Roger Cole, CTT2 USN, 1965-69

After graduating from high school in 1963, I found work as an accounting
clerk for a sheet-metal company in Baltimore.  I was working full-time and
attending college at night desiring to be a CPA.  Just before my 20th
birthday, I found out that I was about to be drafted.  I quickly enlisted in the
Navy in October, 1965 as several ex-military types said that was the best
choice--plus you could "see the world".
 
During my boot camp stint (which had been shortened to 6 weeks), all the
choices I requested were shot down for one reason or another.  It was
suggested that being a "CT" would be just up my alley.  All they knew was
that it had something to do with radios and would require a clearance.
I had taken 2 years of typing in high school which probably was a factor
in their advice.
 
I went through basic R-branch school at Corry Field & had to wait for a
clearance as was quite common.  I then was assigned to T-branch school
and graduated as honorman which allowed me to pick my first duty station.
I picked Cheltenham, MD., which was just outside of DC and about 100
miles away from my parents home and all my old friends.  After 1 year at
Cheltenham, I received orders to Adak.  Just before leaving the US, my
orders were changed at the last minute to Guam, because they had such
an "urgent need" there.  When I arrived at Guam, they had so many CTs there
that I stood watches, painted, cleaned, etc. until they finally found a place
to put me.  While on Guam, I bought a little Honda 160 scrambler and spent
many hours riding the boonie trails there.
 
I spent 18 months on Guam and made it to CT2.  I had 5 months left to go 
and I was offered Puerto Rico if I would ship over.  While I did my job well
and kept my nose clean, military life didn't really appeal to me so I turned
down the offer.  I was told that I would spend the last 5 months on Guam,
so I said that was OK by me.  A couple of weeks later, I received orders
back to Cheltenham for the remainder of my enlistment.  "Seeing the
world" was for me Florida, Maryland and Guam--all land duty stations.
 
Being a CT I was let in on a lot of secrets.  One of the biggest was that the
Navy had a 3-year enlistment (not a kiddie cruise).  I didn't find that out till
my first duty station.  Also, I went through boot camp with several individuals
who had been drafted--into the Navy for 2 years.
 
R. Roger Cole
CTT2
Great Lakes    1965
Corry Field      1966
Cheltenham    1966-1967
Guam                1967-1969
Cheltenham    1969