Please describe who or what influenced your decision to join the Navy?

Baby Face

It was the winter of 1951 and I was in my 2nd year of College at Bozeman, Montana. The draft was in need of warm bodies. I had taken the Dean's advice when he suggested we not let studies interfere with our education. Being a few points short for a college deferment, I was expecting 'Greetings' from Uncle Sam. This particular day I had just finished the 1st quarter of my second year. I decided to see the Air Force Recruiter. Walking towards the Recruiting station when I met a friend that I worked with. He had just got out of the Navy and took me by hand and let me into the Navy Recruiters office. The rest belongs to history.

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?

USS Richard Edwards

Upon completion of boot camp, I put in for Photographer's Mate (PH). However, my orders were to the USS Agerholm (DD-826), as a Fireman Apprentice. I think the ship was about 105% of her manning level and of course all the racks were assigned, I hot bunked for a period of 2-3 months. I had been assigned to the Forward Engine Room 3 or 4 months into our West Pac cruise when the POD announced the need for Sonarmen. My numbers fit so the XO approved the transfer to the 6-month long Sonar "A" School when the ship returned from deployment. One of my classmates during "A" School was Paul Tucker.

After School, I was returned to the Agerholm as a 3rd Class Sonarman. I made 2nd Class on schedule. I also had been writing to Karen Tucker, Paul 's sister. After her graduation from high school, Karen came out to San Diego for a visit. I also had taken the test for 1st Class and I didn't think my chance for advancement was that good. Karen was talking about the marriage word I did mention that If I made 1st Class I could afford it, I guess the rest is apparent.

I had been assigned to the USS Currier (DE -700) and was transferred there. When I received a call from Karen, the word was out and I was to be advanced on 1st increment. I was married on the 19th of November 1955 and was discharged on 15th of Dec. 55.

Six months later I was working in the timber. Eight months later I was in the hospital after having 3 logs fall off a truck breaking my shoulder, screwing up my pelvis and stripping much of the skin from my back when it pinned me to the ground. During Sep 56, while I was in the hospital, Steve was born. At that time I was in a complete body cast with a board between my knees. A sister-in-law had seen a funny picture of this guy in a body cast with the following inscription ' So I told my wife, OK. I'll have the next one.' She brought this to the hospital and it was pinned on my door. People walking by would see it and then look in. There I was just like in the cartoon. It was almost Thanksgiving when I was released from the hospital. I then proceeded to go broke farming.

In October, I received a notice from the Navy Department that my 2 years was approaching and if I wanted to get back in the Navy at the same pay grade I had to act now. Again, I did not think I could pass the physical, but we had agreed that if I did, then we would sign up. I was assigned to the USS LOWE (DER-325) I think the saying was 90 ft to the top of the mast and drew 10 ft of water.

On my 7th yr active duty, I put on my hat I was aboard the Richard S Edwards (DD-950). The day I made Chief, my youngest son Patrick Rex was born. Pat was named after two of my shipmates, both having played a big part in my Naval life. Rex Knodle a shipmate lent me $300 to buy my uniforms with (while in Hong Kong). A true friend, both in and out of the Navy. Pat Murphy a one-time ASW Officer was an Officer that pushed and pulled me as far as he could. He did qualify me for advancement to Chief. Before leaving I was Qualified CIC watch Officer, qualified as Jr. Officer of the Deck Underway. It was on the Edwards where I was surrounded by great individuals all; who had an excess of energy, knowledge and became great Sailors and Sonarmen.

I did believe my job was to take care of these kids and let them have their heads. During my time aboard the Edwards, we were the ship to beat. One of the things we did learn was how much team worked applied. In ASW (Anti-Submarine Warfare) much seemed to be attached to the performance level, how much power the sonar was putting out and how sensitive the receiver was. However, even with great numbers, they became useless with an overtired, lax operator. It was known that a fresh alert operator would add 15db to our performance level. Operators were limited to 15 minutes stack time and then rotate, The 15 minutes of intensive listening would null one's hearing. Our team was just unstoppable.

One exercise I was requested to go over to the exercise submarine and get our hedgehog back. I did indeed do this and we painted it red and mounted it in the crew's mess. Lt(jg) Byron ASW Officer and I also wrote a letter to each our Sonarmen's parents/loved one tell them how much their sons/husbands contributed to the ASW Gang. We used our own money to mail these letters.

During this period my Sonarmen were collecting ASW data for me by tape recorder. The sonar transmission could be heard through the deck and above the ship's noise. I pretty much knew who was pinging by the audible sound. From crunching much of the collected sonar data I wrote a paper called the Logic of classification. I wanted to forward this through the Captains name. Ch Hess E-8 PN(my mentor) told me he would not forward it using the Captains name but would forward it under my name. This did happen, our ship forwarded it to div/squadron to the type commander. COMCRUDESPAC forwarded it to NEL(Naval Electronics Lab) Pt. Loma. This was at the level when this article's value was realized. Back down through the Chain, gaining momentum at each level. A few months later I was selected to attend the first course in Subjective Sonar analysis. Students included two senior enlisted from each branch of Sonar, Sub (boomer and fast attack) Surface, Dipping, Harbor, fixed wing. It was the first time in my knowledge that these crew members set at across from each other venting their theories. Instructors included surface and sub-members with a "burn before reading" clearance. Our guest speakers included civilians, talk about the Russian Navy, in the past when they would go to war and under what conditions. Security was the main issue and we were required to tell our wives that we couldn't tell them a thing, the names of our instructors were classified as well as who else was in this class. If they had to get in touch it was only through Pro-Subs at ASW school. Back to the Edwards upon completion of the school and we were now engaged in Vietnam. What before had been ASW was now happening in Asia.

My tour had ended aboard the Edwards and was going through Instructor Training at San Diego. Our President was killed during that period. I did march in a parade as a tribute. Going to my first shore duty at ASW School I was assigned to STAR Dept (Sonar Tape Analysis and Recording). I had made E-8 while at ASW school. It was during this period when a Sonarman in-country Vietnam expired and they were looking for a relief. After a few days of soul-searching, I had volunteered to take his slot and thought it was a done deal. The Commanding Officer ASW school stated I was qualified in all respects but was needed in my job.

My three years passed at ASW school and I was assigned to Commander Cruiser-Destroyer Flotilla 11 out of San Diego. I served there for 4 years and my second tour of shore duty was Recruiting duty in the AVF (All-Volunteer Force) Navy. I was among the first of a critical rate to be assigned to recruiting duty.

Nearing completion of recruiting duty My next assignment would have been to a MOTU out of Pearl. My family did not want to go to Pearl which was okay with me, so I put in my papers.

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.

During both Korea and Vietnam, I was aboard ships that conducted Naval Gunfire support, H & I firing (Harassment & Introduction Gun fire ) H & I was driving up and down the coast and every so often lobbing a shell or two over. In North Vietnam we participated in Sea Dragon OPS.

On one event during Korea where we were doing NGFS with the aid of an allied spotter. Our target must have been a gun placement as some how the spotter was unable to get us on target, run after run each being slower and closer until all hell broke loose, we were caught in the middle of a straddled enemy gunfire. With the 1st round short, 2nd round over and the third round on top. Apparently they were using armor piercing rounds with a timed fuse as a number of rounds were air bursts on top with only a few frags, then boom and the ship shuddered just a little bit. We had taken a direct hit on the starboard side aft. The projectile passed through and I beam or Channel beam in three places, the top horizontal plate the vertical plate and the bottom horizontal plate, It detonated at this point and sent frags into a magazine below and also into a fuel tank. The ship was leaving the scene at a high rate of speed, and I could hear the spotter telling us to get em, they been chasing ships away all week. My GQ station was on the bridge in the Chart Room manning the fathometer. I could hear the bridge radios. If there had been a secondary explosion I am sure it would have blown the fantail completely off and perhaps sank the ship.

During Vietnam, we were conducting H & I fire and one 5in projectile seized in the barrel, the heat from the powder burning cooked off the projectile. And blew the barrel off at the breach-block. The smoke from the burning powder was forced back through the magazine and into our berthing compartment. Seconds later the word was passed fire in the magazine. This was around 2300 at night and another Chief and I were just turning in when this happened. The white lights came on our space was yellow with smoke--We grabbed our gear and headed for our GQ station Flag Command Center. On the way forward, we were passed by a couple of young white hats with an inch and one-half fire hose. Headed toward the magazine. At that very second, I thought there was a fire in the magazine and I could vision flames dancing around the projectiles or powder cases. I believe if the Co2 bottles in the magazine wouldn't control the fire, opening the hatch to air and pouring water on it surely wouldn't. (I'll take any Hull tech word on this.) The vision of these two sailors charging toward the magazine is stuck in my mind to this day.

Sometime during my first Vietnam Cruise with the Flag our ship the Heavy Cruiser Newport News was conducting Sea Dragon Ops I the USS McCormick DDG-8 was our shotgun. Both ships were taken under enemy fire. One of our Flag Officers had just purchased a new super-8 movie camera and was on the bridge when the return fire started. He started shooting and captured quite a segment. Within days these shots were seen all over the US on the evening news.

I was aboard the Newport News during the famous TET. During one session at HUE we shot over a thousand rounds of 5 and 8 in ammo, Our 8-inch powder was in a brass and not in bags. The decks were awash in empty brass one could hardly walk on the decks without stepping over some brass.

From your entire service, including combat, describe the personal memories which have impacted you most?

During my 20 plus years, there have been 3 times when I thought it was all over.

The first time was while on the Formosa Patrol and I was sitting on the sonar stack and picked up a high-speed noise spoke that I classified as Torpedo. As you can believe there are set procedures for something like this and the ship turned away putting the noise in the fantail where we could not continue to track it. I set for the next few minutes saying to myself, Ed its been a good life. Well, nothing happened and I am here to tell you about it. The second time was when the gun mount blew up in Vietnam. Again I sat there and awaiting the big boom said, "Ed, it's been a good life". The 3rd time we were North, in Vietnam Waters. And to the North of us was Yankee Station on our NTDS ship we could easily see Hanoi and Hainan Islands almost across from each other. I was the Flag Plot Officer and was sitting at the NTDS console. I looked over towards Hainan Island and seen some raw video coming in we did have a slight bearing drift and it was maybe 6o miles out. I put my ball tab on the video and dialed in Ships Weapons Control(SWC) "SWC-Flag, do you see what I see?" and illuminated my ball tab. "Roger Flag I see it, what do you think we should do/" (All this time the video is closing and probably not over 40 miles) I said, "SWC I think we should do something". We went to GQ and the ship 's fantail was jumping up and down the hard turn to bring the missiles to bear. The ships F/C radar was trying to 'handoff" from the air search to fire control ---no avail once I turned the target over to SWC-- I again thought, "Ed, it's been a good life.

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.

Throughout my career, I have received numerous letters of appreciation and commendation. I have been awarded two Navy Commendation Medals and one navy achievement medal with the combat 'V' They were the Navy Commendation and Navy Achievement Medals, not Marine and Navy as is most of the more recent awards. I believe all three awards were for doing my job. The significance of the job was what earned the awards.

One time during my Naval Career I thought my actions would merit an award. At that time I was a designated radioman for the Captains Boat. When called away the crew would muster on the deck near and await the Coxswain. This particular night we had gale-strength winds in Yokosuka Harbor land it was dark-dark. They called away the gig and in a few minutes the engine-man and I had mustered at the deck. We could hear the 'Mike' boats loaded with sailors churning the waters as they passed our nest. Both of us looked at the Gig at the same time and became aware the gig had parted its line and now was starting to drift away from the ship. The engine-man said, "Give me your radio and jump for it". I did just that. Landing on the bow my weight sent the gig scooting away from the ship and free from the nest where the winds pushed the boat out even further. This gig was a VP modified to become a Commodore's Boat, had a half-open Coxswain's pit. I was completely panic as I groped for anything that would turn on the running lights. I was in the middle of these lumbering Mike boats. Once I found the running lights I fumbled to get it started, easier to do that finding the lights. Soon I was going back and forth and the boat would not answer the rudder. Finally in desperation, I wound the engine up as high as it would go and then it answered the rudder and I was heading toward the fantail at a pretty high clip, I was now trying to get the boat in reverse and it happened just in time as the bow just kissed the fantail and opposite rudder laid it back against the ship.

By that time the complete crew had assembled including the CDO and OOD. We went and picked up the Skipper with no further events and when I debarked the boat and came aboard the Agerholm my knees would barely hold me up.

The rest of that night I was dreaming of what award I might get. The next day happened and not a word not even a handshake or a go to hell.

Which individual(s) from your time in the military stand out as having the most positive impact on you and why?

During my career, I have worked with a number of great individuals. During my years with the flag, I worked for Rear Admiral S. Kinney (NAVY CROSS) and Rear Admiral Robinson (The most Senior Officer to be killed during the Vietnam War).

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?

Aboard the Edwards before Vietnam, we participated in the Show the Flag and People to People Program. It was a great life, especially for a Chief. We were standing 4 section in port watches. When the ship would go import one 4th of the watch standers would remain aboard. After knocking off, ships work things were pretty relaxed in the Chief' Quarters, In fact, things were pretty relaxed aboard ship.

On this particular day, the Chief Personnelman, a snipe or two and I were in our mess. A knock on our door entering a Junior Officer who just wanted to shoot the bull. He mentioned he had just purchased a ships tie bar from the ships store. One of us said, "you mean you can just go buy one of those things, we have to be qualified". He said, "Qualified, what do you mean". Well in order to for us to wear the tie bar we had to perform certain tasks not completely ordained by the Captain. Now there Is also the Ships Belt Buckle which required one to seduce an opposite sex in the quarters verified by two other CPOs. There is also the Ship Cuff Links, we could not think of anything strong enough to merit winning these but one of the oldest most raunchy CPO aboard wore the cuff links. Thus, the Junior Officer very happy with his purchase left our quarters.

A few days later, the XO cornered our Chief Corpsman and asked what he would do if a Chief caught an STD. He says I treat him of course but have you ever heard of a Chief catching anything.

Now different Officers would ask their Chiefs about owning a Tie Bar, Belt buckle or heaven forbid the Cuff Links. This kept building for the next month or so when after a particularly rowdy night the XO stops in our Quarters and as he had just been asked to leave the O Club after he chased the Commodore's wife with a beach umbrella wanted to know what he might be qualified for.

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?

Prior to getting out, I had put in my application for JNROTC in Billings Montana, They had an opening. Not hearing a thing from them, I helped a neighbor bid a job and by correcting one of his mistakes in estimating the volume of earth to be moved I landed a job with him building a park. I was knee-deep in Park Construction 101 and school had just started when I had this call from Billings Montana wanting to know if I was ready to go to work. I would have to be there yesterday. I did find out their favorite son did not qualify. Because of the short notice, I just couldn't do it.

Upon completion of that job, I couldn't find anyone wanting to hire me. Just be retired military at that time was a disqualification. The jobs I got, I built the first one, was that of a screen printer. This turned out pretty good until I wanted to expand and took in a partner.

The next job was fitting hearing aids. I had taken the exam in two states and became licensed to fit hearing aids.

The process of sublimation was very new and the inks were being developed that someday would pass through an inkjet printer. To make a very long story very short I had formed a Corporation with two computer geeks. We were almost there a couple of times but ended up - my most expensive education.

Leadership, I may have done OK with sailors --but I just can't do a damn thing with civilians.

What military associations are you a member of, if any? What specific benefits do you derive from your memberships?

I belong to two Military Associations. NAUS and Navy.TWS I have a very low NTWS number as my son Steve recruited me before it was launched. I was to bring in a number of my era sailors. I did put the call out and had a very limited response. However, I am signed up as a life member and usually surf through 5 or 6 times per week.

In what ways has serving in the military influenced the way you have approached your life and your career?

USS Newport News

My Navy career allowed me to play with some nice toys. The people going in today have a much greater chance to play with even bigger toys. Navy training is second to none. They do teach what you will need to work in your rate in the Navy. They did not correlate it to civilian jobs. My rate was wide open and critical throughout my entire career.

Based on your own experiences, what advice would you give to those who have recently joined the Navy?

For those in the service thank you for your service. Keep your nose clean and study hard. I do not believe I would be as successful in today's Navy, but bless your hearts for being there.

In what ways has TogetherWeServed.com helped you remember your military service and the friends you served with.

TWS and the US Navy

I do have a number of shipmates and I hold these as dear as my own family, in fact some are. I am shipmates w/ sailors spanning WWII till the present time. NTWS has provided me with friends that I don't think I will outgrow. Most of my NTWS shipmates I have yet to meet. I have met a few and hope to meet more.

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