Rank
Petty Officer Third Class
Where were you or your family stationed?
I am actually a USCG vet that graduated from USN SM & QM "A" Schools, Orlando, Fl., Feb.- June '82. I am proud to say I finished second out of 22 (11 Navy, 11 USCG), 2nd only to a Naval Fleet returnee, in SM class #82025. SMC Mike "Big Ears" Reilly and SM1 Rich Beam were our outstanding instructors. That class set the bar for any class to follow. It's been 33 years and I still remember the basic alphabet & numeral pennants, sem and Morse. For the fun of it, I'm teaching my 7 year old granddaughter flags, morse and sem. Slowly but surely! Luckily she has my photographic memory gene. She wants to use her trait for show & tell @ school, right on! My one regret is not joining the USN after USCG & serving full time as a SM. Oh well, hindsight's 20/20.
I was the "resident" SM aboard both ships I sailed on for the remainder of my hitch. I maintained the flagbags and sig equip, aboard CGC's Vigorous (WMEC-627,NQSP) & Katmai Bay (WTGB-101,NRLX). My US NavyCertificates of completion for both schools is always proudly displayed on my wall every place I hang my hat. SEMPER PARATUS, PARATUS GERERE, and from the newly launched USS ILLINOIS (SSN-786)-NEMO MAGIS FORTITER. (look it up!)
FAIR WINDS & FOLLOWING SEAS
Current Status with the US Navy
Honorably Discharged
Start date of your service
May 15, 1980