1960's - The Time When I was Young

Goodness, thinking way back to the 1960's, back to a tijme when I used to be young.

I graduated from High School in 1963, back when the war in Vietnam was going on. I loved the water so I decided, after graduation, to join the Navy and see the world. Join the Navy I did, and yes I got to see some of the world outside the United States.

I spent nine months stationed in Rota, Spain aboard the sub tender (sub repair ship) USS Holland. Yes I got to see the running of the bulls, and bullfights, as well as the lovely senoritas. Spain was a beautiful country.

After a tour aboard an auxiliary repar ship (The USS AMPHION) stationed in Norfolk, VA, I was transferred to the Mediterranean aboard a tanker (the USS TRUCKEE) aboard which I got to see both Naples, Italy and Turkey, though my time in turkey was only one quick night.

I left the Navy in 1967 with an honorable discharge. I'd had enough of military life, four years, and I wanted to settle down to a normal life. I got married in 1968 and by the end of 1969 I was divorced.

Oh well, nobody's perfect.

Comments: 10

Janet Somewhere Up On The Mount Feb 5, 2007, 8:28am EST

You did your part then. How was Italy? I was there twice but not long enough to see everything I wanted to. My X was military Special Forces so we spent 16 years at the Panama Canal.
I graduated in 1973. My son was two then lol

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Miz Lynn aka/BooBoo Feb 5, 2007, 10:51am EST

Join the military, see the world! Good recruitment ad...:)) Judging from your dates, I'm about six years younger than you. It was a trying time, Viet Nam, Civil Rights Marches, three assassinations...I was oblivious to it all, just a youngster, living in a warm, secure, well fed world with my parents.

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Sensational Sadie Sexy Senior Sitizen Feb 5, 2007, 11:03am EST

Geez, I'm OLD!!!

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Ernie (Author of DESTINY OF THE DIVAS) Johnson Feb 5, 2007, 1:13pm EST

Audrey...! Of all the comments, yours made me laugh the most. Heck, I'm 60 and feel a lot older, now that I have osteo-arthritis in both knees. I also foind out that the older I get the longer it takes to get rid of a danged cold. I've had one now for nearly four weeks and have had a hoarse throat for over two. My girlfriend likes it because I can't whimper like most of us guys do when we get sick.

Wait until my voice comes back - lol...!

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Linda M. Feb 5, 2007, 1:39pm EST

Get well soon, Ernie! My boyfriend was also in the Navy - for something like fifteen years. He also enlisted to go see the world, and he did just that.

Divorce is not that big a thing these days. Most of us have done it at least once. I've done it twice. My boyfriend has never been divorced, but he's never been married either. That's thinking ahead.

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Fred Hose Feb 5, 2007, 3:58pm EST

Round the world in 6 years. Ernie, you could write a book about that.

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Ernie (Author of DESTINY OF THE DIVAS) Johnson Feb 6, 2007, 9:09am EST

Audrey - Girl you stopped my whimpering. I'm laughing too hard to whimper. Happy birthday Audrey, and may this year find you in better health than the last.

Fred...! I didn't go around the world in 6 years. That must be someone else. I only made it as far as the Mediterranean and I did that in four years.

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1960's - The Time When I was Young

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