Just an old slow southern boy from Texas joined up at 17 served on USS Helena CA75 radarman put her out of commission in San Diego 32nd street Navy base after a year on board.
My real dream had always been to serve on submarines, ran into a Navy chaplin at the YMCA that opened that door.
Reported aboard the USS Salmon SS 572 diesel boat as a radarman and had to switch to sonarman in the same week that the USS Thresher SSN 593 sank on a test run.
Served two great years onboard with Admiral Nitmiz himself awarding our boat and crew with the fifth Gold "E" for excellance.
Made a North Pac with spooks to moniter Russian missile test in November 63 when President Kenendy died ... we thought we were going to war for sure just because of that ... wouldn't you?
Reported aboard USS Ethan Allen SSBN 608 blue crew 1966 for three patrols, test fired 7 A-2 missiles on the first patrol all landed within fifty yards of the target 2,300 miles down range.
Finished up on USS Sam Houston SSBN 609 blue crew 1971 for two patrols STS 2 (SS)
Miss them ... but I'm just an old man now that can say I did that already.
Don't drink anymore, bad for your health, but if you'll buy me a Dr Pepper I'll tell you a sea story or two at the sub sim meeting in October.
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