Barbee, David, MMCS

TO THE BEST OF YOUR KNOWLEDGE, WHAT INFLUENCED HIS/HER DECISION TO JOIN THE NAVY?
Up to the age of eighteen, having spent most of my life "down on the farm", with very little social life due to the work evolved, I was ready to leave home. A few friends and myself had discussed joining the Navy after high school graduation, and that is just what we did.

We were picked up at our homes about 5:30 AM and driven 120 miles by our recruiter to be sworn in on TV, after induction physicals. Then rode Greyhound back home to finish our last five days of school, graduate, and say our goodbyes to family and other friends. Then retrace that 120 miles to catch a plane to San Diego, and after that.

TO THE BEST OF YOUR KNOWLEDGE, PLEASE DESCRIBE THE DIRECTION OR PATH HE/SHE TOOK IN HIS/HER MILITARY SERVICE. WHERE DID THEY GO TO BOOT CAMP AND WHAT UNITS, BASES, SHIPS OR SQUADRONS WERE THEY ASSIGNED TO? WHAT WAS HIS/HER REASON FOR LEAVING?
A few days before high school graduation, I signed up to join the Navy. Went to my swearing in ceremony with a group of fellow "Okies", forming an all Oklahoma company for recruiting training. Sometime during recruit training I had an adverse reaction to one of the many required shots, spent a couple of weeks on medical hold, and was set back in training to a different company to finish recruit training.

Left RTC as a "High School Seaman Recruit (HSSR) and transferred to Great Lakes Service School Command where I attended MM "A" School. Graduated "A" School as "Machinist Mate Fireman Apprentice (MMFA)".

Reported aboard my first ship, LSD-17. Remained aboard that ship from 1957 until 1964, advancing from MMFA to "Machinist Mate First Class (MM1)".

In 1964, transferred to RTC in San Diego for a tour of training recruits. No career advancements while there. Next duty station was CVA-14, the most career enhancing tour of my whole Naval service. I advanced to "Machinist Mate Chief (MMC)" aboard this Carrier in 1969. IN 1970, AD-37 was my next command, a fairly new ship, aboard which I was sworn in for my final re-enlistment (accompanying photo). Due to an upcoming deployment, AD-14 was short an MMC, resulting in my transfer to that ship. While aboard AD-14 I was promoted to "Machinist Mate Senior Chief, Acting (MMCSA)", and received a high profile assignment as Command 3M Coordinator.

My next command was DATC/FMAG for shore duty in San Diego, where I received permanent appoint as MMCS and was assigned as Shop Administrator for the Outside Machine Shop.

In 1975 I requested transfer to Fleet Reserve effective for early 1976, which would complete my 20 year Navy Career. I was offered an early retirement effective October 1975, which I accepted, considering I would be receiving no further longevity pay, accepting promotion to MMCM would prolong my retirement, and my desire to give my children a taste of life in the Midwest before they were of age to leave home.

Day by day active duty plus constructive time equaled a 20 year plus two month career, which is noted on my DD-214.

IF HE/SHE PARTICIPATED IN ANY MILITARY OPERATIONS, INCLUDING COMBAT, HUMANITARIAN AND PEACEKEEPING OPERATIONS, TO THE BEST OF YOUR KNOWLEDGE, PLEASE DESCRIBE THOSE YOU FEEL WERE THE MOST SIGNIFICANT TO HIM/HER AND, IF LIFE-CHANGING, IN WHAT WAY.
If this means "boots on the ground", then, no combat operations. But I did do my utmost to insure that the ships I served on were capable of carrying out their primary mission as far as my duty assignments were involved.

These assignments included, but not limited to:
USS Catamount LSD-14: Enginroom Supervisor (MMFA to MM1).
EOOW underway, Div LPO.

USS Ticonderoga CVA-14): EAO1 WC supervisor (MM1 to MMC).
Underway EOOW, GQ Leader Rep Locker 5a.

USS Samuel Gompers AD-37: Engine Room Supervisor (MMC).
In port EDO and OOD watches.

USS Dixie AD-14: Engine Room Supervisor (MMC), Ship's 3M Coord (MMCS)
EOOW underway, in port EDO, OOD watches.

OF ALL THEIR DUTY STATIONS OR ASSIGNMENTS, ARE YOU AWARE OF ANY HE/SHE HAD FONDEST MEMORIES OF AND WHY? WHICH WAS THEIR LEAST FAVORITE?
Of the several duty stations I was assigned to, I would have to select my last shore duty at DATC / FMAG, 32nd St Naval Station, or at least that is how it was known during my time in the service.

My duties consisted of performing as Administrative Assistant to the Shop Supervisor. I was MMCS at the time, the Shop Super was an MMCM. This took place in the Outside Machine Shop, with shop crewmen at times going to the ships to provide ship force personnel assistance with whatever job needed to be done.

My primary function was in carrying out the requirements of the Navy's Maintenance and Material Management Program, more commonly known as 3M, insofar as documentation of shop man hours were concerned, and the timely completion of work assignments of shop personnel.

My last duty assignment aboard ship was to be assigned Ship's 3M Coordinator aboard USS Dixie AD-14, so my work at DATC only carried on what I had been doing, and the transfer consisted of only a short walk from ship to shore, since Dixie was home ported in San Diego and just few piers down from the shop.

Of course, I have to also admit, my fondness for this duty station had a lot to do with the Dixie being my last duty station. I submitted my Fleet Reserve Request at this Command.

FROM THEIR ENTIRE MILITARY SERVICE, DESCRIBE ANY PERSONAL MEMORIES, YOU MAY BE AWARE OF, WHICH IMPACTED HIM/HER THE MOST.
One particular memory that stands out would have to be my entire tour aboard the USS Ticonderoga (CVA014), and the EAO1 Work Center crew.

Being supervisor for the "A" Division Hydraulics Work Center gave me the entire ship for my crew and myself to play with. Everything that moved sideways or up and down that didn't fly was our responsibility to maintain and keep operating. From bomb elevators, aircraft elevators, escalators, wenches, from steering gear to anchor windless, even the electric door to the Officer's Ward Room.

After promotion to MMC, I was re-assigned as "A" division "troubleshooter", and went where help, leadership, or advice, was needed. During this time I was also acting as "A" Gang Admin. Assistant to the Division Officer, and standing Engineering Officer of the Watch in Main Control.

Of the two full years I was aboard CVA-14, she spent eighteen months carrying out her primary mission, which made my job a memorable one, and not one soon forgot.

WHAT PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS DO YOU BELIEVE HE/SHE WAS MOST PROUD OF FROM HIS/HER MILITARY SERVICE?
I could lie here, because some judge somewhere said it would just be freedom of speech to do so, but to be truthful, no, no acts of valor on my part, just hard work keeping things running and operating smoothly where ever my duties required my presence.

OF ALL THE MEDALS, AWARDS, FORMAL PRESENTATIONS AND QUALIFICATION BADGES HE/SHE RECEIVED, WHICH WERE THE MOST MEANINGFUL TO HIM/HER AND WHY?
Two CincPacFlt Letters of Commendation, one as MM! and one as MMC, aboard CVA-14 on consecutive West Pac deployments, as Hydraulics Work Center Supervisor .

One LOC was downgraded from a NAM. which went to my supervisor for work done "above and beyond" by my work center, whose tasks ranged from stem to stern, keel to mast, and port to starboard.

Many wouldn't consider it a qualification badge, but the star I added to my CPO Chevron before retirement was my most proudest achievement.

IF KNOWN, PLEASE LIST ANY INDIVIDUAL(S) FROM HIS/HER TIME IN THE MILITARY WHO STOOD OUT AS HAVING THE MOST POSITIVE IMPACT ON THEM AND WHY?
Like so many from my era, I came under the thumb of a crusty old WWII Chief Machinist Mate by the name of H. L. Vogel. Never wore Khakis in the hole. Never without whiskey-breath in-port. Never took a drop at sea.

My one only NJP, as E4, this Chief stood with me and salvaged my crow. He was at a time before E8 and E9 pay grades came about, but would probably never have accepted promotion to either one. He might have had to give up his dungarees.

Don't know whatever became of Chief Vogel, but I know my career was better off having come under his leadership.

ARE YOU AWARE OF ANY PARTICULAR INCIDENT FROM HIS/HER SERVICE, WHICH MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE BEEN FUNNY AT THE TIME, BUT STILL MADE THEM LAUGH LATER ON?
No funny stories to share, but I did find it rather humorous that the bars in Saigon in 1962 had chicken wire over the windows to prevent explosives from being thrown in where ever servicemen collected. Occasionally Intelligence Personnel would have to clear out the bars because they had intel that indicated certain establishments were about to be attacked. In order to keep their identification secret, they would take each serviceman, one at a time, into the restroom and tell them to vacate the bar.

Wasn't funny at the time, but looking back, none of those bars were ever "attacked". Could be that the intel people wanted the bar to themselves. The only military personnel that left the bars were us fleet sailors on a short visit to Saigon.

IF HE/SHE SURVIVED MILITARY SERVICE, WHAT PROFESSION(S) DID HE/SHE FOLLOW AFTER DISCHARGE?
Transferred to the Fleet Reserve in October of 1975 with a job waiting for me at National Steel and Shipbuilding Co as a Journyman Pipefitter.

Worked this job until June of 1976. When my children were out of school for the summer, we packed up and moved back to my home state of Oklahoma.

With a retainer check and a paycheck from whatever job I would be working, I saw no need to pursue another career, nor did I desire another career.

I worked several jobs, in several different fields, from auto, truck, and equipment mechanic, to building maintenance and stationary engineer. Shortest employment was 6 months as auto mechanic in a car dealership, Longest employment was 6 years as Operating Engineer at Oral Roberts University's City of Faith Hospital, later to become a cancer hospital, under new management but still owned by ORU.

I am now fully retired, leaving my last employment with the Salvation Army in 1999 after five years as Building Engineer.

IF KNOWN, WHAT MILITARY ASSOCIATIONS WAS HE OR SHE A MEMBER OF, IF ANY? ARE YOU AWARE OF ANY SPECIFIC BENEFITS THEY DERIVED FROM THEIR MEMBERSHIPS?
Was a dues paying member of one such association, but along with annual dues, they kept dunning me constantly for "donations".

So, unless NTWS is considered a military association, no, I don't, and won't, belong to any other military associations.

IF HE/SHE SURVIVED MILITARY SERVICE, IN WHAT WAYS DO YOU BELIEVE HIS/HER SERVING IN THE MILITARY INFLUENCED THE WAY THEY APPROACHED THEIR PERSONAL LIFE, FAMILY LIFE AND CAREER?
Civilian "leadership" didn't influence me much after retirement from the Navy. This caused me to apply for and accept only employment that would lead to rapid advancement, or ensure me that I would, or could, work alone, with little or no supervision. A second career didn't appeal to me, so I moved from job to job until full retirement in 1999 that put me in reach of SS in 2000.

Sounds lazy I know, but I was home every night, no job worries to bring home, and was never more than 20 miles from home unless I had family with me, and an RV to stay in.

I never was a liberty hound on the many WestPac deployments I went on, so I was perfectly suited to the life as a "couch potato" as a civilian, and I find it easy to "live, and let Live".

IF THEY WERE HERE TODAY, WHAT ADVICE DO YOU THINK HE OR SHE WOULD GIVE TO THOSE WHO FOLLOWED IN THEIR FOOTSTEPS AND RECENTLY ENTERED MILITARY SERVICE?
If you are in a position of leadership, you need to remember that you are the tool by which your leaders accomplish their mission, and as a leader, you accomplish your mission by use of those under you.

Other than that, I would consider my "advice" as just --------------

HOW EFFECTIVE HAS TOGETHERWESERVED.COM BEEN IN HELPING YOU RECORD YOUR REMEMBERED PERSONS MILITARY SERVICE? DO YOU HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS OR SUGGESTIONS YOU WOULD LIKE TO MAKE?
Before NTWS, there wasn't a sign anywhere in my home that I had ever been in the service, except to occasionally discuss "Navy Stuff" with my son who spent six years as a GSM, advancing to GSM1, and served during the "Desert Storm" period.

After NTWS, I dug out all my Navy papers, records, and photos, and now have a "Me" wall, complete with a biographical binder that displays my Naval Career in it's entirety.

Not many on NTWS that I served with, too long ago. All of the Commands and Ships I served on are gone, but I find it interesting catching up with the Navy of today, and delight in communicating with shipmates that can relate to the few posts I have managed to hang out to air.

DB 6/28/2016