Service Photo |
Service Details |
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Current Service Status
USN Veteran
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Current/Last Rank
Petty Officer First Class
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Current/Last Primary NEC
JO-3221-Radio/TV Broadcast Operations Specialist
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Current/Last Rating/NEC Group
Journalist
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Primary Unit
1979-1982, JO-3221, USS Hoel (DDG-13)
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Previously Held NEC
JO-0000-Journalist
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Service Years
1978 - 1992
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Official/Unofficial US Navy Certificates
Cold War
Order of the Shellback
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What are you doing now:
Spending much time on family ancestry research. Lots of fun seeing the family lines fill in. So far, the Bendily family line is traced back to 1790 in Baden, Germany.
Doing a little odds-and-ends writing for local paper combining my journalism and IT expertise.
Enjoying life.
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1979-1980, JO-0000, Commander, Naval Surface Force, Pacific (COMNAVSURFPAC)
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1979-1982, JO-3221, USS Hoel (DDG-13)
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1982-1986, JO-3221, Navy Recruiting District Louisville, KY, Commander Naval Recruiting Command (CNRC)
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1986-1987, JO-3221, USS John F. Kennedy (CV-67)
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1988-1989, JO-3221, Navy Broadcasting Service Det Adak AK
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1989-1991, JO-3221, USS Proteus (AS-19)
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1991-1992, JO-3221, Navy Recruiting District Houston, TX, Commander Naval Recruiting Command (CNRC)
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Reflections on PO1 Bendily's
US Navy Service
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PLEASE DESCRIBE WHO OR WHAT INFLUENCED YOUR DECISION TO JOIN THE NAVY.
Came from a military family. My father was career Army - two tours in Korea and one tour in Vietnam. My oldest brother was career Navy, including a tour in Vietnam. Many Uncles in the Navy and Air Force.
Thoroughly enjoyed the training and travel experience in my 12+ years with USN. Regret that I never finished my ESWS certification - completed all quals and duty stations - just didn't have self-confidence and didn't think I was actually worthy of the pin.
The training with the ESWS program was fantastic. As was all the extra training during underway time. I liked to stand watch on the surface scope in CIC and observed signal bridge operations when not involved in underway evolutions. Would even head down to snipe country from time to time to learn more about what went on with the propulsion systems and vital components for the ship.
There was always something to learn aboard ship.
Perhaps some of my favorite times would be arriving and departing port. It was always exciting to see the beach come into view to determine where the port entry was. What was waiting in this port? What was I going to find and experience?
Of course, there were plenty of times to curse and wish I'd never joined in the first place. Oh well - that's life.
All in all, I enjoyed the Navy and all it had to offer.
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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 joined because I wanted to be a sailor, and I wanted to be a public relations person. I ended up going to sea as a broadcast journalist with some PR training.
I enjoyed all my duty stations - ashore and afloat. My shipmates were fantastic and the opportunity to travel the world was unequaled.
But, I never felt like I was going to be there for a career. I didn't know what I actually wanted or what path it would take.
When the armed forces were being drawn down in the early 90s, I felt it was time to go. When they offered a separation bonus, I knew it was time to go.
I do not regret leaving, though sometimes I miss the retirement. Since leaving, I have met and married the love of my life, found the best job in the best place possible and am loving life.
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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?
During our WestPac in '81, we had the opportunity to rescue some Vietnamese refugees, a.k.a., 'Boat People.' It was very eye-opening to listen to their stories of escape and their hope for a new life in America. I remember that operation very clearly and very often.
For that cruise, I was awarded the Expeditionary Medal and Humanitarian Service Medal.
I also served during Operation Desert Storm. I was aboard the Guam-based submarine tender USS Proteus (AS-19) at the time. While we were ready to serve in the conflict, we were not called upon to do so.
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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.
No. All-in-all, a fairly uneventful tour in the Navy.
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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?
First duty station, USS HOEL (DDG-13) is the fondest probably because it was my first duty station. Haze grey and underway - the life of a tin can sailor was a blast. I thoroughly enjoyed my short time aboard the USS John F. Kennedy (CV-67) because I've always enjoyed aviation and the opportunity to have ships and aviation together was terrific!
My stint in Adak, AK was very enjoyable. I had always heard that if you screwed up or really pissed off someone important, you'd get sent to Alaska. So when my detailer said my orders were for Adak, AK I wondered 'Who did I piss off?'
Turns out it was a very enjoyable tour with the Navy Broadcast Service Det. in Adak.
On Guam, while station onboard USS Proteus (AS-19), I tried to enjoy the tropical life, learned and enjoyed scuba diving and got to see some more interesting places.
My two tours with Navy Recruiting District as public relations was very interesting. Working with the performance teams (bands, skydiving, Blue Angels, Hydrofoil visits, etc.)
All in all, a lot of fun.
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FROM YOUR ENTIRE MILITARY SERVICE, DESCRIBE ANY MEMORIES YOU STILL REFLECT BACK ON TO THIS DAY.
USS Hoel (DDG-13) - Standing watch in CIC at 0200 and helping the OOD steer clear of an almost derelict oil tanker that seemed to want to run us down. Close call that was.
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WHAT PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF FROM YOUR MILITARY CAREER?
Standard "gimme" decorations.
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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?
Paul Koranda (a.k.a. Big Bird), USS Hoel (DDG-13) - great guy and taught me a lot about being just a sailor. Also saved my life when a slippery deck and sudden hard list had me sliding to open ocean until he grabbed my flotation device as I flew by, thus preventing me from going overboard in rough seas.
Thanks, Paul.
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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?
While doing Shore Patrol duty in Sasebo, Japan, we were called to the local EM club to round up a sailor from another ship that was UA. He was located and other SP units were there and we all formed a circle around him.
He was a big guy, bigger than my 6' and 200 lbs. All of a sudden he made a break for it and started running full tilt right at me. I prepared myself for the hardest tackle I've ever done and was expecting one hell of a hit.
At the last moment, a full-time SP came from the side and tackled the UA sailor, saving me from who knows how many broken bones.
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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?
Continued my journalism career with radio and newspaper jobs. Became an editor of local, weekly newspaper. After five years got tired of journalism, switched to computers and thoroughly enjoy my career as a systems administrator for a medium-sized county here in northern Michigan.
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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?
Nothing in civilian life has challenged me like the Navy life. Nothing in civilian has fulfilled me as much as Navy life. However, since being out, I have found and married the love of my life and have found the enjoyable career I was always looking for. All in all, I am enjoying life very much.
The reason for my success is because, after what I learned and experience in the Navy, I know there is nothing I can't do. Civilian life can throw nothing at me that I can't handle.
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BASED ON YOUR OWN EXPERIENCES, WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO THOSE WHO HAVE RECENTLY JOINED THE NAVY?
Stick with it, learn the rules and play by the rules. Military life is not the easy life, but it is the most rewarding. Take it seriously and get as much out of it as you can. Never stop learning or trying to be the best sailor, soldier or airman you can be. It's a blast.
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IN WHAT WAYS HAS TOGETHERWESERVED.COM HELPED YOU REMEMBER YOUR MILITARY SERVICE AND THE FRIENDS YOU SERVED WITH.
| TWS and the US Navy |
It helps bring it all together in one place and hopefully will serve as a social link to bring old shipmates together again. DS 9/27/17
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