Well, 45 years ago today I joined the Navy. Yep, the U. S. Navy. I left Louisville and Landed in Chicago and it was 19 below zero, snowing, and I was wearing my Flaget High School Letter jacket. I spent 3 months in Boot Camp at Great Lakes Naval Training Center and didn't see any ground free of snow until about 2 weeks before I left there. From there I went to Naval Training Center, Millington, TN, near Memphis. After 4 months there, on to Naval Air Station, Lemoore, CA., near Fresno, CA. I spent 2 years there, in a Jet Fighter Training Squadron. While there I got to know many Navy Pilots as they came thru there for training. Thus, I knew many who were killed, or taken prisoner when shot down over North Vietnam. Also, the last six months there I married my sweetheart backhome, Mary Lynn. We lived in Fresno for six months before I left for Vietnam. My last year in the Navy was spent in Vietnam, where I arrived 3 months before the 1968 Tet Offensive, which changed the course of the War forever. That was an exciting time. While in a War Zone, you try not to think about it much, but always in the back of your mind is the fact that you may never see your family and friends again. During the Tet Offensive, it seemed to be on your mind a little more than normal. But, I made it home. If you've never been through that, you don't know the feeling you get when that plane touches down back in the good ol' USA! When the wheels of the plane touched down there was an unrehearsed, simultaneous cheer that went up from all aboard. What a feeling! We made it back alive! After a couple of days processing in Memphis, the closest base to my hometown, I was out of the Navy and a civilian again. Only 3 years and 9 months later from my joining up date. What did I do when I got home? Well, Mark was born 9 months later.
6 comments:
Look at that cute sailor. No wonder I fell in love.
Thanks Dad. I have never known the details of how everything played out. Obviously there is much more to the 3-1/2 year stint than you can put in a small blog post, but it is very interesting to read any details about your time in the Navy.
I'm very proud of my dad. And of my mom, too.
My primary question, though, is why the naval training facility was in Tennessee. Isn't it land-locked? Though I guess you don't need water to train. and (10 minutes have elapsed since I typed the last sentence) I've now google searched and wikipedia-browsed and gotten answers to that.
I love this picture. Good post - We love you Grandpa!!
PS - don't think I didn't notice that small change you made along the side of this blog.
I agree with Brian. It is interesting, and details would be even interestinger, except for that very last bit. You can feel free to leave that vague.
Post a Comment