I am a veteran of the United States Navy, having served from 1988 to 1993. I went to boot camp in San Diego, and attended Data Processing Technician “A” School there, too, before going to my first duty assignment, the USS Enterprise (CVN 65). I served on the Enterprise for three years, part of that time (September 1989 – March 1990) was spent on a six month world cruise, starting in Alameda, California, and traveling to to Hong Kong, Singapore, the Philippines, Thailand, Brazil, U.S. Virgin Islands, Ft. Lauderdale, and ending up in Norfolk, Virginia. Soon after the cruise, the Enterprise entered the Newport News Shipyard for a five year overhaul. I spent a year in the shipyard, then transferred to Naval Intelligence Command, but my honesty about my pre-Navy drug use (I smoked pot and took LSD) on the Special Background Investigation forms prevented me from getting the necessary security clearance, so I had to find another position, which I did at SUBLANT (the commander of the submarine forces for the Atlantic), but while there on an interim basis, an investigation into my sexuality started, so I they decided they didn’t want me after all, and I transferred to CINCLANT (Commander in Chief, Atlantic). The investigation ended a week before the end of my enlistment in 1993, where they found no evidence of wrong-doing, which left me free to re-enlist if I wanted. I was honorably discharged on September 11, 1993. During my service, I received the Navy Achievement Medal and the Good Conduct Medal, the Navy “E”, Sea Service ribbon and the first Persian Gulf War commendation ribbon that all service members serving during that conflict received. When I was discharged, I was a Petty Officer Second Class, which is the same rank as a Sergeant in the Army, Marines, and Staff Sergeant in the Air Force.
I don’t have any great deep thoughts on this Memorial Day, except for hopes for the safety and homecoming of our armed forces around the world, and a call to action for all people to pressure our elected representatives to bring them home.
Comments on this entry are closed.