Bob - The Navy Years, Chapter 1

I JOIN THE U. S. NAVY

In my Senior year of High School, several friends and I decided to join the Navy after graduation.  Now, back in those days,  if you weren't in college, you either joined a service, or our government decided for you to join the Army,  through the Draft. After graduation, having planned to join the Navy for many months, the time came.  Well, all my friends backed out, Billy Doyle, Jacques Sabrie, Charlie Pate.  But I went ahead and joined up anyway. I joined the Navy on January 26, 1965, 8 months after graduating from High School.  I was 18 years old and had never been away from home more than one night running.  The night of January 25th was the last night in my life I lived in a house with my parents.
My Dad drove me down to the recruiting office and dropped me off.  I'd joined several weeks prior to this day, but this was my actual sign up and departure day.  With about 10 other guys, all from around Kentucky, we spent several hours signing papers and waiting around.  The first of many times in the Military that I had to stand around and wait.  The old military saying 'hurry up and wait' is so true.  After we were all signed up, papers in order, we were bused to Standiford Field, now Louisville International Airport. There, we waited around for our plane to Chicago, and the Great Lakes Naval Training Center.  We arrived at O'Hara Airport in Chicago late afternoon and, you guessed it, waited around several hours for a Navy bus to take us to Boot Camp.  I left Louisville with a gym bag with toothbrush and shaving gear, wearing my High School Letter Jacket.  Louisville temperature cold, but nothing extreme.  When we landed in Chicago it was 19 degrees below zero and the ground covered with snow. Little did I know that I wouln't see the ground 'snow free' until the first of April!
The bus finally arrived and we piled on.  We pulled onto the Navy base late at night, I'm thinking around midnight.  The bus pulled up in front of a large 'Drill Hall'. This is a large empty hall about the size of the armory downtown, or about the size of 8 high school gyms. We went inside, of couse a Navy drill instructor starting yelling at us as soon as the bus door opened. They called us a lot of things, and none of them were endearing.  We were each assigned our bunk for the night out of about 200 in the hall.
 We were given 10 minutes to wash up, brush teeth, go to the 'bathroom' ('Head' in the Navy), and get to bed.
So, here I was, my first night in the Navy, in a large drill hall with a couple of hundred other guys, lying in a bunk bed, looking up into a dark empty space wondering what in the world I'd gotten myself into.

to be continued......

The last of the 'Big Tree' comes down at last

 They took down the last of the big tree today.  It was fun watching them, but in order to get a good view I had to go outside in the cold.  I should have asked them to come back in better weather.
I was surprised the cut the whole trunk down at once.  I thought it would come down in pieces.
The cut the big trunk in half when it was down and hauled it away with half on the trailer and the other half on the big crane truck.

Here he was notching the bottom for it to fall towards the house.

They slowly lowered it down into the yard.

Then loaded half on the trailer and the other half onto the crane truck.  When they loaded this piece on the trailer, it was a little to long, so they cut off the end of it and the piece fell on the driveway and put a hole there.  I guess they'll fix it.  It's not in the part I park on, but I'm not sure it's not on my property.  I'll check later.

The girls get to see the 'Real' Santa

 Mary Lynn and I went to Westport Village SC and met Mark, Kim, and the girls there.  The shopping center had a Christmas Festival with all the shops handing out coupons, chance tickets, discounts, etc.  They also had a group singing Christmas Carols and the lighting of the Christmas Tree in the Center of the Village.  Also, Santa made an appearance.  Erin and Jill waited in line for about 45 minutes to get to see him.  They couldn't think of anything to tell him that they wanted for Christmas, but Santa said it was OK, a lot of boys and girls can't think of anything.  I must say, ol' Santa looked pretty good.

Golfing in the Snow Flurries at Iroquois GC

I played for the first time in 2 weeks today.  It was cold and flurried all day, the high was supposed to be 38 degrees, and I think that was about right.  I shot a 44 - 42 = 86.  Not very good, but I never play well in inclement weather.  We lost team score by one stroke. With me being the highest score in our 3-some, I'd say it was my fault.  I left a lot of putts just short of the hole, dead in the middle.  The ball stopping 1-2 inches from the lip.  I walked 18, so at least I got some good exercise and that 86 will raise my handicap up to where it should be in the winter time.  This was round 70 for the year.

Thanksgiving Pictures

I was really sorry that I didn't get more pictures on Thanksgiving Day, but I was having such a good time I forgot to take more.  I really enjoyed having the family together.



 Erin and Jill with their aprons on that Aunt Julie gave them as a 'Christmas Bonus'......now they'll really be able to bake some great Christmas Cookies!





 


A good picture of Julie and Jit










Another good picture, Mary Lynn and Julie
















Erin and Kim, two professional shoppers.











Julie didn't have enough money to pay for her meal, so she had to wash the dishes.

Beth making her fourth trip to the dessert table, Pam can't believe it!  Mark W and Kevin in the background still stuffing themselves.

Joel Stanley and David Garvey. Joel busy managing Beth's Fantasy Football Team.

A little metal detecting since the rain

Since the rain we had last week I've been able to get out and do a little metal detecting.  I went one day with Brian, one day with Mark and a couple of days by myself. I haven't found much worth mentioning, but I'll mention them anyway.  I found about $5 total in change, of that, 2 coins were wheat pennies, a '44 and '52.  I found a little silver charm that either fell off a necklace or bracelet.  It was a moon and stars design a little smaller than a dime. That's been about it.  Brian and I detected at St Matthias field and Algonquin Park, and Mark and I detected at Chance School and Rubel Park.  It's been fun and I'm glad we've finally had some rain so I can get out.  More rain is expected tonight, but with Thanksgiving coming up I don't think I'll be getting out for a few days.

A wet day at Iroquois GC

It was a cold, damp morning at Iroquois GC when we started out today, but after about 8 holes the drizzle and light rain came to a stop.  It did get a little colder, though.  I played terrible.  Mostly my putting.  I can't make any putts now.  I shot a 46 - 42 = 88.  The rest of my game wasn't that bad, but the putting really drags me down.  I even made some pretty good chips today, but couldn't convert the short putts.  The only consolation is that it will raise my handicap, which at Iroquois GC is down to an '8'.  So my 88 today netted me an 80!  The highest net round of the day in our group. We played two 'fivesomes' today, because we had ten people show up and nobody else was on the course.  Even playing bad and playing in bad weather, it was fun.  I enjoyed the round.  I'm sure my putting will return in time.  This was round 69 for the year.