Donald Jay Rhodes, CTAC USN Retired, 1948-1969 During my childhood, I had four first cousins who served on active duty in the Armed Forces of the United States during WWII. Each cousin was serving in a different branch of the service. During the summer of 1941, one of my cousins, who was stationed aboard the battleship USS ARIZONA came home on leave and spent some time with our family. He enjoyed telling us sea stories and the ports the ships visited. I guess the sea stories and his uniform made such an impressing upon me that I thought I would like to join the U.S. Navy when I was old enough to enlist. When he returned to Pearl Harbor, he sent me a post card that had a picture of himself and a Hawaiian girl in a grass dress. He went down with the ARIZONA on December 7, 1941. In 1946, at age of 17, I ask my mom and dad if they would sign for me to go in the U.S. Navy. They refused to sign, and I remember telling them that I would enlist when I became 18. After graduating from High School in 1948, I enlisted in the U.S. Navy under the High School Recruit program for a guaranteed Class A School under a three year enlistment. After boot camp, I was ordered to a 12-week course at Yeoman Class A School in San Diego, Cal. While with Commander Transport Division 15, aboard the USS HENRICO (APA-45) in Inchon, Korea, I was involuntary extended for a period of one year. After staying out of the service for approx one year, I re-enl isted in the US Navy and received orders to the USS CONSOLATION (AH-15). I was assigned to the Ship’s Office as the Captain’s Yeoman. The Captain informed me that the CONSOLATION is to be decommissioned within 6 months and ask if I would like to be assigned to a command in the Washington, DC area. I told the Captain that I am willing to serve anywhere the US Navy would need me to serve. He quoted a BUPERS Instruction to me and ask me to type a letter requesting that I be assigned IAW with that Instruction. I returned to his stateroom with the written request and he gave me the follow hand written note too be typed on my request: “Based upon my experience as Commanding Officer, Naval Security Station, 3801 Nebraska Avenue NW, WASHDC, I highly recommend RHODES for duty with the Naval Security Group. /s/ William M. Gullet, CAPT, USN” I received orders to report for duty with RPMIO NO. 1 aboard the USS BRICE CANNON (AD) (COMSERVRONTHREE) Flag Sasebo, Japan. I don’t regret taking CAPT GULLET’s suggestion in requesting duty with the Naval Security Group. The friendships that I made at Headquarters, Turkey, Bremerhaven, the Pentagon and other stations have been very rewarding. I still enjoy the pleasure of visiting with many of them at our annual reunions. See you in Portland, Dusty Rhodes CTAC, Ret.