 |  |  | |
An up close and personal interview with U.S. Navy Veteran and Togetherweserved.com Member:
CAPT John L Wallace U.S. Navy (Ret) (1955-1989)
PLEASE DESCRIBE WHO OR WHAT INFLUENCED YOUR DECISION TO JOIN THE NAVY?
 Under the impression I was going to attend a boy's camp following graduation from high school in 1955, I signed up for the Naval Air Reserve 90-day accelerated training program at Los Alamitos NAS. I became a weekend warrior and an AT Striker with VF-782.
I graduated from college in 1960 with a major in pre-med but decided that was not the career I wanted. So, with the draft threatening to make me Army Strong and my father's 30-year naval career nudging me in that direction, I entered active duty Navy through OCS.
WHETHER YOU WERE IN THE SERVICE FOR SEVERAL YEARS OR AS A CAREER, PLEASE DESCRIBE THE DIRECTION OR PATH YOU TOOK.
Upon graduating from OCS in March 1961, I was ordered to USS Polk County (LST-1084) where I served as Deck and Gunnery Officer until late 1962. I then applied and was accepted for Russian language training at the Navy Language School in Anacostia, MD.
Following nine months of language instruction  I volunteered for and was assigned to an office at Fort Meade, MD where I embarked aboard submarines of the Atlantic Fleet as OIC of small detachments of cryptologic personnel. During that three-year tour, I requested a change of designator from 1105 (Line) to 1610 (Cryptology). I was then ordered to NSGA Bremerhaven, Germany as Communication Officer.
My three-year tour was shortened to less than a year when I volunteered for duty in Vietnam. I served in Vietnam from the summer 1967 to the summer 1968 as OIC, Special Support Group, MACV SOG.
We supported MACVSOG with electronic and other intelligence in its strategic reconnaissance missions in Republic of Vietnam (South Vietnam), the Democratic Republic of Vietnam (North Vietnam), Laos, and Cambodia. The mission included the capture of enemy prisoners, rescued downed pilots, and conducted rescue operations to retrieve prisoners of war throughout Southeast Asia; and conducted clandestine agent team activities and psychological operations.
That tour was followed by orders to Naval Security Group HQ in Washington, DC. During that tour, I benefited from Admiral Zumwalt's policy for below-zone promotions.
That tour was followed by orders to the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, CA, where I earned a master's degree in one year.
I was next ordered to Rota, Spain, as Fleet Support Division Officer, eventually fleeting up to Operations Officer and Assistant Department Head.
Following that tour, I returned to NSG HQ as Head, Mobile Systems Division.
I was short-toured from this assignment to return to the office at Fort Meade to run the Submarine Rider Program.
From there, I was ordered to CINCUSNAVEUR as Assistant Director, Naval Security Group Europe.
That assignment was followed by orders to Sabana Seca, PR as Commanding Officer of the NSGA. I was then ordered to the National Security Agency in the office of Support to Military Operations.
That assignment was shortened by my final military orders to Pearl Harbor, HI as Deputy, National Security Agency Central Security Service Pacific.
IF YOU PARTICIPATED IN COMBAT, PEACEKEEPING OR HUMANITARIAN OPERATIONS, PLEASE DESCRIBE THOSE WHICH WERE THE MOST SIGNIFICANT TO YOU AND, IF LIFE-CHANGING, IN WHAT WAY.
 My combat experience was limited to the Tet Offensive of January 1968 when I came under periodic enemy fire in Saigon.
My exposure was sufficient to merit the Combat Action Ribbon and the Combat Distinguishing Device on a Navy Commendation Medal.
OF ALL YOUR DUTY STATIONS OR ASSIGNMENTS, WHICH ONE DO YOU HAVE FONDEST MEMORIES OF AND WHY? WHICH ONE WAS YOUR LEAST FAVORITE?
In spite of the weather, I enjoyed my tour in London the most. Some of the reasons:
--I spoke the language.
--I commuted to the downtown London office on British Rail.
--I lived in a three-story, Victorian house in Stoke Poges, with a large fenced yard.
--We were not allowed to wear uniforms.
--Good boss and good subordinates.
--Daughter was the only Yank on the Redding Royals synchronized swimming team and competed internationally.
--I played tournament volleyball for the Navy London team.
--Promoted to O6 on this tour.
FROM YOUR ENTIRE SERVICE, INCLUDING COMBAT, DESCRIBE THE PERSONAL MEMORIES WHICH HAVE IMPACTED YOU MOST?
 Over a thirty-year career, there were numerous events that I look back on, some pleasant, some not-so-pleasant.
Aboard Polk County, I witnessed the first, (and probably the last), nuclear weapons explosion in the outer atmosphere, launched from Johnston Atoll.
Aboard submarines, I had serious doubts that our boat would recover from a reactor scram in unfriendly waters.
In Vietnam, I recall the 122 mm rocket impact that came too close; and during the Tet Offensive, the VC bodies sprawled in the street where I'd walked the previous day.
In Puerto Rico, the anticipation and concern about assuming command of a station that had been attacked by Machetero terrorists less than a year before.
OF ALL THE MEDALS, AWARDS, QUALIFICATION BADGES OR DEVICE YOU RECEIVED, PLEASE DESCRIBE THE ONE(S) MOST MEANINGFUL TO YOU AND WHY?
The most meaningful award I received is the Army Presidential Unit Citation, awarded to the organization I served with in Vietnam. Because of the classified nature of SOG operations, this recognition did not come until almost 20 years after the Vietnam conflict ended.
Although I was retired by the time I received the award and have never worn the ribbon, I feel my association with SOG was the highlight of my military career.
WHICH INDIVIDUAL(S) FROM YOUR TIME IN THE MILITARY STAND OUT AS HAVING THE MOST POSITIVE IMPACT ON YOU AND WHY?
 My father joined the Navy in 1931 and attended boot camp in San Diego. He rose from Seaman Recruit to Commander before retiring in 1961, the same year I was commissioned. He was always my hero and generous with his advice. The single bit of guidance from him that I carried throughout my career was "Never bring a problem to your seniors without also bringing a solution."
My uncle (father's brother) also served in the Navy during WWII and left the service as a CPO.
My brother also served a single tour in the Navy aboard USS Shangri La. My son served aboard USS Reclaimer as an ET, before leaving the service on a medical.
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?
This story is probably too long, but it is a favorite memory of mine:
In 1961, as a fresh caught Ensign, I reported aboard USS Polk County (LST 1084) as the ship was about to head north for exercises off Washington.The highlight of our deployment was to be a rare visit by a U.S. warship to the beautiful city of Victoria, British Columbia.
As junior officer on board, I was designated Officer Of the Deck upon our arrival. In addition to normal logistics arrangements, I was responsible for ensuring that proper honors were rendered when His Honor, the Lord Mayor came aboard to welcome us to his city. The Commanding Officer had made it quite clear that this latter responsibility was of the highest priority. I checked that the Bosun Mate of the Watch, whose duties would be to announce  His Honor's arrival, was a more experienced sailor who would be very professional in this special situation. I drilled him on the announcement he was to make: "His Honor, the Lord Mayor of Victoria, British Columbia, arriving."
To make especially sure things were in order, I went to the wheelhouse to check the 1MC (Primary Communications) over which the announcement would be broadcast. I knew almost nothing about the equipment, but it was immediately obvious to me that someone had inadvertently placed the power switch in the "off" position. Throwing the switch to "on", I congratulated myself on averting this potential glitch and made my way to the quarterdeck to await the arrival of the Lord Mayor. Word was passed that the distinguished visitors had arrived at the head of the pier.
The Bo'sun Mate of the Watch took station in the wheelhouse and all officers formed a welcoming party at the head of the gangway. As our Canadian visitors approached the ship, the Bo'sun's voice could be heard as he practiced his important announcement. Unaware that a helpful Ensign had thrown the microphone into an open-mike position, and getting no response to his repeated efforts to key the microphone, all who were within range of the 1MC were treated to the Bosun's awesome repertoire of profanities developed over a 20 year naval career: "His Honor. What the ......! ..The Lord ..... Who's been ........ around with this .........?"
By this time, the Commanding Officer had fixed me with a withering glare.The Lord Mayor's arrival at the foot of the brow coincided with the Bosun's discovery of the out-of-position switch, and proper honors were finally rendered as he set foot aboard the ship. The Captain stepped forward, prepared to apologize for the unusual protocol we had just inflicted on our Canadian host, when the Lord Mayor stuck out his hand and said with a straight face but a twinkle in his eye, "Captain, can I expect to be sworn at again as I leave the ship, or was that just part of the welcome aboard program?"
A brief moment passed before they both erupted in laughter.
After a tour of Polk County, the Lord Mayor left the ship to the unembellished announcement: " His Honor, the Lord Mayor of Victoria, British Columbia, departing."
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 retired in Hawaii and taught as an adjunct faculty member for Hawaii Pacific University.
I also had a contract with Educational Services on the Pearl Harbor Submarine Base.
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 Military Officers Association (MOAA) and the Naval Cryptologic Veterans Association (NCVA). I have attended reunions of the NCVA because I have the opportunity to tell sea stories with friends from the cryptologic community who have been there and have shared similar experiences.
IN WHAT WAYS HAS SERVING IN THE MILITARY INFLUENCED THE WAY YOU HAVE APPROACHED YOUR LIFE AND YOUR CAREER?
 I spend a lot of time on both Pearl Harbor and Hickam AFB (now a Joint command) and have benefited greatly from the availability of commissaries, PXs, and fitness centers. I am ready to recommend a career in the Navy to anyone who is considering what to do with their life.
BASED ON YOUR OWN EXPERIENCES, WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO THOSE WHO HAVE RECENTLY JOINED THE NAVY?
Never bring a problem to your seniors without also bringing a solution. Only half joking here: I'd advise those who are still serving to avoid situations that put you in a negative light with those who control your upward mobility. Keep looking for more responsibility and the opportunity to show your value.
IN WHAT WAYS HAS TOGETHERWESERVED.COM HELPED YOU REMEMBER YOUR MILITARY SERVICE AND THE FRIENDS YOU SERVED WITH.
 I have encountered a number of old shipmates over the years since I've been a member of TWS. It's particularly gratifying to see how so many of these sailors and officers have developed their careers and received deserved recognition.
|
Read Other Interviews in the TWS Voices Archive
| Share this Voices Edition on:
  |
|
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.
This edition of Navy Voices was supported by:
Navy.Togetherweserved.com
For current and former serving Members of the United States Navy, TogetherWeServed is a unique, feature-rich resource enabling Naval personnel to re-connect with lost Shipmates, share memories and tell their Navy story.
To join Navy.Togetherweserved.com, please click HERE.
| |
