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An up close and personal interview with U.S. Navy Veteran and Togetherweserved.com Member:

TM1 Eugene Claude Ipox U.S. Navy (Ret) (1986-2006)

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

For as long as I can remember, that would be from about the age of 8, I have always known that I was going to serve my country. I just did not know what branch until I talked to some of my family that served. Some made it clear but simple and others I thought was funny, I will let you make up your mind for yourself. I asked my Uncle Mike why he became a Marine, (He did 4 years in the Navy then 24 in the Marine Corps.) He looked at me for a second then said, "I needed more structure in my life and the Marines gave that to me." My other uncle, Uncle Don, was a little more in depth as to his pick, "Well I first started in the Army before we had an Air Force; I transferred and was assigned to the Air Police. For most of my time in all I did was check ID's and open doors." He served for 20 years.

I have always thought of my Grandpa as a great man and held his words with a regard like no other, I asked him; "I know you went into the service for the war (WWII), but why did you join the Army?" He never talked about his service or about the friends he made and lost, so I was excited when he started to talk, "Jr, I thought long and hard about it and I came up with just one reason to go Army. See I can't swim and I can't fly, so in the Army the fall wouldn't kill me." He looked at me with a very straight face. He served four years.

The last person I asked was my step-father who served during Korea and did four years, "Pop, why did you go Navy?" He was a very large man and with him taking on four kids as his own and never stepping away from the duties that it calls for, I was and even to this day am in awe of him and just what he did for me during my life. "Well in the Navy I got three hot meals a day and a warm rack to sleep in, the others could not give me that so I was sold and joined the Navy." We both laughed about it. Well you got the insight on how I went about getting my bearings on which service to join (GO Navy). I hope it helps you to see just how others see things and got a giggle or two out of it. Just so you know each one is true, they all made those statements to me and I hold on to each like gold and pass it along each time someone asks me.

WHETHER YOU WERE IN THE SERVICE FOR SEVERAL YEARS OR AS A CAREER, PLEASE DESCRIBE THE DIRECTION OR PATH YOU TOOK. WHAT WAS YOUR REASON FOR LEAVING?

I went into subs by chance, in boot camp I was a striker. In the second week we were asked to pick three rates: I picked HT, QM, and TM. Then they went through questions of, "Any one wish to be a diver, UDT, SEAL, etc." I took everything at face value so when the PO1 said, "I have to ask this, I have only had one person in the last 5 classes to volunteer but is anyone thinking of going subs?" I was thinking about it because he just asked so I raised my hand. He asked, "You want to go Submarines?" I replied, "I'm thinking about it!" "Okay you go see the Chief over in that corner by himself" was his order to me.

So I was sent to see a Chief with all kinds of pins and ribbons on his chest (I thought WOW this man has been places and seen things), he had a name plate on his desk that had more letters on it after his name then the English alphabet I thought. Once I got to the Chief (he was Sub qualified, I found out once I looked up the Submarine Warfare pin in the Blue Jackets) he looked at me and my chit, "So you want to go subs?" "I'm thinking about it." Then he looked at my rates, "Well we don't have HT's." He struck a line through that, "So you want to be a Torpedoman!" I looked at him, "I was thinking first about the QM, I always wanted to know how to navigate around the world!" He never even looked up, "So you want to be a Torpedoman!" I looked at him once more and even pointed to the QM rating I wrote down, "I really think I could be a good QM!" And like before, not looking up, "So you want to be a Torpedoman!" I stood tall and like a good recruit, "So I guess I'm going to be a Torpedoman!" "Yep, you are going to be a Torpedoman!" He smiled at me and I did the same to him. So that is how I became a Torpedoman's Mate and I have loved that job and would not have changed a thing.

IF YOU PARTICIPATED IN ANY MILITARY OPERATIONS, INCLUDING COMBAT, HUMANITARIAN AND PEACEKEEPING OPERATIONS, PLEASE DESCRIBE THOSE WHICH WERE THE MOST SIGNIFICANT TO YOU AND, IF LIFE-CHANGING, IN WHAT WAY.

Sorry, I can't talk about submarine missions, operation, or capabilities. What is publicly know however is the United States Navy operates the largest fleet of nuclear submarines. Also, the U.S. Navy has accumulated over 5,400 "reactor years" of accident-free experience, and operates more than 80 nuclear-powered ships.

OF ALL YOUR DUTY STATIONS OR ASSIGNMENTS, WHICH ONE DO YOU HAVE FONDEST MEMORIES OF AND WHY? WHICH ONE WAS YOUR LEAST FAVORITE?

Each boat and every person I crossed paths with was special and unique! Without my first boat I might not have reenlisted, my second boat was like coming home to my family, my last two ran back to back and it was fun from the my first step aboard to crossing the brow for the last time. All my shore duty made me wish I have never left the boats. Thanks for the memories!

FROM YOUR ENTIRE SERVICE, INCLUDING COMBAT, DESCRIBE THE PERSONAL MEMORIES WHICH HAVE IMPACTED YOU MOST?

I have so many; each boat has one or more. All the great people I served with each made a mark on me and I took away something from each of them (good or bad) and it molded how I wanted to be a leader or how I did not want to be as a leader.

If I had to say just one thing it would have to be the camaraderie, no, the closeness of the submarine community. My first CO became an Admiral and I called him to see if he could come to my retirement, he had to decline, but told me he was glad I called. (I was in Virginia and he was in Texas.) To this day I still chat (on-line) with four of my sea pups and I even see one from time to time, I live over 400 miles from a Naval Base, but we keep in touch.

WHAT ACHIEVEMENT(S) ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF FROM YOUR MILITARY CAREER? IF YOU RECEIVED ANY MEDALS, AWARDS, FORMAL PRESENTATIONS OR QUALIFICATION BADGES FOR SIGNIFICANT ACHIEVEMENT OR VALOR, PLEASE DESCRIBE HOW THESE WERE EARNED.

My "FISH" are the most precious to me, if you have qualified on submarines you would understand, if not you will never ever understand just what it takes and the people that help you get to the day they pin the fish on your chest and call you brother.

OF ALL THE MEDALS, AWARDS, FORMAL PRESENTATIONS AND QUALIFICATION BADGES YOU RECEIVED, OR ANY OTHER MEMORABILIA, PLEASE DESCRIBE THOSE WHICH ARE THE MOST MEANINGFUL TO YOU AND WHY?

My fish (Submarine Warfare). It takes a year of your life to get it and then if you don't qualify they kick you off submarines. The day I received my fish the Skipper, XO, COB, and my Chief came into the torpedo room (underway) and the Skipper pinned them on me, the others all congratulated me in their own way (lol).

The Skipper went to control and made a 1MC announcement, "Attention all hands, Petty Officer Ipox just fully qualified in submarines and is the TMOW on watch if any one wishes to congratulate him on joining the brotherhood. One more congratulations TM3/SS Ipox" (It took me almost three years to get my pin).

I was on a boat in Pearl shipyard for two years and did 3 qualification cards and 3 boards, one each year I was in shipyard, the last one was to help keep it fresh in my head until I did my board, but I did not have the time at sea yet until we went underway from shipyard. After the Skipper made the announcement each person came down to the room and one by one the congratulated me.

WHICH INDIVIDUAL(S) FROM YOUR TIME IN THE MILITARY STAND OUT AS HAVING THE MOST POSITIVE IMPACT ON YOU AND WHY?

Simple, CDR Sullivan (Admiral later). I had been putting in chits to go to sea, so I could get my sea time for qualifications completed (The boat was in ship yard). I put in for every sub in Pearl Harbor, each one, each time was denied, so I put in to go to sea on the DDG USS Badger (a surface ship). The next day my Chief told me the CO wanted to see me in his stateroom on the barge (Ship Yard!). I knocked on his door then entered, "Skipper, you needed to see me sir?" He set his pen down and turned to face me, "Take a seat," I did, "Seaman Ipox, do you like the Birmingham?" "Yes Sir." He sat back a little, "Son, do you like submarine duty?" I just got why I was in that room, "I don't know Sir, I have not been to sea yet to know!" He smiled and stood up as did I, "OK I see, get your sea bag ready, you're on the next boat out!" I got it ready and was underway 3 days later. If I never said it before "Skipper, Thanks for being a man of your word!" I have a story about my first and second underway on the, but that is for some other time.

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?

We were topside in Norfolk coming home from a Northern Run, the wind was blowing and the back of the boat was very wet with a little bit of silt. The COB saw that we did not have our white hats on (We were in our service dress white) and asked why. We told him we could not keep them on for the wind. Looking around he gave the word that all hands topside will put them on and HE would pay for any cover that went overboard. No sooner than we had all put them on, one went sailing off into the water, the COB's eyes went wide as he watched the white hat come off the sailor's head that stood no more than ten feet from him (the one that had told him why they did not have them on in the first place). Before the cover touched the water the COB gave a NEW order, "All personnel uncover topside." He never said anything other than that as he walked off.

(The same maneuvering watch topside) A new topside chief was taking over as line 4 man in-charge, and as line 4 crew and he went aft he was saying out loud, "Watch your step we don't want anyone going overboard!" Just as the words escaped his lips his hands went up and so did one foot then the other as he went down on his AFT side and slid about 6 feet into the water as he turned over and was clawing at the boat (It looked like something from a horror movie). With his yelling, all of topside saw just what happened and before his head reached the water, the boat hook was at his hands and he was pulled but not before all but his head was wet. After we got him out and he was standing he turned to us, "I hated topside as a seaman and I remember why, where's the COB?" He walked FWD as we all pointed that way (What other way could he be topside on a submarine?) We never saw him topside after that during maneuvering watch.

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 went to work in a CD/DVD/Blue Ray factory as a shop supervisor, that was 5 years ago and I still work in that factory. I am a volunteer fire fighter for the fire department in the town I live in.

WHAT MILITARY ASSOCIATIONS ARE YOU A MEMBER OF, IF ANY? WHAT SPECIFIC BENEFITS DO YOU DERIVE FROM YOUR MEMBERSHIPS?

I am the USSVI-USS Asheville Base, Asheville, NC. Base Commander. I am with brothers of the fin.

IN WHAT WAYS HAS SERVING IN THE MILITARY INFLUENCED THE WAY YOU HAVE APPROACHED YOUR LIFE AND YOUR CAREER?

Something two people told me helped. First was my first Weapons Officer LT Boyd. I always panicked before a test and the Weapons Cert was the next day. The WEPS pulled me aside and told me, "Look at it like this, it is just to see what we need to work on to be the best, and if we fail they will give us a checklist to fix it, see we are all on the same team even the inspectors." That put everything into perspective for me, not just that one inspection, but even in life. (Do your best and if you fail, just do better next time until you get it.) Thanks WEPS

The other person was my last COB, but he was my Divisional Chief when he told me this as I was going to have to stay after work to write up one of my junior Torpedoman. He could see I was not happy. He just started, "Pox keep one thing in mind, this is your boat, your room, your crew. Look at everything first as a training issue then take your time in fixing it so you don't have to fix it a second time." He placed a hand on my shoulder and added one more thing, "The time you take doing things like this is an investment not time lost. If you let people see you are willing to take your time to help them, they will be more likely to take what you have to say on board." He slapped me once or twice on my back as he left, then I looked at the clock on the bulkhead and saw it was past 1800, I smiled as I just saw that he took and invested his time into me that night as well.

BASED ON YOUR OWN EXPERIENCES, WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO THOSE WHO HAVE RECENTLY JOINED THE NAVY?

I am not one to give advice but I will pass one along. When things get hard and look bleak just ask yourself two questions: "What day does Christmas fall on this year?" and "When is your Birthday?" If they ever change it is time to find a new job. Those are from my dad (Eugene C. Ipox).

IN WHAT WAYS HAS TOGETHERWESERVED.COM HELPED YOU REMEMBER YOUR MILITARY SERVICE AND THE FRIENDS YOU SERVED WITH.

I can come to this site and read about changes in the fleet as well as changes to Retirement items. As for friends, I got a message from a crew-mate from my first boat in Pearl. He is out, but lives in Hawaii. I retired and live in North Carolina. What is the chance we would ever talk after 20 years of not speaking without this site? Thanks for all that you do for us Admin.

 


TM1 Eugene Claude Ipox
 
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