(Proteus - Guam 74-75, Dixon - San Diego 75-077) Joining the Navy changed my entire future. These were the real formative years of my life. I can not say enough good things about it. No words can describe it.
For example: The first time I saw all the food in the cafeteria my first full day in bootcamp, I said to my self, "They can do anything the want to me, this food is worth it!!!"
I graduated as class honorman from MR"A" school and upon reporting to the Proteus I was assigned to the lock & engraving shop where I worked until being sent send to the messdesks. After my three months on the messdecks I was assigned to the Fleet Machine Shop. Chief Strum needed someone to run the tool crib so that was my assignment. several months later I final got to be the machinist I was tained to be. I volunteered for both DCT and RDT duty.
I was also volunteered for tent city duty. This was during the April 75 evac of Saigon. We put up thousands of tents at just one of the many processing camps. It was hotter than hell and the clay-dust turned all of my clothes a red-brown color. When it was over I bought all new uniforms. The late summer was so hot on GuAm that we switched to tropical hours which were form 4am till noon.
The steak cook outs at the yacht club were fantastic. Every Saturday moring I went to the USO. I boonie stumped all over the island.
After mustering out I completed a BSME degree and went on to work for some of the largest corporations in the world. Without the Navy none of this would have happened!!!
Oh, I forgot to mention the Dixon. I late her but did not care for the big city. I am a small town person and big cities are just something I visit for work or play. I sure wood like to hear from anyone I knew during these assignments. Neubouwer, Mango, (Rick F- Wissconsin), (John H- Ill), (Wendle K, Texas), Drop me a line guys if you are still out there!!! |