The Blog Summary. The highs, the lows, and the inbetweens

How the blog changed as it was being written.

Initially the blog was being written for the many people who said, "You should write a book!" After awhile, as the blog developed, maybe it was really being written for me. Eventually it became obvious that it was being written for them, for me, and maybe even as a legacy, or as a message to everyone that if you keep doing your best at the time you have to do it, good things can happen. Certainly it never occurred to me that it would take NINE months to complete it! It's not the typing that takes the time. It's the research, fact checking, rough draft writing and rewriting, editing, and proof reading that eat up the hours.

The first several years were written pretty much from memory with a little online research to support the memories. The later years of writing are supported by documentation, evaluations, awards, commendations, and diplomas.

The HIGHS

The islands the all over the seas and oceans of the earth. Puerto Rico, Key West, Newfoundland, The Azores, Crete, Sardinia, Mallorca, Sicily, Guam, Wake Island, Saipan, Whidbey, Oahu, Treasure Island, North Island.

The countries visited. Iceland, Newfoundland, Germany, Gibraltar, Spain, Portugal, and in Africa; Senegal, Liberia, Morocco, Ivory Coast, and Congo.

People who helped and inspired along the way.
The Navy recruiter that pointed the way to naval aviation.
The Aviation Fundamentals School chief who convinced me to go to Aviation Electrician School
AE1/AEC Cunio in VP-26 coached me into becoming a competent electrician.
Lt Frederick, the pilot who kept me on his flight crew instead of letting them replace me.
The first two years in VA 303 with Woods, Lopez, and Gross.
AE1 George Gross. Good guy, great electrician. George was promoted to Chief, Senior Chief, and Avionics Master Chief Petty Officer (E9). A heart attack got him at age 56. Diane Doris and Kay Gross are still friends after fifty years.

More HIGHS
VA 305 and HS-85. An absolutely wonderful five years. Mostly because LTjg Nuss and Commander Frazier gave me the opportunities and the authority to achieve what others may not have been able to do.

The LOWS
The only lows were the two years in VA 303 under Chief Griggs. Now I realize that after being an AE shop supervisor from NOV 1964 to Nov 1972, I probably resented having a chief sticking his nose into what I considered my territory. Certainly I could have been more diplomatic with him. Naw! Bullshit! The back stabbing liar!

The IN BETWEEN'S
VR-6 and VR 22. Those three years were boring. The C-118 and C-130 aircraft weren't technically challenging. Plus as an AE2 (E5) I was working for someone else.

And then the transfer to VW-1 occurs. In four months I go from second class petty officer to first class petty officer who at age 24 is appointed as an enlisted department head. Big step for a young guy. It was challenging! In retrospect, my ego probably got in the way between me and the VW-1 chiefs and senior chiefs. They may have resented my power as a department head and I was surely less than diplomatic with them.

The best of the best memories:

Flying as a crew member in VP 26
Europe and Africa
Getting a secret clearance
Appointed as an enlisted department head
Naval Air Station, Fallon, NV
Making chief petty officer
The IWT team and the bombing derby on the USS Ranger
HS-85 on HMS Provider
Being the Maintenance Department Chief in HS-85
Retirement day!!!

All in all, eighteen of the twenty-two years were pretty damn good!