Where did you serve and what did you do?

USN 1985-1995 IC2: I was an Interior Communications Electrician. I served on the USS Iwo Jima LPH-2, USS Orion AS-18, USS Shenandoah AD-44, NAS Keflavik Iceland, and Naval Station Staten Island/NWS Earle NJ. On LPH-2, I served doing the job that I was trained to do. I attended MK-19 gyro school after LOH-2. On AS-18, I initially worked on submarines as an IC-man. About 3-4 months into my tour there, I was moved into the repair officer’s administrational division and started working with the computer system managing the refits and processing the jobs through the pipeline ensuring that the paper trial was all completed. This was done on a forward deployed submarine tender in the Mediterranean. On AD-44, since I had that unique specialty, I ended up doing that same thing while on there. We deployed to the Med and into the Red Sea in support of Desert Storm. I was also on the ship’s self defense team and we trained for boarding duties for enforcing sanctions but we were never utilized for that, we just did ship repairs. On NAS Keflavik I was base police after attending school and getting the 9545 NEC. When finished with my tour, I was sent to SIMA Staten Island, but they were in the process of closing that base so I was transferred down to SIMA Earle. The workload was fairly light and when they asked for volunteers to go back to Staten Island to drive truck to move equipment from there down to Earle, I volunteered for that. My final job after the moving was done was to go back to the repair office stuff and manage the computer database and workflow through the repair process. I spent a lot more time working outside my rating than I did working in it.

How are you Still Serving?

I volunteer with the Patriot Guard Riders and stand flag lines at various veteran events. Most of this is done at funerals, but we do Welcomer Home, Send Off, Wreaths Across America or pretty much anytime someone is doing something veteran related. The catch is that we have to be asked, we just don’t show up. I am a ride captain with this organization and have done “missions” in 6 different states and put roughly between 7,000 and 10,000 miles annually on my motorcycle/truck. I also volunteer with the local sheriff’s office supplementing their numbers at big events. These would include the county fair and local air show and the occasional parade. We also assist with jail visitation and assisting with equipment issuing for deputies and whatever else the sheriff sees fit to use us do. The hours we put in save the tax payers 1 and a half deputy salaries and benefits per year. I am also a Merchant Marine Engine Officer and when I head to the east coast for any type of schooling, I stop in at the SS John W Brown, the only still functioning Liberty Ship from WW-II on the east coast. Holding a USCG Engine Officer license, I can go work on that great piece of history and help keep her running. There is a great group of volunteers that give up their weekends to keep that floating museum functional and I’m proud to add my little part to it.

Why do you do it?

Because it is the right thing to do.