Being Welcomed Aboard at Sanger High School while on terminal leave from the Navy 1976, accompanied by my assistant, Master Chief Bud Wills.
1. Transition from the bridge to the classroom
Being Welcomed Aboard at Sanger High School while on terminal leave from the Navy 1976, accompanied by my assistant, Master Chief Bud Wills.
I have always wondered what you did after leaving the Navy. While the Navy could have really benefited from a leader like you in the flag ranks, you had more than paid your service dues in your amazing career.
I asked you at our end of cruise party at the Pearl Harbor O’Club what your post retirement plans were. You gave me a smile and mentioned that there was a peanut farmer in the White House so maybe there was room for a farmer from California in the future.
It looks like your involvement with Sanger High was more rewarding.
Captain, Sir. I look back at how lucky I was to have you as an instructor. Although my Naval duty was 1 tour. I continued my aviation career as a mechanic. VP-31 Saff Moffett Field. To the airline mechanic I am today. Yes, flake lake, is a true good patriot and all around good guy! Thank you…. and also. The pencil was a wake up call for me. Yes. I thank you loads.
Hello Capt. Nick,
I’m hoping this will find you and find you in good health. I’m not sure if you would remember me. I earned my pilot certifications while attending your classes at SHS. After graduation, I joined the Marines. I later attended college and majored in Aviation Business Administration. In my college sophomore year against protocol, I was hired as a pilot for Delta Airlines due to my high amounts of flight times in turbine aircraft. Ironically, I almost never even applied due to my lack of a degree at the time. I left my job and joined a DOD contractor that was organizing prior service individuals to fly support aircraft for the military. After clearances, I was based in NASNI initially and started my journey throughout the country supporting bomber flights out of AFB Offut, Whiteman, Ellesworth and Vandenburgh against targets in Iraq and Afghanistan. I retired at 36 to spend time and raise my daughter at the time. I was fortunate enough to have that opportunity and it was worth it. I just wanted to say that I look back and find people or persons that were fundamental to having a great career and family life. So when I found this webpage, I was eager to share and thank you for being one of those instruments in my life. I was Class of 1991 at Sanger but unfortunately I transferred and graduated from Clovis High due to my location. I wasn’t ever a great student academically and never had strong home foundations but I “Pressed On!” as you would say. In high school, I was a mediocre 1.5 GPA student at best, but in college is where I found the drive to rise to a 3.9 GPA. I kept Pressing On! I want to thank you for that. While a small phrase, it worked for me. I’m just another aviator in the sea of pilots, but I can’t tell you how many time in ice covered aircraft and night trying to find a way out while shaking from either fear or adrenaline by myself that I pushed the fear out of the way to finish the mission. Thank you…..Jamie De Leon