During my senior year in high school, I debated what I wanted to do for the next few years. My family wanted me to apply for the Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, New York. I applied, received the nomination from Congressman Ed Jones, and took the medical physical and the ACT test. However, my ACT test was not high enough to gain an appointment. During that time, I set up a backup plan and after taking the ASVAB test where I scored high, I joined the United States Navy. I was guaranteed an “A” School at NAS Memphis in Tennessee, in Aviation Support Equipment Electrician. After completion of basic training, “A” School and later a “C” school in NAS Jacksonville in Florida. While in “A” School, I selected my first duty station in Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico. Arrived in Roosevelt Roads in May of 1985, where most of my tour was uneventful. After a year at the job of ASE (Aviation Support Equipment Electrician), I learned that I did not want to make a career of the job. During air operations, hours could be very long; I recall 16-hour days up to a week at a time. When I look at my left wrist, I am reminded about the long days. While rushing a job, late in the evening, I reached to connect a battery cable, electrocuting myself, where my metal wristwatch melted. Since then, I have never worn metal jewelry, with the exception of dog tags.
Year after year, air operations came and went. F-4 Phantoms were replaced by F/A-18 Hornets. Ships came in and went out. Being the port was shallow; the capital ships did not come into port. From a distance, an aircraft carrier or battleship could be seen. Even when not seen, we knew they were there. At the time, the island of Vieques, was used as a bombing and gunnery range. In the Clint Eastwood movie “Heartbreak Ridge”, the US Marine vehicles landing on the beach of Grenada, was actually filmed at Vieques Island. From my apartment, I could hear the guns of the battleships and bombs hitting the island.
On April 19, 1989, just three months before I left the island, there was a mishap on the USS Iowa Battleship. The number 2 turret exploded killing scores of sailors. I watched the news on TV that night and went to work as usual the next day. But the next day was far from usual; the media was descending on the base and airfield. Some of us were asked if our dress whites were available. Since, I lived off-base, more than 30 minutes away, I was not considered to be one of the honor guards. Some in department were called to extra duty, it didn’t take me long to figure out what was going to happen. In the hanger were many silver colored metal coffins. Helicopters were landing close by and members of the department were asked to transfer the deceased sailors, whom were in body bags, to be placed in the coffins. Later in the day, sailors in dress whites placed the coffins onboard a C-5 Galaxy US Air Force cargo plane.
