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jctorok wrote:Good day to all

Served in the U.S. Coast Guard from July 1981 to Aug 2007. I salute all the vets still here today. You are proud reminder of the real unsung hero's of this nation.
Regards
Jerry
Commander, USCG, Retired.

You know, typical officer, did not read all the directions.

Departed Okinawa with a kick in my butt from my Chief Master Sargent, USAF Dad and reported to the USCG Academy in New London, CT. After 4 years of officer and better boating training I reported to the 180' Coastal Buoy & LightHouse Tender SUNDEW on Lake Superior. Two and has years later I took over as the Executive Officer on the Icebreaking Tug STURGEON BAY out of New York. Two years in Purto Rico as the Aids to Navigation Officer, also married a vet, my wife Densie, then off to Alabama to serve on the Coastal Buoy Tender SWEETGUM as the Executive Officer. Then 3 Years at the Coast Guard District Office in New Orleans and back to sea. 3 years as the Commanding Officer on the Icebreaking Tug MOBILE BAY, which pushed the aids to navigation/lighthouse service barge on Lake Michigan (best job in the Coast Guard), then back to land, ohhhhh. District 8 New Orleans as a Marine Safety Officer, then to Houston, were I retired from the Vessel Traffic Service as the Commanding Officer.

Of course I still salute the Chief Master Sargent dad, and the wife fondly remindes me E before O and 7 is higher then a 5.

Bless you all.

US Navy... 1967-1995

Viet Nam incountry Riverboat 18 months

Everywhere else in between including an 8 mo tour in Iraq (first military act)

Ended up as Officer in Charge, Naval Aviation Engineering Service Unit, MCAS Futenma, Okinawa Japan


Entered Service as E-1 and retired as CWO-4, Aviation Maintenance Specialist.

Best Shore duty tour: NAS Albany GA.
Best Sea duty tour: USS Dwight D. Eisenhour CVN 69

Best oversears tour: Okinawa Japan

Most demanding tour: Viet Nam
Most rewarding tour: USS America CVA 66

USAF 1968-1972 Motor Pool McConnell AFB, TDY Turkey , TDY Florida.

USAF 1971-1991
Retired Master Sergent (E-7)
Aerial Combat Camera (motion picture/videography)

Most notable projects:

Jonestown, Guyana
C-141 Stretch documentation
Dye Site move (middle of Greenland)
Azores Earthquake
Several Air Force Now films (USAF Museum, Pararescue Training, Storm Trackers, AC-130 Gunship)
NCOIC DOD Pictorial Unit (video), Pentagon for Desert Storm/Shield

I've logged aircrew time in a plethora of aircraft (F-16, F-15, F-4, OV-10, T-33, C-130, C-141, HH-53, Huey, and many more even a Portuguese helicopter)

I've traveled the world, taking pictures!

Finally ended up here in Alaska and have been here since (except for the 4 1/2 months at the Pentagon).

As for now I'm a conveyor mechanic for the USPS! I often wonder just how that happened!

USAF 1951-1955 Staff Sergeant
GCA Radar Technician
Gray AFB, Texas, Misawa, Japan, and Naha, Okinawa
Nothing special-just did my job.

US Navy
May, 1963-July, 1983
Chief Boiler Tech. (E-7)
USS Tingey (DD539)
San Diego Group Pacific Reserve Fleet
BT "A-School"
USS Dixie (AD 14)
USS Hollister (DD 788)
USS Henry W. Tucker (DD 875)
NAS Lemoore CA.
USS Flint (AE 32)
SSC Great Lakes IL
USS Niagara Falls (AFS 3)
My Proudest event was in the Niagara Falls
At Diego Garcia in 1982
I was duty engineer, with just the duty personnel on board. A civilian tanker moored outboard of us at the POL pier ruptured a fuel hose, pumping Jet fuel for the air force.
There was fuel all over the ship. I organized fire parties, and started extra fire pumps. Utilized the rest of the crew on board to remove fuel with buckets, swabs, and squeegees.
I got a letter of Commendation from the Commander of the USS Ranger battle group, and a Navy Achievement Medal.

U.S. NAVY (RET)
8 Aug 1988 - 30 Aug 2008
Aviation Boatswainmate Handler/Master-at-Arms E-5
USS SAIPAN LHA-2
USS HARRY S TRUMAN CVN-75
NAS OCEANA VA
NAB NORFOLK VA
USS WASP LHD-1
No noteworthy events on the Navy side. It did allow me to have my 3 children. I would of never been able to afford the health care otherwise.
Been in VA my whole tour. TLOML didn't want to move the kids around and change schools/friends.

1. what branch you were in: USAF
2. how long you served: 1973-1992
3. your last rank/rate: Master Sergeant, E-7 enlisted & then hopped over to officer corps, O-3, Captain
4. tours of duty: Many tours stateside & overseas: Lackland AFB, Keesler AFB, McGuire AFB; Goodfellow AFB; Iraklion AS, Crete; Corry Station, RAF Chcksands, UK; Medina Annex-Lackland AFB (OTS), Pease AFB; McGuire AFB; Iraklion AS, Crete; Lindsey AS, Germany; Munich, Germany
5. major honors/events: Chest full of medals & a wall full of awards. Never believed on resting on my laurels. More monthly, quarterly, and annual awards than I can remember.

I willingly served my country proudly & had a good time. Had bullets fly over my head; never hit me. Sounded like those whizzing rings that were in boxes of Cracker Jacks.

US Army 1972-1979 Made E6 but resigned before receiving my rocker. I had four tours of duty. Central America two state side assignments then Germany. I was in the Signal Corp.

Not sure I deserve to be in such exemplary company, but here goes.

USMCR
6 mo active
6 yr reserve training
Cpl E4
Last 'job' platoon Sgt(acting)

Semper Fi! Yesterday's Birthday was nice!