Joseph A. Madia CTRC 1962-1977


I was a senior in High School (Don Bosco, Ramsey, New Jersey) in 1962.  Living at 
home with four other brothers and sisters and two cousins.  My dad was a steel rule die 
maker (draftsman, jig-sawyer, bender) who was trying to run a small business in tough times.

In March of that year, a Chief from a local Reserve Unit showed up at the school and 
gave a presentation about joining the Naval Reserve while still in school and all the 
benefits thereof.  I thought, what a great way to go - join, get out of the house, helping 
my Dad with less expense, learn a trade, travel, etc.  I enlisted on April 22, 1962.  Just 
about the time that Russia was deploying missiles to Cuba and things were warming up in Vietnam!!

When I started drilling at the Reserve Center in Clifton, NJ, I had hopes of becoming a 
Machinist Mate .. after all, my Dad was one of sorts.  Graduation in June and off to 
Boot Camp in Great Lakes.  It was actually cold up there in the mornings.

In September of '62, I got orders to the John W. Weeks (DD701) out of Norfolk.  It was a 
reserve training ship and being a SR I was on the deck force where I learned to chip paint, 
swab decks and load ammo and supplies (of course, by hand).  What a trip!!

About a week or so into the cruise, I got called up to the personnel office where a PN1 
informed me that I was going to CT school.  I asked, "What's a CT" and got what must 
have been the global answer to the question at the time .. "I don't know, but you will find 
out."  Thanks.  I want to be a machinist.  Right.

In any event, off to Bainbridge where I hooked up with two other guys from the reserve 
center:  Jerry Aveson and Mike Bredimus.  Both being from towns nearby where I was from.  
Just an aside, Jerry had a 1955 or '56 Caddy that was HUGE.  We used it to go home on 
"long weekends" and I can remember some good stories about just those trips!!

Checking into the school had to be the first shock-of-my-life.  We were herded into the 
classroom where lines of tables/chairs were set up and each "position" had a covered 
typewriter sitting at it.  We were told not to touch anything!!  Well, after a little 
"welcome aboard" intro we were told what a CT was and what we were going to learn to do:  
copy ditties.  Right.  Uncover the typewriters (mills) and holy sh*t!!  What the hell was 
this??  I wanted to be a machinist!!

I had a tough time getting into the whole program - couldn't tell anyone what I was 
learning (rather trying to learn) with a high degree of angst, couldn't even type yet and 
couldn't get dit-dah from dah-dit straight!!  What am I going here??  By the time we were 
ready to break for the holidays, I was "DFL" (Dead F**king Last) in the class and was told 
that I'd better not go home on leave or I would flunk out.  Mixed emotions, here, but I went home.

While at home, something happened - it was sort of like I CAN DO THIS!!  I told my family 
that I was trying to get a HAM license and went and bought a "78" record that was a course in 
Morse code.  I sat for hours in my room learning dit-dah from dah-dit and when I returned to 
Bainbridge I sat down and aced 6 words per minute, then 10 and then upwards.  My instructor 
swore that I was cheating (wish I could remember his name - big First Class CT in the class picture).  
I wasn't.  I just woke up.  Finished twelfth in my class, which was a surprise to everyone.  
As I went on in life it sort of became my philosophy - if you want me to do something, tell me I can't.

On Friday morning, November 22, 1963, we were copying some ditties when our instructor come 
bolting back into the room announcing that President Kennedy had been shot.  He was in tears, 
literally.  We were stunned.  All stopped.  School was closed.  Jerry, Mike and I attended 
(as did so many others) President Kennedy's funeral.  It was quite an experience.  Among other 
things that I remember, we standing at the entrance to Arlington National Cemetery watching the 
procession when one of the big Limos drove by with Nakita Khrushchev riding in the back seat.  
It was before tinted windows so we got a good look at him.  He appeared worried, really.

In March, we graduated and I (and Jerry and Mike and some other classmen) got orders to the 
Philippines.  But that's another story ... and by the way, while we were in Bainbridge, Jerry 
started dating my younger sister!!


Joseph A. Madia CTRC 1962-1977