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Please describe who or what influenced your decision to join the Navy?
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 The Draft in the 1960s got you into the US Army during the Viet Nam Conflict. It was your one-way ticket to your funeral. I made my decision to enlist in the US Navy to see the world in comparison to what I have lived as a toddler and teenager. Anyway, when I turned 18 it was the law to be registered for the draft. I was still in high school as a senior. I finished high school and knew for sure I would be called in the US Army. The first step was to be called to take a physical exam at the AFEES station in 1967. I passed the physical exam as 1A and returned to the draft board office and the little old lady there told me to just wait until I was called for enlistment.
So I walked across the street where the recruiting offices were located and only the Navy office was opened. I took an exam and the recruiter says he could enlist me in two weeks, in what nothing more than as a Corpsman for the front lines with the Marines. Really. I might as well join the Marines or the Army, I would be issued an M16 to shoot back but as a Corpsman, back in those days, you didn't carry firearms. You carried a target in the form of a Red Cross and they were getting killed often.
Long story short I finally went in Naval Aviation in Mar 1968. I did not know it as an 18-year-old then, but my decision was an honor and an obligation to serve in the greatest Navy and this great country.
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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?
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 I went into the Naval Aviation part of the Navy in March 1968. I was an AMH on Aircraft Maintenance at "A" School. This led me to a path to have been assigned to 10 different types of aircraft in my career that took me throughout the world on several naval ships, naval station, states, countries and a tour in Recruiting Duty.
I left the greatest Navy in the world after 26 years, serving honorably to retirement in May 1994.
As a civilian employee, I worked with the US Army Aviation and Missile Command working Quality Assurance as a government contractor on combat helicopters the Apache, Black Hawk, Huey, Chinook, and Kiowa Warrior for 16 years. Then went on to teach public elementary education for 3 years.
Retired from paid employment in 2013.
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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.
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| Life in the 60s. |
The Viet-Nam Conflict. I served 24 months there. It was a time of turmoil of being very unpopular with the public and abroad. It was a decade of extremes, of transforming change and bizarre contrasts: flower children and assassins, idealism and alienation, rebellion and backlash. For many in the massive post-World War II baby boom generation, it was both the best of times and the worst "tune in and drop out." This meant people should use drugs and leave school or their job. For a young man or even women returning home from the war, it was a time of being disgraced for wearing the uniform, being called a baby killer, being spit on. While others in your generation were burning their draft cards.
It changed me to be more resilient to the status quo.
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Was there a particular incident during your service when you believed you were in a situation you might not survive? Please describe what happened and what was the outcome.
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| COD |
In 1973 I was assigned to VR 24 a logistic squadron that flies the C2 Greyhound known as the COD (Carrier Onboard Delivery) out of Naples, Italy. At this time we were operating in Crete providing support for the aircraft carriers in the Med. One morning getting to work we had one flight that was scheduled to fly to the Independence CVA62 and to go back to base in Italy where we were stationed. Aircraft 25 was to return to Italy for needed routine maintenance but first to deliver 20 something passengers and cargo to the Independence. Aircraft 21 was to fly to Athens, Greece.
That morning my Chief asked if I wanted to go back home to Italy with aircraft 25 and I just turned it down because I did want to go back to town and get my belongings. My counterpart volunteered to go back to Italy on aircraft 25 since he was just recently married.
After loading the aircraft for departure both C2s 21 and 25 were at the runway for takeoff. Aircraft 25 took off first then we followed on aircraft 21. Then the unexpected happened over the radio from aircraft 25 that they were going down from 1600 hundred feet into the bay. Aircraft 21 reversed props and aborted the flight. Of the 20 something passengers and 4 crew. All the passengers and 1 crew member lost their lives. That crew member was my counterpart AMS3 Tom Murphy, who took my place and who saved my life.
This situation in life has been with me ever since.
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Of all your duty stations or assignments, which one do you have fondest memories of and why? Which one was your least favorite?
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 NAS North Island, San Diego, California. It was just a beautiful area to wake up every morning and to be glad to be alive. Waking up every morning driving my motorcycle starting at home onto I18 south, onto I8 west, then on 163 south and onto the I5 south and onto the Coronado Bridge to NAS North Island. I loved it going there and coming back from work.
I cannot say which was my least favorite but my assignments were both PCS or TDY Whidbey Is (2 times), Capo, Naples Italy, NAS North Island (4 times), NAS Miramar, NRD Dallas (RS Killeen). NAF Diego Garcia, NAS Cubi Point, NAS Fallon, NAS Moffett Field, Misawa, JP, Kadena, JP, NAS Atsugi, JP, NAS Adak, NAS Barbers Point and not in this order. The Aircraft carrier I was TDY to from 1 week to 10 months were Constellation, Ranger, Enterprise, Kennedy, Independence, Intrepid, George Washington, and including one surface supply ship the Niagara Falls.
Just to say which was my least favorite has to be Diego Garcia for the reason it is isolated and far from other large land masses.
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From your entire service, including combat, describe the personal memories which have impacted you most?
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 Loss of life of shipmates that you knew and knowing that their aircraft would not return at the end of the day. In 1973 while operating in Crete assigned to VR24 supporting the US aircraft carriers in the Med. I remember one evening going out into town for liberty with some 5 of my shipmates. While walking along the street a young man about 18 years old was walking alone. We invited him to our group to not let him stray alone. He said that he had just completed boot camp and had gone on leave for 2 weeks. He had flown in from the states to meet the Independence CVA 62. We told him that he would probably fly out in the morning with us since we were to take passengers to the carrier on one of the two C2 aircraft. He said that's great. So we took him under our wing that night. The following morning he was present to board one of our aircraft. As I mentioned in question 4, aircraft 25 was scheduled to deliver cargo and passengers to the carrier. Unfortunately, that aircraft lost altitude at 1600 hundred feet due to mechanical failure and pilot error. All passengers and 1 crewman of 4 lost their lives.
I think of that young sailor so enthusiastic about going to his first duty station and never making it. So young to lose his life and the brief time we spent with him the night before is like an eternity.
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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?
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 Achievement medals probably detailed my accomplishment I performed in the Navy as a Recruiter because it was in black and white what you accomplished. It was not politically imposed on your evaluation.
It was a tough assignment to do right after the Viet Nam conflict, the end of the draft, and the beginning of the all-volunteer force. I hope after all these years I have made a difference in some one's life. I aided in the enlistment of 148 plus sailors from Sep 1979 thru Aug 1982.
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Which individual(s) from your time in the military stand out as having the most positive impact on you and why?
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All my Chiefs above me because they were then called the backbone of the Navy.
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Please recount the names of friends you served with, at which location, and what you remember most about them. Indicate those you are already in touch with and those you would like to make contact with.
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 Petty Officer Bob White, Petty Officer Rich Host, Airman Ben McAdams, Airman Mike Caballeros, Sr. Chief Juan Galvan, Chief Jesse Vela, Chief Nick Garza, Chief Carlos Murillo, Petty Officer George Armstrong, Chief John Birch, and many others. They guided, they partied hard, they played hard, they worked hard, and they were fun to be around with.
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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?
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| Hot Foot |
After returning from a 10 months deployment back to the states. We all were just glad to be back to the good ole US of A. Some of my shipmates had a rough night before our first back to work day. Some came in hung over and I remember one shipmate was very sleepy that we put him to sleep on top of the cruise boxes. So someone has this idea to place paper at the steel toe area of his boon dockers and light it while he is fast asleep. Well, you guessed it.
Funny but not funny. I laughed until it hurts.
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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?
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 Commercial and federal aviation for 16 years after retirement. Then taught public elementary education for three years and fully retired after that.
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What military associations are you a member of, if any? What specific benefits do you derive from your memberships?
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| DAV |
DAV. They helped me with VA benefits that I was totally unaware of.
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In what ways has serving in the military influenced the way you have approached your life and your career?
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 It has probably made me a better person, father, and husband. A better understanding that liberty is not free. It taught me a trade and gave me a chance to reach my goals in education in Physics and Science.
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Based on your own experiences, what advice would you give to those who have recently joined the Navy?
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 Be prepared that it is based on the needs of the Navy. Expect the unexpected and take the challenge. Listen and get involved there is a big world out there to see and experience.
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In what ways has TogetherWeServed.com helped you remember your military service and the friends you served with.
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| TWS and the US Navy |
It has allowed me to reach some of my shipmates that I served with and keep in contact with. Military service is like no other. You don't forget it and at times you want some memories to go away but some don't. Thank you TWS.
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