Boot camp was about what I expected, marching, classes, push ups, etc.

I got the eletronic tech school I wanted, all vacuum tubes. Had transistor theory for 2 weeks of the 48 weeks of school.

I got to see Naples, Italy; Athens, Greece, and a few other places. When I find it, I wrote a bit, about a storm in the north Atlantic we went through during a training excercise.

edit:

Well, it is about an aircraft accident durinig a training exercise, so I don't think I'll post it.

I'll mention this instead.

Coming back from the Mediterranean Sea in 1969, we went well south of Hurricane Camille. It jogged south instead of continuing north towards the Arctice Circle and we were in its path. We survived, two guys were injured, paint removed from the ship's hull. So it had to be painted before we pulled ni as our relatives and fmailies were there waiting at the pier.

The sea were 50 feet high. I tied myself to my bunk and prayed. The two guys who were injured got out of their bunks just as a wave hit the stern of the ship. They got bounced off a metal wall and received broken ribs. One guy's collar bone was broken.

I got out 45 days early in 1972 when Nixon and Congress argued over pay raises for the military. I've since made up those remaining days.

HI Jim--

First, thanks for your service.  I was also Navy and visited some interesting Mediterranean and Northern European ports on the USS Ingraham, DD-694.  We went through a couple of North Atlantic storms and one in the Artic Circle (I'm a member of the Blue Nose Club!).  Reading your post brought back to mind some really tall waves with ship's propellors in the air and a Skyraider that crashed right in front of us while turning to land on a carrier.

I could fill a book with my Navy experiences, but it probably wouldn't sell-- haha!

Best regards,

Bob Redmond