Previously Held NEC AN-0000-Airman
AD-8326-A-7A/B Organizational Maintenance, Powerplant and Related Systems
8342-F/A-18 O-level Technician
AD-8342-F/A-18 A/B/C/D Systems Organizational Maintenance Technician
PLEASE DESCRIBE WHO OR WHAT INFLUENCED YOUR DECISION TO JOIN THE NAVY.
I knew I would be in the US Navy, from as early as 10 years old.
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 as an un-designated Airman. I attended Airman Apprentice training in San Diego, but I always knew what I wanted to be. I was fibbed to by my Recruiter, and had to become an Aviation Machinist Mate the long hard way. I had to strike for my job, but I got it!
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?
Operation Southern Watch, I loved watching the flir cam footage after air strikes. It's amazing just how much damage a 2000 pound bomb can do!!!!!!
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.
When you are working so hard and furiously, there is not enough time to care about those kinds of thoughts. 15-hour days don't leave a lot of time to reflect on any particular moment at all.
OF ALL YOUR DUTY STATIONS OR ASSIGNMENTS, WHICH ONE DO YOU HAVE FONDEST MEMORIES OF AND WHY? WHICH WAS YOUR LEAST FAVORITE?
This question is a loaded bullet, lol. I remember serving with VFA-195 in Japan being the only sailor to be hit by a 5-ton fuel truck, by an angry Japanese driver behind the wheel. I remember my Maintenance Master Chief saying, " Dam Elliott, I said stop the fuel truck, Not jump in front of it!" He brought a TV and food to my room every day I was on light duty. NAS Cubi Point has to be the most memorable duty station for many, many reasons. And by far the worst duty station of all my time in the service. Some of the best times, and some of the worst ever. No place in the world could have been like an adult Disneyland, and Hell all in a 3-year tour of duty. Mt Pinatubo turned out to be a VEI 6, on a 1 to 9 volcanic scale. Equal to Krakatoa in destructiveness. Not only that, but a Typhoon at the very same time. A double whammy.
FROM YOUR ENTIRE MILITARY SERVICE, DESCRIBE ANY MEMORIES YOU STILL REFLECT BACK ON TO THIS DAY.
June of 1991, Mt Pinatubo blows it's top. 20 straight hours of darkness, so dark you could not see your hand in front of your own face. No water, No real food and No electricity for three months! We went through a lot those few months. We shoveled thousands of
tons of ash off the tops of the buildings that still were standing. Everyone has their stories and scars to deal with. I was operating a 20K forklift while loading a 425-turbo prop engine on the test stand when the first explosion happened. At first it looked like a fast-moving thunderhead cloud, until it turned into a mushroom cloud. that mountain was only 20 miles from the base. That night was when it decided to clear its throat just a little. That was when all the power disappeared in bright blue explosions. There is a lot of metal in the ash, and as it collected on the Power lines they started to blow up. the next day at around Noon is when daylight disappeared for 20 plus hours. The Earth shook for over six straight hours.
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?
Of all My achievements during my time in the Navy, were all bumped out of memory by the ones that other people were awarded that they were not even a part of. I am a little bitter over those stolen awards.
WHICH INDIVIDUAL(S) FROM YOUR TIME IN THE MILITARY STAND OUT AS HAVING THE MOST POSITIVE IMPACT ON YOU AND WHY?
CWO David Smith, if I were to say I ever had a mentor he would be it. One of his sayings was, 'In order to look like an expert to your boss, you surround yourself with experts'. I learned a lot from him.
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?
I became too sick to follow any profession. But I was a staffing Recruiter for a few years.
WHAT MILITARY ASSOCIATIONS ARE YOU A MEMBER OF, IF ANY? WHAT SPECIFIC BENEFITS DO YOU DERIVE FROM YOUR MEMBERSHIPS?
I am a life member of the Disabled American Veterans, and a card carrying member of the American Legion. I am also affiliated with the USS Midway Museum. I go there as often as possible.
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?
The US Navy was my life until I got sick. I loved being in the service, and wish I could still be there now!!!!
BASED ON YOUR OWN EXPERIENCES, WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO THOSE WHO HAVE RECENTLY JOINED THE NAVY?
Stay in the service as long as you can. Civilian life sucks! If I had the chance to finish my career I would have stayed in the service as long as I could. In the service, you had a reasonable idea who you were serving with. You could almost always depend on them to be there for you. Out of the service, people suck!!!! I don't understand how unreasonable individuals can actually be.
IN WHAT WAYS HAS TOGETHERWESERVED.COM HELPED YOU REMEMBER YOUR MILITARY SERVICE AND THE FRIENDS YOU SERVED WITH.
I am new to together we served, so far so good! I have never put this much of myself on the internet before, that has to say something!
