Tom Perry, CTRCM USN Retired, 1948-1972 Joined the USN in July 1948, went to Boot Camp at the ripe old age of 17 + 6 days fresh out of high school and not much offered job-wise. Got an offer to work in a spring manufacturing plant but said I had to have working papers - high school wouldn't give me the necessary papers so that sealed the deal. Told my mother I wanted her signature on my enlistment papers for my 17th birthday. When I enlisted I told the recruiter I wanted to learn to repair radios. He said "Okay, we'll make you a RMSR and you will go to radioman school." I bought it, although the RMSR caused me some problems in boot camp as the GMC and GM1 company commanders told me on the first day they hated radiomen. After boots I went to Norfolk for RM School, and then to the Amphib Base at Little Creek where I was a sweeper and duster in the Staff Office for a couple of weeks. A CDR asked where I was headed and told him I was awaiting assignment. Said he knew a good ship with a great Skipper and he set it up that I went to the USS Carpellotti (APD-136) (high speed transport carrying UDT Teams) where I spent the next 4.5 years. In 1949 we made a visit to Washington, DC so the UDT could blow up the fish in the Anacostia River in celebration of the 100th birthday of the Naval Gun Factory. Met a young lady who visited our ship with her school class and we began writing. After many great ports from Barbados to Calias Maine, plus three midshipman trips to Europe (Edinburgh, Oslo, Norway, Lisbon, Portugal, Copenhagen, Denmark) in 1953 after six months in the Med we returned to Little Creek, VA and I was sent to Electronic Countermeasures School at Great Lakes. The young lady that I had met in 1948 and I decided to get married. Two weeks after marriage I was on my way for another trip to Europe which was to be my last extended trip on the 136. I put in for shore duty in Washington and got a letter back telling me 4.5 years of sea duty for a RM2 was not enough. Two weeks later got orders to independent duty aboard the USS PCC 1168 which was a reserve training ship at the Naval Gun Factory, Washington, DC. Thought I had found a home - only 8 USN aboard plus 17 USNRs. Shortly thereafter this ship which hadn't been out of the Chesapeake in 2 years was sent to Key West for a month and then a couple of months later on a reserve cruise to Havana, Cuba. Upon return to DC from Cuba we were ordered to take the ship to Charleston, SC for decommissioning and turnover to the Chinese Nationalist. Got to Charleston and the 17 reservists were sent back to Washington. The 8 USNs decommissioned the ship and stayed with the 75 ChiNats for six weeks. We were told we would get 30 days leave and be reassigned to sea duty upon completion of training the ChiNats. As I was also the assistant YN I started looking in BuPers Notices and found some outfit called the Naval Security Group who was looking for RM2 and RM1s. Only thing it said was the majority of duty was overseas. I applied and two weeks before we took the ship to Norfolk I received orders to NavRadSta Bellmore, LI, NY (where's that) in a ComSec billet but I was assured it didn't float. Picked up my bride and away we went. Thought again I had found a home - only a year later we decommissioned the station. Some went to ComSec at Cheltenham and three of us (RM1 Bob Heitzinger, RMC Layton Tinder and RM1 Tom Perry) went to ComSec at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. After a year and one half, all the RMs got a letter from Bupers, change rate to CTR or be ordered to sea. No big decision, although two RMCs said no and immediately received orders to a destroyer. Oh yes, Bob Heitzinger was selected for CTRCA shortly before we left Cuba although there was no study material for CTRs. Remember asking Bob what the test was like and he said he really didn't know as he didn't understand half the questions. We all got orders, Bob and I to the Philippines, he in a ComInt billet, me in ComSec and Tinder was to go to Naples (ComSec). Our orders sent us TAD to Class A CTR School at Imperial Beach, CA . We got there and they didn't know what to do with us - we suggested they endorse our orders and let us be on our way - no they decided we had to stay for the length of the Class A CTR course so they assigned each of us to a class as the Assistant Instructor. Tinder got orders changed and went to Adak while Bob and I went on to San Miguel. Did my two years there and got orders to Northwest (ComSec) and received word while enroute in a letter from CTAC Vaughn Ball that I had made CTRCA. Two years at NW with a two week TAD ComSec team on the Independence and then to Kami Seya in a ComSec billet. Got there and found only the ComSec operators were at Kami Seya and the rest of the division was at Yokosuka so I was put in charge of the operators for about a month and then we all moved to Yokosuka. Went TAD on the first ComSeventhFlt ComSec Team with LT Stu Gordon and rode five carriers in three months. After three years, orders to Hanza to set up ComSec 704. Made CTRCS four months after reporting. Did two and a half years there and orders to Headquarters in G62 (ComSec Operations Division). Did some TAD at NSA for about a year (2-3 days per week), made CTRCM and got extended for an additional year. After 4 years in DC got a call from CTACM Brooks Loomis giving me a choice of my next duty station, Cape Chiniak or Midway. Decided after 23.5 years it was time to hang it up and leave a great bunch of people with many fond memories. Got Brooks to admit they wouldn't be unhappy if I retired as I only had 23.5 years in and would be holding a CTRCN billet for another 6.5 years. I obliged with no regrets. And yes, Joe Pasour - I was a retread... Stayed in the Washington area and founded my own tax and accounting business in 1974 after two years as an Assistant City Manager with HR Block. I still have my business, although I think one more year and I'll hang it up again. I've down sized from a peak of 6 employees to just me doing only tax preparation. As to my time in the USN I wouldn't trade it for anything - have great memories, met and worked with many outstanding shipmates, professionals all.... Thanks for the ride......can't remember too many bumps or pot holes but time causes the bad things to disappear whereas the good times remain forever. Tom Perry RMSR-RM2 Fleet RM 1948-54 RM1-CTR1-CTRCM 1954-72 NSG (All ComSec) 1954-72