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Hello Chief Ragland, my name is Louis G. Cranford. I understand you"friended" me on Navy Vets and would like to make contact with you. A friend of mine, Ronald Brabbin (a Navy Vets member), tells me that you and he used to go out clubbing in Tokyo, back in the day. He says he cannot seem to contact you through the "friend" method. I told him I would try and reach you. If you would prefer you might reach Ron at ronbrabbin@gmail.com. Also, if you remember me, it would be great to talk about the old days, etc. Thanks. Lou

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Happy Independence Day!

Besides living in Canada for 6 years, I’ve had the privilege of traveling to Germany and France when I was young. With business, I traveled and worked with companies in Iceland, France, the UK, and Italy. In the Navy, I did humanitarian operations throughout the Bahamas and Puerto Rico. We also did joint training operations in Europe with the UK, France, and Israelis. I served in Desert Shield and Desert Storm, spending time in Egypt, Israel, United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia. 

In my 47 years, I was only spit at once for being an American - by an old Muslim woman in Clichy, France (we were there for business and walked through a questionable neighborhood). I smiled and went on my way.

I loved visiting all of the countries, experiencing their culture, and enjoying the food and scenery. But nothing ever compared to home. With that one exception in 47 years, everywhere I’ve been, people raised a beer and welcomed me as if I were someone special. 

There’s a persona to America that many Americans who haven’t traveled simply aren’t aware of. We’re told by the media that the rest of the world hates us… but they can’t wait to train here, attend school here, open businesses here, and move here. America, whether you like it or not, is an exceptional country. 

I believe we represent an ideal that is still worth fighting and dying for even when we don’t live up to our own… or the world’s expectations. I feel blessed to have been born in this incredible country and serving it overseas to show the world who we really are. We’re still the most compassionate country on Earth and the most innovative. 

I’m proud to be an American and am thankful for everything this country still stands for. My Mom was Canadian and is one of the proudest Americans I know. My late Father instilled honesty and integrity into me, with a respect for American ideals and a zeal to protect those who can’t protect themselves. I’m so appreciative of them - I couldn’t have been raised by two better Americans! 

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Looking for surveying members of the S.S. Spica,? WW-II, Navy Cargo Ship, Point Barrow, Alaska, 1945, or records of the ship, pictures, shipmates,unit designation, awards etc! My father-in-law, Robert C. (Bob) Olsen, (89), from Chicago, Ill, still standing! Served on her in Alaska, prior to that was stationed in Hawaii on the ferry to and from Ford Island! "GO NAVY"! "CAN-DO"!  "OO-RAH"!  Contact: (son-in-law), former Sgt. 82nd Airborne, MP Co. 1967-70!  "AIRBORNE"!

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The new meeting site effective January, 2015 is at the

TAMPA BUFFET
3904 South Dale Mabry, Tampa, FL 33614.
This is in the Britton Plaza Shopping Center about 1/2 mile N. of Gandy Blvd. We meet the 4th Thursday each month at 6:30 p.m. The Association is open to Navy and Coast Guard Chief Petty Officers and we offer an annual scholarship to a member or relative as well as supporting the Navy community. For info, call 
Chuck Peterman, President, at (813) 875-1753 . 

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Another soon to be homeless Vet.

My Wife of 18 years walked out the front door April 29th and is filing for divorce. I haven't seen her or our Son since. She and Her Brother have kicked me and our Daughter to the curb! All the bills; water and electric, natural gas, telephone, cable and Internet were in her name, and she paid the rent. She get's SSI (Supplemental Security Income) and disability payments because she's handicapped. Her brother manages her bank account and controls the money.

I'm a Computer Aided Design (CAD) professional who works from home. I don't make a lot of money, but when I do make money it goes to my family. Before my father passed away in 2014, my Dad paid our rent every month, and when we couldn't afford it, he paid some of our bills. All the money spent came out of my inheritance after he died. 

My Wife and brother-in-law were going to have everything disconnected, but I was able to get everything put back in my name before they had a chance. Now I'm struggling to find enough work so I can pay June's bills. I need help or I'm going to be another homeless Veteran who served our country honorably. I've been diagnosed with having Tinnitus, or ringing in the ears and it won't go away, so I'm in the process of filing for disability with the VA. I was assigned to an A-6 Intruder Squadron and served on the flight deck of an Aircraft Carrier, so I'm hoping this Tinnitus is service connected. 

Thank you for any help you can offer me I have set up a GoFundMe page @ http://www.gofundme.com/navy-vet.

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can anyone help

My name is David Foland I went to Boot camp at RTC San Diego, My Anchor Book was destroyed many years ago I have been trying to find a replacement for many years, my company number was 87-127 any help would be greatly appreciated.
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Navy Days

I will be 71 in June and I believe in keeping the memories of my Navy Days, and perhaps yours, alive. I live my life vicariously through my service as it was one of the best periods of my life. In 2010 I wrote my memoirs, Navy Days Memoirs of a Sailor in the 60's. It's still out there on Amazon. I own several t-shirts and patches depicting my radioman sparks and ships - Saratoga and FD Roosevelt. Now I decided to create T-shirts commemorating the 60's, cold war and where I was and might have been. You may or not be interested but I believe in creating materials to keep our memories alive especially concerning the Cold War. My latest are displayed on saratogamemories.blogspot.com containing two Sara shirts and a neat Cuban Missile Crisis Veteran Shirt - they are available at Teespring.com/stores/cubanmissilecrisis62 - honestly, I make peanuts doing this so it is all about the pride. Thank you all for your service and keep our memories alive. 

Non Sibi Sed Patriae Eddie

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