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An up close and personal interview with U.S. Navy Veteran and Togetherweserved.com Member:
OSC Jim Berry U.S. Navy (Ret) (1982-2003)
PLEASE DESCRIBE WHO OR WHAT INFLUENCED YOUR DECISION TO JOIN THE NAVY?
 My father who spent 26 year career in the USAF.
I always saw him in a sharp military uniform. Not a wrinkle or crease on his shirt or pants except the ones that he had put there down the center of his shirt pockets. He had his front pants pockets sewn shut so that he wouldn't put anything in them. I didn't really understand what a "boot camp drill instructor" was in 1974, but I would later on when I joined AFJROTC.
I would later sew all the pockets shut on all my dress uniforms. I couldn't stand to see CPO's with their hands in their pockets juggling all the loose change or playing "pocket pool."
Photo taken of me following graduation from boot camp Great Lakes Naval Station.
WHETHER YOU WERE IN THE SERVICE FOR SEVERAL YEARS OR AS A CAREER, PLEASE DESCRIBE THE DIRECTION OR PATH YOU TOOK.
 Combat Information Center
Operations Intelligence
Tactical/Strategic Deception and Training
Psychological Operations
Space and Electronic Warfare Command Operations
Navy Recruiting
Instructor Training
Combat Systems Instructor
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.
 I did not participate in combat, not that I didn't want to. Sea duty is a different type of "combat" in itself. You get to bring all the beans, bullets and machines to the theater of operations, but you don't get to play. You're a Sailor.
Funny enough, I always remembered that if you can't be an athlete, be an athletic supporter. I would support the troops in the line of fire the best that I could. I trained my watch teams to always be on time and never accept that the information that you had was correct. Always try to verify data two ways or by other means.
Time was a key factor that I could control. How fast or how slow I got to a certain point on a map. Time. Always be on time.
If you were late, that could mean that someone depending on your unit to be there might fall in harms way.
OF ALL YOUR DUTY STATIONS OR ASSIGNMENTS, WHICH ONE DO YOU HAVE FONDEST MEMORIES OF AND WHY? WHICH ONE WAS YOUR LEAST FAVORITE?
 Obviously, my first ship, The USS Jouett CG-29. Your first ship is your best ship, only you don't know it while you are assigned to it. There are many more commands available to make your first ship seem even better.
Many firsts came on that ship. First time falling asleep on a SPA-50 radar repeater, mess duties, top bunk in berthing. Trying to sleep through a 5"/54 qualifying exercise, sleep through some sonar tech 3 piers away doing PMS in port. "Pa-wheet". "Dur-eeeb". "Waa-teeep".
FROM YOUR ENTIRE SERVICE, INCLUDING COMBAT, DESCRIBE THE PERSONAL MEMORIES WHICH HAVE IMPACTED YOU MOST?
1985. Sea and Anchor detail, Hawaii. 0700. I had just finished the mid-watch and was now "surface search" for CIC as a Third Class Petty Officer. Once we were doubled up and found out who won the anchor pool (which I ran for Operations department) we hit the beach.
Waikiki Beach.  A few bottles of suds and we checking out the views. Only for an hour or so. Then it was time to get back to the "duty" room and change into some clean pants and shirts to hit the bars. I danced all night. All the way until 0500 and then had to get back to the ship for duty. I had forgotten that I had already been up for 33 hours by the time that I made quarters for the duty section.
I had already checked out the watch bill and saw that I didn't have any watch assignments, so I figured this would be a sleep-fest of a duty day. While standing at quarters and listening to the section Chief drone on about the duty day like Charlie Browns teacher. I seemed to zone in on the shore patrol station. We were at Alava Pier along the main stretch of Pearl Harbor just south of the swimming pool. I watched people come in and out of the shore patrol building for what seemed to be an hour. A few minutes later, "Attention! Dismissed!" was barked by the Chief.
I couldn't wait to get to my rack. I was absolutely exhausted. I must have executed the perfect strip down and swan dive into my bunk. I swear my uniform was still standing up by itself for a few seconds before it landed in a crumpled heap on the deck. I grabbed my pillow and buried my face in it.
Next thing I knew, the senior Operations Specialist had flung my curtains back and was telling me that I had shore patrol. I acknowledged him and said I would be ready at 1800. He laughed and said, "not later, NOW!"
 "What?" I told him that I had already been up for over 30 hours. The heartless bastard said he didn't care and I had 30 minutes to report to the shore patrol building.
Deja Vu. Now I was one of the people going into the Shore Patrol building. The senior shore patrol chief assigned me to the Acey Ducey Club on Pearl. I dragged my rear over there and spent the better part of the next 12 hours trying to stay awake. I learned that taking a "cat nap" on the throne, just made your legs get numb. I never knew that it was possible to fall asleep while standing up. Time had dragged to a standstill. I swear that the clock was going backwards. Finally, at 1800, they turned us loose. I made a beeline to the ship and repeated the swan dive into my rack.
I didn't even make duty section quarters the next morning. Somebody had taken mercy on me and let me sleep. For the next 20 plus years, I was always back on the ship early before a duty day.
OF ALL THE MEDALS, AWARDS, QUALIFICATION BADGES OR DEVICE YOU RECEIVED, PLEASE DESCRIBE THE ONE(S) MOST MEANINGFUL TO YOU AND WHY?
Probably the Joint Meritorius Service Medal for two reasons:
1. In 1991, the battle group was awarded the medal for actions during Operation Fiery Vigil in the Philippines when Mt. Pinotubo erupted on June 12. I was on the USS Peleliu LHA 5 at the time. We evacuated  2,526 people from the departure point at Subic Bay Naval Station.
The volcanic ash and a mini-monsoon had joined together to create a "mud-rain" that stuck to everything. Roofs collapsed and some buildings imploded. It looked like the aftermath of Hiroshima. Everything was covered in a blanket of grey ash.
We loaded up the evacuees for a two day trip to CEBU island for the offload at an airhead. The first class mess became a Romper Room for the younger kids. We let the evacuees sleep in our racks while we slept in our office spaces or watch locations. I spent almost 18 hours in the hanger bay moving people and luggage on the day of arrival. Lots of luggage. Helicopters and LCPL's were utilized to move the evacuees.
2. I found out that I had been selected for CPO. I was number 150 of 153 Operations Specialists selected that year. I was elated. Luckily, no fertilized chicken eggs were available, if you know what I mean. Everything that was edible, was already consumed.
WHICH INDIVIDUAL(S) FROM YOUR TIME IN THE MILITARY STAND OUT AS HAVING THE MOST POSITIVE IMPACT ON YOU AND WHY?
 Again, it would have to be my father, David Berry USAF, Ret.
When I learned at a young age that he was an MTI for the USAF, I asked him why he didn't have the recruits come home and wash his car or mow the lawn. He looked me right in the eyes and said, "You don't touch the recruits, you don't harass them, and you don't mess with their money."
With the scandals coming to light for the USAF about their MTI's sexual abuse of the recruits, the previous holds true today. I was only 10 years old when he explained that to me in 1974.
Some of his best friends were MTI's and held themselves to a high standard of conduct and training. Sam Frye (deceased), Ron Moore (deceased), and Ben Jones.
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?
Myself and OS3 Ron Hanlin had purchased some Levi jeans while we were in San Diego. The new jeans that were not pre-washed were the cheapest to purchase.
We were out in San Diego OPAREAs for about a week when we decided to "sea wash" our jeans. We ran some small  line through the belt loops and tied them together at the waist. We each had about 2 pairs. We then threw the jeans over the aft of the ship and payed out about 50 yards of line to keep them clear of the screws. We let them drag behind the ship for about an hour or so.
We came back to the fantail after our mess duties and began to pull them in so we could wring them out and wash them. About that time the first division officer came up and asked us what we where doing. After a brief explanation of what we were accomplishing, he said "Hey, I have a pair also!" and disappeared inside the skin of the ship.
He returned a few minutes later and began to run the line that we had just used through the belt loops on his jeans. Ron handed him the rest of the line which the officer dropped to the fantail deck. With a huge heave of the jeans, they sailed over the fantail into the water behind us.
 I, Ron, and the aft lookout (who was leaning on the lifelines with his hands in his jacket pockets) watched as the coiled line on the fantail payed out, pulled by the drag of the jeans, with a slight "whipping" sound.
And then the bitter end of the line disappeared over the side of the ship. The officer had forgotten to tie the end of the line to the pad-eye in the deck. He just sort of stood there, eyes blinking, knowing that something had just gone wrong, but was unable to discern what it was.
I still see him there to this day, looking at the aft horizon, wondering if his jeans were getting "sea washed."
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?
United States Postal Service, Letter Carrier, 10 years now.
WHAT MILITARY ASSOCIATIONS ARE YOU A MEMBER OF, IF ANY? WHAT SPECIFIC BENEFITS DO YOU DERIVE FROM YOUR MEMBERSHIPS?
Veterans of Foreign Wars. It's great to hear some of the "old timers" talk about their service and how "we" had it easy. Internet, Air Conditioning, and hot food. Geez, where did these vets serve? Oh yeah, they remind me weekly.
The VFW's need new vets to keep things moving. In some areas, they "plant" up to eight vets a month. The next generation has to take the reigns in order to remember those who did not return, keep a close eye on our elected officials, and keep the next generation informed about the past, present and future of our fighting forces.
IN WHAT WAYS HAS SERVING IN THE MILITARY INFLUENCED THE WAY YOU HAVE APPROACHED YOUR LIFE AND YOUR CAREER?
 Safety, safety, safety!
I always double-check my work area in my USPS job and living areas at home.
As the "new guy" in my USPS job, I knew that I needed to learn from the senior people there. As in the military, you soon learned who was good at the job and those that were there just to collect a paycheck. You could easily tell who was prior service or retired just by the way they dressed in the uniform that day. Gig line straight, shined shoes, and clean shirts and shorts.
Oh yeah, and you notice the ones that actually say "good morning".
BASED ON YOUR OWN EXPERIENCES, WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO THOSE WHO HAVE RECENTLY JOINED THE NAVY?
Train yourself "out of a job". Find the next person that has a "knack" for what you do, and train them do it.
I also had this phone conversation with my father:
"Dad, they made me Operations Department LCPO."
"How many people do you supervise, now?" He asked.
"About 85 people", I replied.
"And how many work for you?"
"As I said, about 85 people."
"Wrong answer," he snorted.
"Whadda ya mean, Pop?" I asked with a curious tone.
"Call me back when you figure it out, boy." He laughed and hung up the phone.
After a few days, I still couldn't figure it out. So I had to call him back with my surrender. "Okay, I still don't understand what you mean, Pop." He said, "It's simple. You supervise 85 people, but none of them work for you. YOU now work for 85 people."
It sank in as soon as he said it. As the LCPO, you now have to make sure 85 people have their family life in order, studying for the next pay-grade, maintenance done, work place squared away, etc., and ready for the next deployment. Continually cycling through it all.
IN WHAT WAYS HAS TOGETHERWESERVED.COM HELPED YOU REMEMBER YOUR MILITARY SERVICE AND THE FRIENDS YOU SERVED WITH.
 I have been fortunate enough to catch up with lots of people that I served with. I don't miss the Navy much, but I do miss some of the great people that I have served with. This nation will never know some of the outstanding people that have sacrificed in their honor.
I was disappointed that I never made Senior or Master Chief.
In 1995, I had to make a decision that would affect the rest of my career. I had to choose between my family and my career. I chose my family. I never made another pay-grade for the next 13 years. I was the second senior Chief on the west coast when I retired wearing red chevrons. I felt that I had been black-balled for my decision and there was no way I could work myself above it, around it or beyond it no matter what I accomplished, qualified for or billet that I occupied from that point forward.
When I review some of the profiles on TWS of people that used to work for me, I smile. Many of them have made Chief, Master Chief, or even gone as far as officer programs. I like to think that I influenced them enough to "learn not to burn, in daily operations, in safety and in your career".
While I never made Master Chief, I like to think that I influenced enough of my Sailors to strive to do well. I recently saw a picture of one of them shaking hands with the POTUS.
Maybe in some Kevin Bacon "6 degrees of separation sort of way, so was I.
My son Justin and I are holding up his graduation certificate.
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