I WON THE LOTTERY!!! Of course it turned out to be the very last Draft Lottery for the Vietnam Conflict...so, thus began my eight years in the Silent Service!
I joined the US Navy on 15 August 1972; I was recruited as a "NUC" whose destiny lay in the "Silent Service" of submarine duty. Because I was enlisting in such a high-tech program, I began my service with the understanding that I would enlist for four with the promise to extend for two upon successful completion of my training. That was the Navy's part; the "MY" part was that, when I went to Boot Camp in San Diego, I went as an E-3 (Seaman) which became "Fireman" when I became a designated striker for an engineering rate.
Next I attended Machinist's Mate "A" School in Great Lakes where I learned the basics of most of the machinery common to my intended rate; I had some pretty good times in that area, near Chicago, and even had some near-relatives (Roger and Lenore Lannoye...my uncle Warren's brother and sister-in-law...and their family) in Kenosha, Wisconsin, whom I'd visit on the weekends. They were the ones who taught me to play cribbage...an invaluable game in the Navy!!! Upon successful completion of "A" school, I was advanced to E-4, Machinist's Mate 3rd Class, and, then, on to my first ship, the USS Hollister (DD-788) for interim duty until the next class began at Naval Nuclear Power School, which was, at that time, at Mare Island Naval Shipyard in Vallejo, California. Return to My Service/Background Page. Return to My Home Page