Who served and when?

coldchow

FNG
Joined
Feb 9, 2021
Messages
27
I joined the Navy prior to graduation from high school, 1968, I was on the 120 delay program. went to Great Lakes for boot camp, march, class, march, class and march some more. I kept thinking just how much marching will I do one I get on board a ship. I got my dummy orders during week five for the USS New Jersey but when my final orders came out, it read Little Rock, I was thinking, I didn't know the Navy had a base in Little Rock. One of the guys in my division said, keep reading, it's USS Little Rock, you my friend are going to the Med. I arrived in Naples Italy in Mid. Oct. and had to hang out there for a week until the boat return to port in Gaeta . Arrived in Gaeta and went directly to my ship. I was assigned to "A "division and requests a position working as a A/C mech. which to my surprise I got. At the time the Rock was the flagship for the sixth fleet. I spent the next 22 months going from port to port all over the Med. and North Atlantic during that time I took leave twice to return home. On one leave I went with a friend to his family home for a few days. He asked if I wanted to go to a outdoor concert, I said why not. I'm sure a few of you have heard of Woodstock. After I return to the ship we finished out our tour as flagship and return to the states and the ship under went dry dock upgrades. During that time I went down to Norfork and went to ACR school for 12 weeks. I returned to the ship and we made a trip to the Virgin Islands, 6 months. Returned to Boston, then another tour of the Med. Then back to Norfork, That is where I got discharged. I spent my entire time on the Rock, I'm not sure why I never got transfer orders but, I did see lots of guys come and go when the were transferred to new duty station. At one point I got orders to a ship off the coast of Viet Nam but they got cancelled, why I don't know. Looking back on it, it was a very interesting time of my young life. I saw a lot and learned a trade which carried me though my life. To this day I still enjoy going out to sea, I find it very relaxing.
U S Army, 1970 - 1996 , retired 0-6. Would do it all over again.
 

dwils233

FNG
Joined
May 17, 2018
Messages
67
Location
E Wa
Navy* aviation electrician 2002-2006

*Stationed with MALS-24 the entire time so a bastard child of the navy and the marines. My service was easy so I'm thankful for those who did so much more during those same years
 

Sherman

WKR
Joined
Jul 15, 2021
Messages
635
I used to be a sailor, now I’m just a discharged seaman.

Operation Southern Watch
Operation Iraqi Freedom
Operation Enduring Freedom

All I wanted was out, and after I was out, all I wanted was back in. I did the “special” stuff, or what my RECON Marine buddies refer to as “fuels”.
 
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