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Enlisting 1950
Lcdr. W.D. Holdeman, USN was the Commanding Officer of the Reserve Unit where I enlisted and was also the Dean of Men at my college – Oberlin. He was responsible in guiding me in the right direction as I entered military service.
ROC Request, 1951
The initial step on my way to a commission in the United States Navy.
Flight Training At Last, 1953
At last, the ultimate orders!
Carrier Qualified, 1954
How well you did carrier qualifying, determined the track you would take in advanced training. Fortunately, I qualified for carrier aviation and jets.
Texas T-28 Round Up, 1955
By telling this ‘Sea Story,’ I break a promise that I kept for many years — but the temptation was too much!
VF-62 and the FJ-3 Fury
This was the first FJ-3 to arrive at NAS Cecil Field, Jacksonville, Florida in October 1955. It was the ‘state of the art’ for carrier fighter aircraft but took it’s toll. Of the pilots in this picture, one will be killed on takeoff, Dan Potter, one will be injured on a low altitude ejection, Ron Gordon, one will be seriously burned in a crash landing at Leeward Point, Cuba, Jerry O’Dell, and two will eject over the Mediterranean, Carl Sommers & Nick Nicholson.
FJ-3M Ejection, 1958
I had flown this particular aircraft from the USS Essex in the Mediterranean to the Air Force Base in Bitburg, Germany, flew demonstration flights at the Liege, Belgium World Air Show and then returned to the carrier. This was the first flight after returning to the carrier.
USS Constellation (CVA-64) 1963
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“PACIFIC”
CO Captain S. W. Vejtasa, USN
XO Commander R. A. Volpi, USN
USS Constellation (CVA-64) 1964
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“PACIFIC”
First Retaliatory Strike Against N. Vietnam
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“THE LOSS OF A WINGMAN’
USS Hancock (CVA-!9) 1966
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“PACIFIC”
USS Hancock (CVA-19) 1967
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“PACIFIC”
USS Ranger (CVA-61) 1969
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“PACIFIC”
Four Star Admirals
A special honor and privilege to serve with two future Four Star Admirals . Promoting Stan Arthur to Commander while serving together in VA-122, Lemoore, 1972. Air Wing Commander, Bud Edney, on the bridge of USS Ranger (CV-61), 1975.
Chief of Naval Operations Letter 1971
The Chief of Naval Operations, Admiral E. R. Zumwalt. Jr., USN, had requested inputs from Commanding Officers regarding morale and discipline in the Fleet. This was the letter in reply to my inputs to the Admiral while Commanding Attack Squadron 122 at NAS Lemoore, California.
USS Enterprise (CVN-65) 1971
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“PACIFIC”
Linebacker II, 1972
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“SHOCK AND AWE”
Major Command Afloat CVA 1973
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“READY TO PRESS ON!”
Vietnam – – Start to End
Gulf of Tonkin Incident and retaliatory strikes against North Vietnam August, 1964. End of Air Campaign against North Vietnam, 1973.
USS Kawishiwi (AO-146) 1973-74
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“PACIFIC, INDIAN OCEAN”
Cast Off, 1973
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“WHERE THERE IS A WILL THERE IS A WAY.”
Typhoon Evasion
After this operation with the five destroyers caught in a typhoon, Admiral Johnson directed me to use ‘UNIDIR’ (unless otherwise directed, we intend…..) which gave me great latitude in operating at sea. I had the greatest respect for Admiral Johnson and it was a pleasure serving under him. His letter was written on 13 November, …
C.O. to C.O. 1974
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“USS PREBLE (DLG-15)”
Navy Wife’s Concerns
This USS Kawishiwi Navy wife, with a great sense of humor, is writing about our many deployments, trips to American Samoa and San Diego, a tour in the ship yard, and the USS Ashtabula dependents cruise to Maui.
Proud to be Shipmates
A picture sent to me by two crew members who served aboard the USS Kawishiwi. The picture was taken on the pier at Coronado after the Change of Command in September, 1974. I received the picture while serving aboard the USS Ranger CV-61. It was my custom to …
USS Ranger (CV-61) 1974-76
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“PACIFIC, INDIAN OCEAN”
Departing USS Kawishiwi (AO-146)
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Ship’s Material Inspection, 1974
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“ADMIRAL JOHN BULKELEY”
Article by a USS Ranger shipmate
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Singapore, 1976
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“BICENTENNIAL IN SINGAPORE”
Bicentennial in Singapore 1976
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“A GREAT FOURTH OF JULY!”
Equator Crossing, 1976
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“BICENTENNIAL IN SINGAPORE”
Indian Ocean Operations, 1976
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“EXTENDED OPERATION”
Change of Command USS Ranger (CV-61) 1976
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“COMMANDER NAVAL AIR PACIFIC”
Transition from the bridge to the classroom
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Los Angeles Times Article 6/9/85
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Letter from a former Shipmate, 1985
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The White House Letter
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“THE ULTIMATE PRAISE”
Meritorious Public Service Award
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Permission to Depart Naval Service
The letter granting me permission to depart from Naval Service after forty four years.
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Golden Eagle
A very humbling honor when I was inducted into the elite Naval Aviation Association called the “Golden Eagles.”
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The Bond That Lasts For Life
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Light Attack Wing Pacific
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Gulf of Tonkin Pilots Reunited after 55 years
by Rich Rodriguez | Tuesday, September 17th 2019- Fox26 News Fresno
Three Vietnam era Navy fighter pilots based in Lemoore were reunited Tuesday after 55 years.
The trio includes retired Captain John Nicholson and retired Commanders Ronald Boch and Everett Alvarez.
