Served aboard June 1961 to March 1962. Made one WestPac, winter 61-62. After returning to San Diego on Valentines Day 1962 found out that I had been accepted for nuclear power training and in March 1962 was transferred to Nuclear Power School at Mare Island Naval Shipyard, Vallejo, CA and then to Nuclear Power Training Unit, West Milton Site, Schenectady, NY. Stayed there for 2 1/2 years after training, as an instructor/operator. Following this went to submarine school in New London, CT then to the USS PLUNGER (SSN-595) at Pearl Harbor, HI. Qualified in submarines aboard her. Made a "Pearl to Pearl" run as a result of which was awarded the NUC (Naval Unit Commendation). Left the Navy in February 1968 as EM1(SS).Currently retired and living in Portland, OR. We have the museum boat USS Blueback (SS-581) here in Portland, and I am one of the volunteers that maintain her "in fighting trim", well almost! I also am a active member of the USSVI (United States Submarine Veteran's, Inc) Blueback Base and publish the monthly newsletter Venting Sanitary Inboard. |
The web page for the Sanitary is:Or the latest newsletter is:http://bluebackbase.subvets.com/PDF/May-09_for%20PDF-On%20Line.pdf |