John
Clear EMC (SS) USN ret. (Served 1960 to 1980) - USS
Diodon (SS 349) (Qual Boat), USS Scamp (SSN 588), USS Ben
Franklin (SSBN 640B), USS Forrestal (CVA 59), USS Threadfin (SS 410),
USS Sealion (LPSS 315), USS Ranger CVA 61.
Webpage: USS
Sealion SS 315 Email
I entered boot camp
at the Recruit Training Command, United States Naval Training Center (RTC-USNTC),
San Diego, California on March 24, 1960 and was assigned to Company
#144. After 14 weeks of "forgettable fun" I graduated on
June 8th with orders to Electrician's Mate Class "A" School
by way of a short home town leave period. Back to Service School
Command, N.T.C., I sat around waiting for class to start on July 25th.
Not having much else to do, I started a "slush fund" in the
barracks, played cards and paid visits to downtown San Diego and it's
lovely neighbor across the border, Tiajuana. It was in the barracks
that I first met my soon to be classmates (and best of friends), Ron
Martini and his cousin Dan (who both had graduated one boot camp
company behind me - #145). Our "A" school class of 11
electricians (#50-60) graduated on September 30, 1960, I was now and
EMFA (9901).
Orders to Submarine School, New London, Connecticut were next.
Enjoyed the winter (through a case of pneumonia) and graduated in
Section 427, Class 218, January 1961 with orders to the USS
Diodon (SS-349). The Diodon held many wonders for me in the
future 11 months, least of which was a tour of mess cooking and being
lifted off the boat by crane to an awaiting ambulance for a ride to
Balboa Naval Hospital with a ruptured appendix. The stay at Balboa set
back my time for qualifying which I ultimately accomplished two days
after Christmas 1961. For "hysterical purposes" I had by now
married the first member of my Ex-Wives Club whom I had met earlier in
Seattle at the Sea Fare Days (before the Space Needle went up for the
World's Fair).
On to Mare Island and Basic Nuclear Power Training next. Pregnant
wife, 2nd floor walk-up apartment built in WWII days, lots of study
and finally rewarded with orders to the wild reaches of Idaho and
Prototype training at A1W. Dan Martini was now married (it worked!).
Orders to the USS Scamp (SSN-588), then Course C5 Welding School and
the USS Ben Franklin (SSBN-640B) by way of Bettis came in quick
succession (wife pregnant with second son).
Left the nuclear power field in 1965 and was rewarded with orders
to the USS Forrestal (CVA-59) which happened to be in the Med at that
time (happy flying). Next Electrician's Mate "B" School at
Great Lakes then the USS Threadfin (SS-410) at Key West, Florida.
(Scratch first wife). Across the pier to the USS Sealion (LPSS-315).
(see the homepage). Next was Portsmouth, Virginia and the Naval
Inactive Ships Maintenance Facility the "mothballed vessels"
(gain 2nd wife).
Since I had already worn my dolphins on one flight deck, I next
received orders to the west coast and the USS Ranger CVA-61
(effectively, by this time, no diesel boats were left in commission).
A couple of wartime WestPacs later (lose 2nd wife, find final wife)
and in 1975 I received order to paradise (Hawaii) and Harbor Clearance
Unit One (HCU-1). Cavorted with those mixed gas divers until I finally
got serious and made Chief. For my "twilight cruise" I was
given orders to Sub Base, Pearl Harbor (kind of like going back to
basics).
I retired from the Navy there in Hawaii in April of 1980 and stayed
another 16 years (I kind of liked the place). Finally "got
real" and moved sight unseen to Oregon and have been here since
late 1996 (I like Oregon more).
In my naval career I've made friends and lost friends, I've seen
most of the world and had a great time doing so. I would not change a
moment (even the bad ones), it's all been part of the picture of those
20 years. When I'm too old to do anything else, I'll still be smiling
as I relive those times in my mind (let 'em wonder what I'm thinking).