Banzuelo, Tony, RM2

PLEASE DESCRIBE WHO OR WHAT INFLUENCED YOUR DECISION TO JOIN THE NAVY.

Pops in front of the Japanese Imperial Palace 1952

My dad was an E-9 Chief Steward who was on Staff of 30 admirals (Halsey, Leary, Kinkaid, Wright, Brisco, Kidd, Richardson, Kimmell and Callahan to name a few). He was on the USS Arizona on Dec. 7, 1941. He was on the USS Lexington when it was sunk at the Battle of Coral Sea. He was on the USS Yorktown at the Battle of Midway. All three ships were sunk with my dad aboard. My oldest sister and I were born at Brooklyn Naval Hospital, Brooklyn, NY. My brother was born at Portsmouth Naval Hospital, Portsmouth, VA. My little sister was born at Balboa Naval Hospital, San Diego, CA. We were a Navy family. Our dad took us to Navy bases up and down the East & West Coast of USA, Hawaii, Wake Island, Yokosuka, Japan until he retired in Long Beach, CA. Navy is in our bloodline. My dad made me promise not to join the Marines.

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 left to finish college and to become an Architect.

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.
Shore Patrol, Olongapo, PI

OF ALL YOUR DUTY STATIONS OR ASSIGNMENTS, WHICH ONE DO YOU HAVE FONDEST MEMORIES OF AND WHY? WHICH WAS YOUR LEAST FAVORITE?
Main Navy Delivery Desk, Washington, DC was unbelievable. Had the guard for Admiral Hyman Rickover. He was very nice to 'White Hats'. He called me Sparks. He even held open the door to the building on many occasions. I met many famous people while in DC. Also married my wife while there. She worked for the US Department of Justice.

USS Higbee was an All-Nav experience. I will have Sea Stories for the rest of my life.

Shore Duty in Olongapo was the worst experience but it gave me more Sea Stories for lifetime.
My son cannot believe all this stuff happened.

FROM YOUR ENTIRE MILITARY SERVICE, DESCRIBE ANY MEMORIES YOU STILL REFLECT BACK ON TO THIS DAY.
Having a giant, drunken sailor drag me down a flight of stairs with him while I was escorting him out of a whore house. I ruined my right knee for life.

WHAT PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF FROM YOUR MILITARY CAREER?
Honorable Discharge (Did not get caught award). Actually, I am very proud of my service and wish I could have done more in my time.

WHICH INDIVIDUAL(S) FROM YOUR TIME IN THE MILITARY STAND OUT AS HAVING THE MOST POSITIVE IMPACT ON YOU AND WHY?
Commander of Naval Recruit Training Command, San Diego, CA. Don't know the Captain's name.
While I was leading PO marching class back to barracks he stopped the class and chewed out a sailor at the rear of the formation. The Captain caught him goofing off while marching; i.e. kicking the feet of the person in front of him, hitting people around him and cursing at everything. Captain chewed him up but good and made him march in front of the formation. Then the Captain told me that I should march the class closer to the rear of the formation so that I could keep an eye on everything. He then told me that I would have access to him at any time. If I caught anyone messing around like that jerk or especially the jerk I should tell him. He said this aloud so that the entire class would hear. He also said that if the jerk gave me any trouble, that he would personally see that the jerk would get immediate orders to a 'not so nice posting' in Vietnam. I didn't have any problems with marching the class from that moment on. The advice he gave that I remember most: "When you are in command - Command"! I have used that advice thru out my life.

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?
After the Navy, I re-entered school and graduated from Cal State University, Long Beach in 1972 with a Bachelor's Degree and a couple of teaching credentials. Currently, I am a semi-retired Architect. I have owned my own firm since 1983. I have designed over 19 million sq.ft. of concrete tilt-up industrial, research, office, and institutional buildings. I also taught classes part-time at Orange Coast College (1 year) and the University of California, Irvine (11 years).

BASED ON YOUR OWN EXPERIENCES, WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO THOSE WHO HAVE RECENTLY JOINED THE NAVY?
Be the best you can be! Don't be a bitcher, complainer or slacker! Make the most of your life, whether it be military or civilian life. Learn as much as you can. See how you can make a difference.