Chuck Ingerson, CTR2 USN, 1962-1966


At the age of 17 - I went to the recruiters in downtown Rochester - they all shared the
same small room - AF/Marines/Coast Guard/Army and Navy.  I only had one question - who can
take me first?  The AF/Coast Guard said without a HS diploma they couldn't take me.  The
other three said I'd have to take some tests - so I did.  The Army said three to four weeks
- the Marine Corp said in six weeks they were forming a new company and the Navy said
'tomorrow' - so I went in the Navy!  It took one week of physicals/etc - back and forth to
Buffalo - and then on a train to Great Lakes.  
 
All I wanted to do was go on Submarines - that was it - and I knew Celestial Navigation and
wanted to be a Quarter Master.  Like Clyde (my big Brother) - they said I was qualified for
most anything I wanted to do - but right now the Subs were changing over from one type to
another.  Thus I choose to be a combat photographer - and they said no - anyway I then
asked where they wanted me to go - and they indicated CT(R) in Pensacola FL - and that if I
failed out I could go aboard a ship and be a QM.  Thus I became a CT in sorts.  Chief
Choate saved my career when I ended up in class after becoming a night school regular -
didn't know how to type - had problems with code (dyslexia) - and didn't quite fit in with
the rest at the school (some who served with me will understand this).  
 
Never got to the Submarines or to be a QM - but those who've served on the Valdez might
think we were in some underwater service during the various storms we encountered.
 
After four years - 6 months and 22 days - I was again a civilian (CT(R)2.  Married -
finished college degrees - and went into the Army (two times) - had reenlisted in the
Regular Army and Nixon ended all enlistments (or froze them) - and I ended in the Reserves
- finally teaching all levels of the  NCO Academy and 7 MOS as a 5H - including 11B; 12B;
76L/Y; 95B; NBC; and Survival Training.  
 
After multiple MI's - and two by-pass surgeries was Honorably discharged MSG (E-8) and now
live in SE GA near the Kings Bay Submarine Base.  
 
Chuck Ingerson
CT(R)2
MSG (RET)
Pensacola; San Miguel; Valdez; Winter Harbor