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An up close and personal interview with U.S. Navy Veteran and Togetherweserved.com Member:
SCPO Michael D. Withers U.S. Navy (Ret) (1972-1992)
PLEASE DESCRIBE WHO OR WHAT INFLUENCED YOUR DECISION TO JOIN THE NAVY?
About two weeks after graduating High School in Suitland, Maryland, our family moved to Gunter AFB in Montgomery Alabama, as Dad was in his 23rd year of a 30 year Air Force career. Yes, I was an Air Force Brat and no stranger to military life.
My ol' high school  buddy, Mike Zaparyniuk (Zap) and his family, who had also made the move to Gunter, told me of several offers the Navy had at the time:
1) Enlist in the Nuclear Program for six years as an E-3, with the understanding that if you failed to meet the academic standards you would only have to serve a four year enlistment, yet maintain your rank as an E-3.
2) You could enlist under the 'Buddy Program', where the two of you would sign up and go through boot camp together.
3) You had your choice of Recruit Training (San Diego, Great Lakes or Pensacola) which sounded too good to be true. The following week, (Nov '71) we went down and talked to the Navy Recruiter.
Having no real other friends, college not being in my future, and not having a real sense of direction in my life, Mike and I decided to join the Navy in the Delayed Entry Program. It was probably one of the better decisions I'd made in my life. March 16, 1972 the two of us were sworn in at the Army and Air Force Exchange Service Station there on Gunter, and on a plane to RTC San Diego.
 When we arrived at 'Worm Island,' Zap was placed in a rifle company and I was placed in a Specialty Company: 'The Fifty State Flag Team.' So as you can surmise, I never did make it into the Nuclear Field, but did graduate from RTC San Diego as an E-3 with a four year enlistment. As for the 'Buddy Program', well I guess you can say we did in fact go through boot camp together, just at opposite ends of the base. And who says that Recruiters tend lie? Almost forgot to mention my draft lottery number was 166.
- RTC San Diego, CA.
- RD "A" School - NTC Great Lakes, IL.
- USS Halsey (DLG/CG-23) - (Plank Owner) - Bath, Maine/San Diego, CA.
- COMPATWING ONE DET CUBI PT. - NAS Cubi Point, Philippines.
- OS "A" School - (Plank Owner) - FCTCL Dam Neck, VA.
- USS Saginaw (LST-1188) - NAB Little Creek, VA.
- OS "A" School - FCTCL Dam Neck, VA.
- COMPHIBRON TEN - NAB Little Creek, VA.
- And numerous stops in between!
IF YOU PARTICIPATED IN COMBAT OPERATIONS, PLEASE DESCRIBE THE ACTIONS WHICH WERE THE MOST SIGNIFICANT TO YOU AND, IF LIFE-CHANGING, IN WHAT WAY.
I never saw combat up close and personal but always from a distance in three combat zones: Vietnam, Beirut-Lebanon and Desert Shield-Desert Storm.
VIETNAM
Vietnam consisted mainly of patrolling the waters of the Tonkin Gulf in the early 70's. Occasionally we'd plane guard for one of the Carriers, but that  job was usually reserved for the Destroyers. We'd normally operate well ahead of, or well to the west of the Carrier Battle Group, placing ourselves in between the coast of Vietnam and the Battle Group itself. USS Halsey (DLG/CG-23) being a dual end missile Cruiser, our primary mission was that of Anti-Air-Warfare (AAW), keeping an ever vigilante watch in the sky for hostile threats!
BEIRUT-LEBANON
As a crew member of USS Saginaw (LST-1188) along with the various components of 32nd MAU with its 1,800 Marines embarked, arrived Rota, Spain June 6th 1982, in what was to be a 10 day port visit, it was however, cut short to only 10 hours. Orders were received to proceed directly to a point 100 nautical miles off the coast of Lebanon as part of the Mediterranean Amphibious Ready Group (MARG) 2-82 and stand by to support possible operations ashore. In addition to our ship, the other ships in the operation were USS Guam (LPH-9), USS Nashville (LPD-13), USS Hermitage (LSD-34) and the USS Manitowoc (LST-1180).
 After about two weeks of Gator Squares (steaming in our assigned op-areas) we proceeded in to evacuate an estimated 800 civilians from Beirut for further transfer to Cyprus.
Upon completion of this task we sailed for Naples, Italy for what was to be a fifteen day port visit, didn't happen, after four days we were underway again for Beirut as the first American unit to serve in the multi-national peace-keeping force in Lebanon. This time we would anchor approximately one mile from the beach in Beirut Harbor. At night you could watch thousands of tracers fill the sky that were fired as "Victory" salutes from the departing fighters.
On September 29, 1982, the USS Saginaw was directed to enter the port of Beirut to offload vehicles and personnel for the Multi-National Peace Keeping Force, returning once again to anchorage. Here we would remain, except for the occasional trip for pumping & dumping, for the remainder of the deployment.
On one occasion, while at anchorage, I had a birds-eye view of a dogfight between two fighter aircraft overhead, and saw what  definitely appeared to be a pair of missile contrails slam into the forward aircraft and watched as it plummeted helplessly into an apartment complex in the city of Beirut, no ejection was seen from the aircraft. Needless to say the ship went to General Quarters, as we had no idea as to what was happening, and yet, we still remained at anchorage. We would later find out than an Israeli fighter had taken out a Syrian MIG 21 fighter.
In February 1984, the USS Saginaw departed Little Creek for a seven month deployment with Mediterranean Amphibious Ready Group (MARG) 2-84. Other ships were the USS Ponce (LPD-15) and USS Nassau (LHA-4).
The deployment started with Teamwork 84, an exercise that began with a 30 plus ship ocean transit and ended with a mock-up reinforcement of NATO forces in Norway.
April 1984, Saginaw arrived in the Mediterranean and found herself again involved in operations off the Lebanese coast. The remaining four months of the cruise were spent providing security for the U.S. Embassy in Beirut, once again finding ourselves anchored in Beirut Harbor.
For her participation in Lebanese operations Saginaw received three awards: the Navy Unit Commendation, the Navy Expeditionary Medal, and the Humanitarian Service Medal.
DESERT SHIELD-DESERT STORM
 My participation in Desert Shield/Desert Storm began on August 18, 1990 when the Amphibious Group Two departed Norfolk, Va. en route Morehead City, NC to embark elements of the 4th Marine Expeditionary Brigade. After completing on load, the 17 ship Amphibious Task Force sets two days later for the Middle East. The transit of the Atlantic was conducted swiftly with ongoing exercises in preparation for any possible contingency. General Quarters involving engineering drills and battle problems were conducted on a routine basis. Chemical, biological and radioactive doctrines and procedures were thoroughly reviewed.
After transiting the Suez Canal, Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, the 17 ship Amphibious Task Force joined forces with those from the West Coast, increasing the total Force composition to 31 Amphibious Ships, 7 Combat Logistics Force Ships, 5 Commercial Support Ships and over 34,000 Navy and Marine Corps personnel, all maintaining a Modloc position in the North Arabian Sea, off the Coast of Oman awaiting further tasking.
As the January 15, 1991 deadline for the pullout of Iraqi forces from Kuwait approached, the Task Force moved into the Persian Gulf and remained poised for the largest amphibious assault since World War II. When Operation Desert Storm began and intensified, the Amphibious Task Force played a major role in deception operations and maneuvers intended to confuse Iraqi forces, which led to be a key element in the successful liberation of Kuwait.
As the Gulf War ended, various port visits were conducted prior to the return transit home. The eight month deployment ended on April 20, 1991 when the units of Desert Storm began arriving home to an enthusiastic "Heroes" reception.
OF ALL YOUR DUTY STATIONS OR ASSIGNMENTS, WHICH ONE DO YOU HAVE FONDEST MEMORIES OF AND WHY? WHICH ONE WAS YOUR LEAST FAVORITE?
 This would be a tough one to single out but for sure one is making several WestPac deployments on USS Halsey to the Far East and making all those Ports of Calls in the Orient.
Another is being stationed in the Philippines for three years at COMPATWING ONE DET CUBI PT in support of the P-3 squadrons, who were willing to allow you to fly with them to various parts of the world. Not to mention the liberty in Olongapo and Subic City.....hubba hubba!!!!
One more is having made several MED Cruises, not to mention a UNITAS and North Atlantic cruise while on board USS Saginaw.
Sorry, just can't narrow it down to one!!!
FROM YOUR ENTIRE SERVICE CAREER WHAT PARTICULAR MEMORY STANDS OUT?
 The day I was initiated as a Chief Petty Officer, in the summer of 1981 at FCTCL Dam Neck, VA. I joined a brotherhood that day, which I will be eternally indebted to.
No professional experience before or since has come close.
OF ALL THE MEDALS, AWARDS, QUALIFICATION BADGES OR DEVICE YOU RECEIVED, PLEASE DESCRIBE THE ONE(S) MOST MEANINGFUL TO YOU AND WHY?
They would definitely have to be my ESWS and EAWS pins! Most of your awards are for either being in the right place at the right time or for doing your job exceptionally well, but the Enlisted Warfare Specialist Pins are earned by you and you alone, through sheer determination, devotion, and dedication of yourself.
You are the one who spends all those tireless hours getting your qualifications booklet signed off, and when it’s all said and done, you have a greater sense of accomplishment and satisfaction.
WHICH INDIVIDUAL(S) FROM YOUR TIME IN THE MILITARY STAND OUT AS HAVING THE MOST POSITIVE IMPACT ON YOU AND WHY?
- OSCM Goodman (deceased)
- OSC Fenton
- OS2 Whatley
There were many more, some who, regrettably, I can't recall their names, but each of them saw potential that caused them to encourage me to attempt to achieve what I sometimes thought I couldn't. From a gentle 'counseling' session to a 'boot up my ass.'
The self-confidence and self-esteem I obtained by their efforts has lasted me a lifetime.
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?
That would have to be the first and last time I ever got sea sick aboard the USS Halsey (DLG-23). We were transiting form Bath, Maine about a day out of Norfolk, Va. The seas were exceptionally rough that evening as I sat at the radar console, the constant pitching and rolling of the ship was taking its toll on me, along with most of my fellow Radarman, as the majority of us were right out of 'A' School!
My LPO noticed that I wasn't looking to chipper, and offered me a pack of crackers, "Here, eat these, they'll make you feel better." Sure they will, I thought to myself, couldn't hurt? I no sooner got them half way down my throat when everything came up, all over me, the radar console and the guy next to me! Don't know why, but everyone around thought it was rather funny, or maybe it was at the guy next to me....who was gagging the whole time.
Needless to say, I was the one who ended up cleaning the mess. I believe I may have even gagged a few more times. It was the first and last time I ever got sea sick during my Naval Career! Thinking back to that moment does bring a smile to my face even today!
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 am now working for a Nuclear Service Company (Areva) out of Lynchburg, Va. as a Robotics Technician. We do inspection and repairs to the various Nuclear power plants throughout the U.S. and much of the world.
I maintain and repair the audio/video, and robotic equipment used during these inspections/repairs. I still travel quite a bit!
Not really related to what I did in the Navy, but it was a fellow shipmate that got me hired on the job.
WHAT MILITARY ASSOCIATIONS ARE YOU A MEMBER OF, IF ANY? WHAT SPECIFIC BENEFITS DO YOU DERIVE FROM YOUR MEMBERSHIPS?
Allows one the opportunity to sit around and listen to and exchange Sea Stories, Scuttle Butt from not only Navy Veterans, but also those from the other branches of the service.
- American Legion, Post 16
- Surface Navy Association
- United States Navy Memorial
- TWS Memorial
- NTWS Memorial Team
- National Veterans Organization of America
My membership in each of these organizations keeps me informed of the never ending changes taking place in our Armed Forces.
IN WHAT WAYS HAS SERVING IN THE MILITARY INFLUENCED THE WAY YOU HAVE APPROACHED YOUR LIFE AND YOUR CAREER?
 Self-discipline and personal responsibility! I have always been "To the Point" and meticulous in all aspects of my appearance and demeanor. Career wise, I feel I went as far as possible with it. If I had it to do all over again, I would! Twenty years of working with the best, in a culture of honor, courage and commitment has definitely helped me to positively shape my character and outlook. I am also someone who holds people accountable for the words they say and the actions they take.
The military has given me the confidence to stand up for myself and those that work for me. The training, opportunities, travel and experiences have exposed me to people, events and places that most will never have the chance to see. Being in third world countries I see the things we take for granted, and it makes me that much more grateful for the things I have.
BASED ON YOUR OWN EXPERIENCES, WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO THOSE WHO HAVE RECENTLY JOINED THE NAVY?
Let it be your choice, as to whether to stay in or get out! This doesn't mean not to listen to the advice others might give you, but do weight your options and let the decision be yours. If separation is right for you, then so be it, leave with  your head held high, you honored your commitment, but do give the decision more than a fleeting thought. There are many of those who have decided to leave the service and have regretted it. Many wished they had stayed long enough for retirement and draw a pension, but were worried about starting their careers in civilian life. 38 is by no means too old to start a second career, as I have, along with many, many others.
Always make time to spend with your loved ones, as deployments are not only hard on you, but on them as well. Even the littlest bit of time at home is important, so make each second count.
Take advantage of the military's benefits and educational opportunities, as they can help you in both military and civilian life. Remember that a good leader must first learn how to be a good follower. Never ask another to do something you are not willing to do yourself.
Last and foremost, be Proud to have severed in the 'Greatest Nations Military.'
IN WHAT WAYS HAS TOGETHERWESERVED.COM HELPED YOU REMEMBER YOUR MILITARY SERVICE AND THE FRIENDS YOU SERVED WITH.
 It's definitely a great way to share memories and honor each other's service, being able to find friends from my early years in the Navy, and meeting new ones along the way. It's how I reconnected with my old Halsey shipmate William (Bill) Cooper! Sure, we stayed in touch all SCPO Michael D. Withers (Mike) those years, sporadic at best, but it wasn't until Bill and his wife Joan became members of NTWS that we really started communicating on a regular basis.
Bill and I went through RD "A" School together before reporting aboard our first Duty Assignment, USS Halsey (DLG-23). Having last seen Bill in the fall of 1975 in Yokosuka, Japan (as he elected for an early out for the College Program), who would of thought that we'd meet again some 37 years later? That chance came in the summer of 2012 while on a job assignment in Southern California. Bill & Joan recently moved to California from Iowa were kind enough to invite the wife and me over for dinner (couple times). Most of our time was spent talking about where our lives had taken us, and of course, reminiscing about those days spent on board Halsey over a few cold beers!
By the way, Bill grills a mean Sirloin Steak....hmmm, may be time to take another trip to SoCal.
 It also allows one the opportunity to create profiles, and honor those who have FALLEN or may be DECEASED, who otherwise may have gone unnoticed. I have 593 and counting!
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TWS VOICES
TWS Voices are the personal stories of men and women who served in the US Military and convey how serving their Country has made a positive impact on their lives. If you would like to participate in a future edition of Voices, or know someone who might be interested, please contact TWS Voices HERE.
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