I guess the best two words to describe my Navy
and Submarine Service career are "a mess!" Not that I'm complaining
- it's just the way it was. As the saying goes, stuff happens
- and I guess I caught my share of it. But, hey, here I am.
I joined the Navy in September, 1962,
as a part of the then brand new submarine program called Polaris Field -
Electronics. Being a boy from Texas, I went to boot camp in San Diego
and after doing my eight weeks there, I was temporarily assigned to a
tin can - the USS Edson (DD-946). The explanation was that my "A" school
class was waiting for a few more people to finish boot camp so they
could start the class. I was a Fire Control Technician striker at the
time.
As luck would have it, the Cuban
Blockade crisis came up and my FT designation kinda worked against me. I
was sent to Charleston to temporarily serve on a supply ship (I don't
remember the name anymore) that was supporting the ships that actually
participated in the blockade.
I finally got to "A" school in
Bainbridge, Maryland and managed to get through it without too much
blood loss. Shortly thereafter, I started my "real" submarine career by
attending Sub School in New London. Like all the "lucky" guys, I got to
do a couple of "blow and go" ascents and I learned a lot of nifty words
like main induction, sanitary tank, and tubes forward.
But, once again, fate
stepped in and I was assigned to another destroyer. Actually, the "Sub
Safe" program kicked in after the loss of the Thresher and my new
construction boat was delayed at least six months. So, I went back to
Charleston to serve on the USS Semmes (DDG-18) and experienced my first
military expedition. We were part of the group that went down to help
settle the Dominican Republic crisis.
After we came back, knowing
that I was submarine designated, the Navy then decided to temporarily
assign me to the USS Thornback (SS-418). She was in for a complete
overhaul in Charleston and I like to consider her my first boat because
I got to know her pretty well. Unfortunately, I never got a chance to
qualify because the Sub Safe Program re-started the new construction
projects and I was sent off to "C" school at Dam Neck, Virginia.
I managed to struggle
through "C" school and was finally sent to my first "real" boat - the
USS George Washington Carver (SSBN-656) - in new construction in Newport
News, Virginia.
Here I have to say I
consider myself VERY lucky because I had a chance to go through new
construction, outfit a boat for sea, go through sea trials, make a
couple of deep dives, launch a couple of Polaris A3s, and become a Plank
owner of one of the "Forty-one for Freedom".
After all of that, I went on
to make six patrols and finally left the boats and the Navy in January
1970. Oh, I forgot to mention that I had to go back to New London in
1968 (I think) to qualify with the Steinke Hood. I guess the only thing
I can say about all of that is "ho-ho-ho." All in all, it was a helluva
eight years!
Note:
William "Bill" Vasquez served unselfishly as our Base Commander since
its founding in 2002. A thank you and "WELL DONE" from very appreciative
shipmates.
