Navy

I joined the Navy in June of 1969, in Leominster Mass. I went to Boot Camp at Great Lakes Ill. Co 421. I think they were short of CT's (Communication Technician), so I was selected to be one. Class "A" school  Pensacola Florida at Corry Field, a different base from the Naval Air Station. We learned Morse Code there and other things necessary for our job. I did well and was second in my class, ( I would have been first, but they guy that beat me already knew Morse Code, so he always topped me on the code part). My first real duty station was Edzell Scotland in 1970. It is a beautiful place with very green grass and white sheep. The people there are very friendly to Americans. We worked inside a small building that was inside of a very large circular antenna. CT's stand watches called 2-2-2-80,which means that you work 2 shifts of evenings, followed by 2 shifts of days, followed by 2 days of mids, then you get 80 hours off, so it makes for nice long breaks.  This allowed me to tour extensively in Scotland and England. Many trips to Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen, St Andrews. In addition, I could easily take a train down to London, and stay at a bed and breakfast very cheap. I remember that the winters were dark and cold, and the summers were very short. I tried to swim in the North Sea, but was incapable of going any further than just above my knees, just too cold for me.   After a year there, I had orders to Sidi Yahia Morocco 1970. There was quite a contrast from Edzell, the grass is brown as are the sheep. We were not permitted to wear uniforms off base. I lived off base in the town called Kenitra, which was known as Port Lyautey many years ago. I bought my first motorcycle (1971 Triumph Trophy), and rode it to the base every day. I was able to also tour extensively in Morocco. Casablanca, Rabat, Tangier, Marrakesh, Fez. I lived and worked there for a year and half. The base was closing, and because I was an E5, I had to either reenlist or get an early out. I took the early out. I actually got my pink ID which means "Not Active" in Morocco, and was going to tour Europe, but I had been out of the US for more than 2 and half years, and was ready to go home, so I went up to Rota Spain and took the first military transport back the US. I was never on a US Navy ship my whole time in the Navy. I was a land sailor, but I got very good at copying Morse Code. Not much need for Morse Code intercept operators these days.

Thats me, front row center

1971 Triumph Trophy 500

Morocco North Africa