffer
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1946-1946, Naval Construction Force (NCF)
|
|
1946-1946, Naval Construction Battalion School (Cadre) Port Hueneme CA
|
|
1946-1946, SeeBee Recruit Training Camp Peary, VA
|
|
1946-1946, CB-0000, NCTC Port Hueneme, CA
|
|
1946-1947, CB-0000, CNO - OPNAV
|
|
1946-1947, CB-0000, 121st Naval Construction Battalion
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reflections on S2c Kieffer's
US Navy Service
|
|
|
PLEASE DESCRIBE WHO OR WHAT INFLUENCED YOUR DECISION TO JOIN THE NAVY.
To be truthful the Draft was facing me. I was 18 in Jan of 1946, so in the fall of 1945. I enlisted in the Navy. I chose the Navy only because my brother-in-law HC(Junior) Depue was in the Navy. WW11 was over in August, so that was a good thing. I was never sorry I chose the Navy. I grew up in that two years I was in the Navy, that was also a good thing.
I am afraid my Navy (Seebee's) career of 22 months is pretty dull as stories go. I will say that that 22 months were possibly the most inmportant time in my youth and possibly my life. I don't think I would have ever turned bad or not made it in life - but I was adrift ( to use a Navy term) in youth and the 22 months sent me on a path and I am satified with my life and with what I have accoplished . I credit that to my " Can do" training. Joe Kieffer
|
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.
No war time incident since my years were only 22 months in 1946/47. However I remember two times I was very scared. I had never had the privilege of a pool or water enough to learn to swim. In our boot training a tower of 12 /15 ft height at the base pool made my blood grow cold as we were required to jump into water and swim or go down( at least the Navy made you believe that), this was one white knuckle time for me. I made it dog paddling and and possibly some new moves. Another time also in Boot: The requirement to go into a building and gas of some kind was released. We were required to remain in the room for perhaps a minute or such ,I was sure this was it,but as we filed into the room a certain amount of courage came to me, mostly because other fellows were with me, if they could do it , so could I .
|
OF ALL YOUR DUTY STATIONS OR ASSIGNMENTS, WHICH ONE DO YOU HAVE FONDEST MEMORIES OF AND WHY? WHICH WAS YOUR LEAST FAVORITE?
| 121 Seebee , Saipan, Marianas |
Beside boot (Camp Peary,Va.) and CSeebee training at Port Hueneme,Ca. I had only one assignment in the 22 months I served -That was 121 Seebee's at Saipan,Mi. Saipan was great -the beaches was beautiful . We were not allowed to go into any of the villages . In my 22 months I who had never flown or been out of the state of WV' only to Ohio. I had a great voyage in the USS General Mann ,over and back . Was flown from Guam to Tianian and Saipan and small landing craft back to Guam and then back to Calif and discharge. Pretty good for this old country boy. Joe Kieffer
|
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?
Short Arm inspection on arrival Saipan, MI.
It seems this was a welcome to 121 Seebee's base on Saipan. It was not an "afficial" Short arms inspection and done by not so offical approval. First thing on arrival we ,with usual Navy commands told to line up along wall and " pull it out ( I won't repeat the rest of it ) ,Old Navy know the procedure. Anyway, seems local corpmen has a lough. We each received at " Tough ------ chit card". I still have mine and lough each time I see it.
|
|