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Influence Score: 143,439
643 out of 865,849 Veterans
643 out of 865,849 Veterans
About
Discussions
Bio
Son of a WWII Army combat vet, I always wanted to join the Navy like my uncle/godfather, and did. Post military, I had a basic philosophy - 1) Do what you are required to do without complaining; 2) Don't ask someone under you to do something you wouldn't be willing to do yourself; 3) Expect those who work for you to do their jobs. My mantra - If I have to do your job, I don't need you.
Military Experiences
Dec 1968 - May 1970
Radar/ECM Petty Officer 2nd Class
Post deployment and repairs; ship conducted Annapolis Midshipmen's cruise to Seattle, WA Sea Fair and Honolulu, HI; CIC Watch Petty Officer underway; Primary Electronics Countermeasures operator; Shore Patrol Petty Officer ashore; ship's technical/classified publications librarian. Second Westpac cruise Oct. 1969-May 1970.
Nov 1967 - Dec 1968
Radarman 3rd Class
Sailed ship through Panama Canal to home port in San Diego, CA. and prepped for first Westpac cruise. Surface & air radar and electronics countermeasures petty officer underway and during amphibious operations; Shore Patrol Petty Officer ashore; assigned as ship's technical/classified publications librarian. First Westpac cruise May-December 1968.
May 1967 - Nov 1967
Pre-Commissioning Crew, RDSN
Assigned to ship under construction in Pascagoula, MS in May, 1967. Went to Norfolk VA for general crew training and commissioning. Ship commissioned in September, 1967. Assigned as part of the ship's skeleton crew aboard during sea trials off Cape Hatteras, NC.
Nov 1966 - May 1967
Radarman Seaman Apprentice
Student at Navy Basic Electronics/Electricity class followed by Radarman Class A-1 School. First class taught me the basics of electricity and prepared me to perform basic maintenance and repair of ground and air radar monitors. Radar school prepared me to perform the various tasks required to stand watch in a ship's Combat Information Center (CIC), including ground/air radar operation, radar navigation, ship's course tracking on a Dead Reckoning Tracer (DRT), communications monitoring and introductory electronics warfare procedures.
Deployments
(1 year, 4 months)Oct 1969 - May 1970
Vietnam War
Duties during my second deployment were basically the same as during the first deployment, except there was no prisoner release evolution. During this cruise, I mentored and assessed the performance of any strikers, RDSN's and RD3's assigned to OI Division.
May 1968 - Dec 1968
Vietnam War
Primary responsibilities varied depending on the ship's activities. In off-shore op areas, I monitored surface radar and tracked all ship or boat movement in the area. During operations close to shore, I manned the electronic countermeasures equipment, assisted with coastal navigation, or monitored landing craft activity. In October, 1968, the ship sailed in coastal waters claimed by North Vietnam off Vinh as part of a release of regular North Vietnamese military prisoners. As part of that operation, I spent 16 continuous hours monitoring and evaluating enemy fire control and communications equipment electronic signals. In port I was assigned to Shore Patrol on average every third shore leave day.
Military Credentials
Individual & Special Skill Schools
Jan 1967 - May 1967
Radarman Class A-1
Additional Specialization(s)
Security Clearance
None / Expired
Academic Degrees
Academic Degrees
1975 - 1977