Stairs, Cleve, ABAN

PLEASE DESCRIBE WHO OR WHAT INFLUENCED YOUR DECISION TO JOIN THE NAVY.
I had traveled to northern California with my sister, found a job and got used to the area. After several months of almost continual rain, I decided that if I was going to be wet all the time I might as well join the Navy. I had made a friend in Cranell and we talked about trying for the Sea Bees. After passing all the tests went to Frisco for my physical. went home for about a week and was sent to San Diego for Recruit training. After 13 weeks training was sent by troop train to Norfolk, Virginia aboard the USS Sicily CVE-118.

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 had been asked if I would like to get training in Electronics but decided that I would rather be where I could get fresh air, thus I was assigned to the flight deck as Aviation Boatswains mate. I enjoyed that work and spent 3 years in that.
After some time I got married and found that being a sea much of the time that was not good for raising a family.

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 of 1949, while aboard the U.S.S. Sicily, we were given the task of transporting 49 planes to the Greek forces during their civil uprising. We left Norfolk, Virginia and proceeded without escort, upon arrival in Pireaus Harbor, attempted to offload planes onto floats, but the water was too rough and it was feared they would sink. The Skipper talked about launching from anchor and the Air Force General said if you fly the first one, I will follow. The operation was a success and a first for the Navy. Afterwards we went ashore for some sight-seeing.

In the spring of 1950 we cruised toward San Diego via The Panama Canal. We arrived there and did training exercises and on July 4, 1950 sailed towards Korea, stopping at Hawaii to take on aircraft and supplies going to Guam. We offloaded in Guam and loaded an Airforce Group of planes, proceeding to Sasebo, Japan. After loading on Stores and ammunition, Proceeded out to sea and took on a flight of planes and did training exercises for some time.
Early in September we Assembled with our Fleet and started our Inchon Landing. Our Marine Air-group VMF-214 gave close support of our Marines ashore.

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.
We were recovering aircraft off the coast of korea when a plane refused a wave-off and crashed into the catwalk where I was fly-1 talker, calling in to the bridge and recording the plane number, the cable it caught and how far it ran out. The right strut struck my leg and tore my pants leg and dumped 90 gallons of fuel in the gun-tub below. I had tried to dive into a space, but it was full of guys playing cards.

After things were cleaned up the flight deck Chief came to me and said, Stairs, I want to see you at Morning prayers in the Library tomorrow, I replied why Chief. He said you almost got killed.

OF ALL YOUR DUTY STATIONS OR ASSIGNMENTS, WHICH ONE DO YOU HAVE FONDEST MEMORIES OF AND WHY? WHICH WAS YOUR LEAST FAVORITE?
My time on the Sicily. I got to see and visit many countries and met some wonderful people.

My least favorite was my short time on the Valley Forge CV-45. It was much larger than the Sicily and more difficult to find my way around.

IN WHAT WAYS HAS TOGETHERWESERVED.COM HELPED YOU REMEMBER YOUR MILITARY SERVICE AND THE FRIENDS YOU SERVED WITH.
I have managed to stay in touch with several of my shipmates over the years, great memories!