I was aboard the "Terrell Maru" in 1963 - 1965
Well... lets see... I was a "Selected Reserve" while in High School. What that meant was that I was a Reservist. Took the opportunity and asked for the Hank. So, once a month I went down to the USS Hank (DD702) at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard and went to sea for those days. After the Reserve center loosing orders to Boot Camp I finally got there in June of 63. Went onto Active Duty with the USS Terrell County (LST 1157) in the Fall of 1963.. Our ensign was still at half mast for President Kennedy. Quickly I found myself in First Division. Did not like swabbing the Main Deck before Reveille.. Made a run at being a QM and it stuck. Departed there as a QM 2 in the late Fall of 1965. Saw a lot of the South China Sea and the Viet Nam area. Stayed on Active Duty until 1987 and retired... Made QMC in 1972. Served aboard 4 LST's, 1 DD, 1 DLG, 1 APA, 1- CLG and an FF. Three ships I commissioned. Did Military Training Mission in Saudi Arabia (1975)and some shore duty. Out of 25 years in uniform I spent 19 at sea.
DD702 (Sel. Res.)
LST 1157
APA 228
CLG 8
I was just able to visit with two QM3's that worked with me in 1967 & 1968 (USS Topeka CLG-8)this weekend. We may be getting older but we were able to remember the whole Navigation Department... all 25 QM's. We know where 18 of the 25 are.
DLG 7
LST 1185
FF1065
LST 1183
LST 1187
Also, I had a bit of Shore Duty but not much. Some was due to being a Single Parent for three years.
NAS North Island - General Duty
ComNavSurfPac - Wrote ships schedules
Fleet Training Group - Ref TRA!!! Navigation/Seamanship Observer
ComPhibPac - Wrote ships schedules
So, I stayed busy. I even incurred the wrath of our CNO while I was in Saudi Arabia in 1975 and never was able to make Senior Chief... Is there a connection?????
Take Care,
JIM
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