Saint Patrick's Day, March 17,1966

Saint Patrick's Day March 17,1965

1965 You say? 

That's right: I know that today is Saint Patrick's Day, March 17, 2015. But; I want to take you back in time to March 17, 1966 and tell you why that date has a special meaning too me.

In order to arrive at that date; we need to go back even further in time to June 1965. That is the month that I graduated from Lynn Classical High School. I was 17 years old in 1965, and as a Junior in High School (at age 17) I joined the United States Naval Reserves in Lynn, Ma. at the Naval Reserve Training Center located on the Lynnway (Rte. 1A)  in Lynn, near the General Electric Company.

During the summer between my Jr. and Sr. year of High School, I went to boot camp for two weeks (As a Reservist, I only had to do 2 weeks back then) at Davisville, RI at the Construction Battalion Center. Came home from Boot Camp on a Saturday, and left for 2 weeks Active Duty in South Portland, ME aboard the USS TILLS DE-748. At the end of the first week aboard the Tills, we got underway and pulled liberty in the port of  Boston, Ma. That gave me a chance to go home for one night, then back to the ship where we got underway and went back to South Portland, ME.

Got back to school three (3) days before starting my senior year. My year book picture was taken with my boot camp haircut just starting to grow out again. LOL

Where I was just 17 years old; I had to convince my mother to sign my enlistment papers for me, as I could not join on my own until I was 18. Under no circumstances, did I want to wait that long. I was all about the Navy.

As a side note; I really wish that we had smart phones and computers back then, as it would have been much easier to log the events in my life, but now, it must be from memory. LOL.

If I remember correctly, High School Graduation came on June 4, 1965. I went to work in a lumber yard for three weeks before being shipped off to Class A School, at the Great Lakes Training Center, In Illinois. That trip to the training center was my first time getting on a plane, and would also be the first time being away from home for that long. That certainly was a big deal for a 17 year old back then. Fifteen weeks later in October, I graduated from Class A Electrical School, and headed back home. Before I went to Class A School, I became an FN (E-3), so when I arrived back home, and returned to the Naval Training Center in Lynn, Ma. the race was on. I knew that I would be sent on Active Duty soon, and I wanted to take the exam for EM4 (E-4) (Electricians Mate) and be able to sow on (My Crow) as they say and become a Petty Officer Third Class.

Now we jump ahead to March of 1966. I passed my exam for E-4 and ran around like crazy to get (My Crow) sewed on my uniforms, which was three (3) days before shipping out. My church had given me a going away party as I had grown up in the church, and they were (so they said) going to miss me. Little did I know that I would come back each weekend for two weeks before finally getting my orders.

All this time, I have been leading up to Saint Patrick's Day, Thursday, March 17, 1966. I had a friend who's brother drove me to the Greyhound Terminal in Boston in his brand new Mustang. Awesome ride into the bus terminal. I boarded a bus for Newport, RI to the Naval Base there and began the wait for my orders. In 1966, Newport was quite a large Naval Base, nothing like Norfolk, VA, but it had its share of Destroyers, Cruisers, and Carriers.

Remember what I said about sowing my crow on before shipping out; well it paid off. As some of you shipmates know; being a PO3 is better then being in a work party, because a PO3, or higher,  is usually in charge of a "Working Party." Well that worked for me just fine.

This went on for two (2) weeks; one day I was summoned to the personal office and asked to fill out my dream sheet. What is a dream sheet you ask? That is a form that you fill out to see where you will be stationed. They normally ask for two locations, two stateside and one overseas. I put in for Newport, RI; San Diego, CA and Holyloch, Scotland. Why Holyloch? There was a woman who came to our church from Scotland, and I know her for about 15 years or so, since I was a little boy. I had also asked for a Destroyer or Light or Heavy Cruiser. Within a few days my orders were cut. I was heading to Holyloch Scotland to serve aboard a Submarine Tender, called the USS HUNLEY AS-31 . Never heard of such a thing. I ended up flying to Scotland with a relief Sub Crew on Trans Caribbean Airways on a Boeing 707 which was the biggest jet there was at that time.

The day came when I reported to a different part of the base called Quonset Point, RI which was a military airport for the National Guard. Spent the night in the Guard Shack, looking out at an Aircraft Carrier (forget the name) Had to sit up all night, as the guard would not let me lay down on the bench. Morning came, the relief Sub Crew arrived; the plane arrived, We loaded and off we went.

Landed in Preswick Scotland and bummed a ride with the relief crew to Caldwell Bay. Loaded everyone and everything onto two LCM's for the 40 minute, or so ride to the ship. Arrived on board around midnight, not much too see, but I was one very tired sailor. To shorten up this blog that goes on forever; I served on board the Hunley until July of 66, when the USS SIMON LAKE AS-33 came on station to relieve the Hunley. Great I said, Now maybe I'll get to cross the Atlantic on a ship instead of a jet. Didn't happen; got transferred to the Lake and remained on her until discharged from Active Duty and back to the Reserve Training Center.

Well I've tormented all of you enough. This is why and what I think of when St. Patrick's Day comes around. Hope you've enjoyed the Blog.

Here are a couple of pictures of the USS HUNLEY and SIMON LAKE. It was a beautiful setting to be stationed at. And for all you past shipmates hope it brought back some fond memories of your own. York, S. W. EM2

USS SIMON LAKE AS-33 IN HOLYLOCH

USS HUNLEY AS-31 IN HOLYLOCH