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"After retirement at 30 years, 1 month, March, 88, went to work for Boeing Commercial Airplanes in Everett, WA, for almost 15 years. First 7 years worked as a factory installation electrician on the 747 installing everything in the cockpit except…"
"Thanks shipmate and the very same to you. Thany YOU for your service."
"Yep, remember the names now. Harry Cannon, a British tech rep lost his job because of a contract snafu. George Huckel was another rep. The guy that was killed was AT1 Lawrence Gallagher. He was TAD to AIMD from VQ-2 (as I was) and VQ needed…"
"Yep, that's me. AIMD 65 to 68. Lt Buck was DO and CPO Paschal was div CPO. Left Rota, went o instructor duty at NATTC Millington AT "A" school. Made Warrant Officer, moved to Whidbey Island and spent 20 of my 30 years right here, sea and shore duty…"
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Welcome aboard shipmate, May you have Fair Winds and Following Seas!
Thank you for your service.
Semper Fortis!
Gallagher.....now where in the world did I come up with Armstrong. Gallagher had made some treks back into the Japanese country farms, traveling part of the time on water buffalo. Got to see some of the 8mm video he had made. I remember his house. He was salvaging plywood from the docks, taking it home, nailing it up, hitting it with a blow torch, then sanding down and varnishing. Looked pretty good, too. Even had dinner with him and his wife once. Great meal, Japanese style. Nice folks. Sure hated to hear about his death, too. And didn't Harry Cannon also die in an auto accident? I vaguely remember the tech reps. The other names you mentioned I can't get them stirring in the old memory banks. They're probably there, hiding.
I started out in 86 in Tech Pubs writing manuals on the Tomahawk and Harpoon then transferred to F-15 (coordinating pubs written by vendors). Got caught in a layoff in 91 (because of the A-12) then went back in 93 writing for AV8, F-18, T-45, F-15 and various support equipment. Finally retired in 2007.
Some of the names you mentioned I do remember. There was also ATC Wright, AT1 Lorimer, AQ3 Harnass, AT2 Randall, AT2 Brooks (I think), a young AT3 by the name of Ewen, a re-tread marine by the name of James Sherman , for some reason I keep remembering an Ed Contrarus (spelling)....found out later that he had gone on to college and last record I had of him, he had returned to the Navy and had made Cdr. Also, I'm remembering an AT1 (I think Richard Armstrong - married to a Japanese girl) TAD to the shop from a sqdn. I was told that after I left he had gone back to sqdn and back to flying and was killed in a crash. And wasn't there an AT1 Sanders?
I found out that Chief Pascal had retired in Millington and I drove out in the spring of 69 and visited with him. That's the last I heard of him and suspect he is dead by now. Some years ago I found Lt. Buck's obituary on the internet. He had retired in Texas.
Again, it's great to hear from you. Love the sound of your weather, too!
Good to hear from you! My time wasn't as exciting as yours! Left Rota (and Navy) in July 66. Worked for RCA Memphis til 69 and returned to Navy. Up and down the east coast: 3 tours at NAS New Orleans (AIMD Avionics), B School between tour 1 and tour 2, a tour at PAX River (Instructor Duty) between tour 2 and 3 at NAS NOLA, last tour with VAW-78 (E2C) out of Norfolk (Avionics and Operations). Retired February 86. McDonnell-Douglas/Boeing St. Louis til 2007 and retirement. Also college and seminary in St. Louis (86 to 93) and church pastor since 1990. I try to remember some of the crew at Rota from time to time......but the years are catching up with me.
I guess the question is: How is retirement treating you?
Welcome aboard Ed! Don't I know you....possibly from Rota (65 and 66) AIMD Avionics with Chief Pascal and Lt. Buck?