Terwilliger, David, Sr., RMC

PLEASE DESCRIBE WHO OR WHAT INFLUENCED YOUR DECISION TO JOIN THE NAVY.
I enlisted in the Navy to see the world. I was working on a dairy farm and had never been out of up-state New York. I was in the Binghamton National Guard and had hoped they would call our unit for the Korean War. My older brother had to either enlist or sign up for the draft. He'd had polio when he was 11 years old but was athletic and we thought he could get into the Navy. They wouldn't accept him but I was on my way to Albany to be sworn in. We went from Albany by train to Bainbridge MD. We had the honor to be in the same car as the "Harmonicats" and they entertained us as far as New York City where we had to change trains. I enjoyed boot camp except my orders were changed from "Air Basic School" to "Radioman School" in Norfolk VA. On graduation was a "C" School to learn to operate a portable radio. My first ship was the USNS Bondia TAF42 as part of a four man team in a convoy through the ice fields going to Thule, Greenland. On return to New York City I was transferred to the USS Arneb AKA56. We carried approximately 200 Marines and their equipment and when we trained for landings, I was the only Radioman with portable radio experience so I had to go ashore for all landing waves. I enjoyed it. In 1954 I was transferred to the USS Gordius ARL 52 at Little Creek, VA. When my enlistment was up, I was discharged with the intentions of going to college under the "Korean Bill." I was married by this time and had signed all of my "Certifications of Training" I never received any checks. I dropped out and re-enlisted. Then I got to see the rest of the world. Three years later I finally got my checks. The rest is history.

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 made up my mind to make a career of the Navy and preferred "Sea Duty." I did have duty at Annapolis and Norfolk but other than "School Commands" I was attached to Sea Duty commands.

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?
My first trip to Vietnam, I was part of the "Repair Division " on the USS Tutuila ARG-4. My duties were Teleype and Crypto repair. While I was at sea, I was trained as a CIC Watch Officer and Junior Officer of the Deck. If a Communications Unit went down I was sent to get it back up. I wasn't too busy, but saw a lot of places in South Vietnam. If dangerous, I would have a company of Army guys looking out for me. When mu year was up I was transferred to Teletype Maintenance School in Norfolk, Va., as an instructor. My last duty station was the USS Cacapon AO 52. that was already on line off the coast of Vietnam.




















































took R&R

OF ALL YOUR DUTY STATIONS OR ASSIGNMENTS, WHICH ONE DO YOU HAVE FONDEST MEMORIES OF AND WHY? WHICH WAS YOUR LEAST FAVORITE?
I enjoyed my tour at Annapolis at the "Washington DC Transmitter Site." It was on Greenberry Point on the shores of Chesapeake Bay. I was a member of the "Enlisted Sailing Squadron." I learned to be a "Real Sailor" them. Our sail boat was a prize of war from WWII. We completely "overhauled" her including a Dutch engine. In a high wind, we could outrun the Middies Sloops with no problem. I would have liked to stay in the transmitter field but I was eligible to go up for "Chief" and I needed to go to Radioman "B" School to insure passing the test. I put the "hat" on July 16th, 1963.

FROM YOUR ENTIRE MILITARY SERVICE, DESCRIBE ANY MEMORIES YOU STILL REFLECT BACK ON TO THIS DAY.
While in Vietnam, I operated out of Vung Tau. Off in the far distance was a hugh Budda Temple. A female friend of mine arranged for us to get a horse and carraige to see it. On arrival I was allowed to enter the Temple and take pictures. On the way back we were stopped by Military Police and asked where we had been. When I told them, they shook their heads and said "that's VC Country. They escorted us back to Vung Tau.

WHAT PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF FROM YOUR MILITARY CAREER?
On arrival to Antoi, Pu Quac Islands, our Ship was contacted to see if we had a teletype repairman to which my CO said yes. The next morning a Swift Boat pulled up to our ship and I went ashore with them. They had a small "River Advisory Group" and their communications system had never worked and it was the only means a communications with Saigon. After checking their system and found that the Teleype was not built for that system.I was asked if I could do anything for them, I said I could rewire it. When I returned to my ship, I gathered the parts I needed and the next morning they picked me up and I went to work. I completely rewired the machine. They brought the system up and "Behold" it worked. After a small celebration they took me back to my ship. The next morning they picked me and we had one heck of a celebration.