My Navy Career: February 1967 - September 1988

My souvenirs from Viet Nam, Persian Gulf, Iranian Crisis, Beruit and other memorable events

The climb to the ... middle

Ships and Stations

USS Tripoli (LPH-10)
Worked on the flight deck as an E-3


USS Valley Forge (LPH-8)
Different ship - same rank and job


USS New Orleans (LPH-11)
Yep - another ship, same job and rank


USS Midway (CVA-41)
Plank Owner (She was recommissioned in 1970) - same rank and job


USS Kitty Hawk (CVA-63/CV-63)
Reported aboard as an E-3, left as a second class petty officer (advanced two ranks)


Naval Air Station, Barbers Point,Hawaii
Reported aboard as a second class petty officer, left as a first class petty officer


USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63)
Deja Vu - reported aboard as first class petty officer, left as chief petty officer


USS Tripoli (LPH-10)
Returned to my first ship! Reported aboard as chief petty officer, became the first enlisted man in the navy to achieve dual qualifications as Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist and Enlisted Air Warfare Specialist. Advanced to Senior Chief Petty Officer and within days was commissioned as an Ensign, joining the elite ranks of the officer corps


USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63)
The Kitty Hawk seemed like an old friend by this point in my career - this time I am serving as a commissioned officer. Qualified as combat information center watch officer and junior officer of the deck (underway)


USS Tarawa (LHA-1)
Reported aboard as an ensign, promoted to lieutenant (junior grade) and lieutenant. Also received promotions to my dual enlisted rank of Master Chief Petty Officer (I was commissioned before the Defense Officer Personnel Management Act, meaning I held both enlisted status and officer status). Qualified as officer of the deck (underway) and AV-8 launch officer.


Shore Intermediate Maintenance Activity, San Diego
Final assignment before retiring. I was MIS director for a 40-person IT department. Put out to pasture in September 1988