Richard D. Cupka Sr., CTR2 USN, 1954-1957


May 10, 1953-graduated from Medaryville, Indiana H.S.  May 11th I became a 
student telegrapher on the Monon Railway Company. My father had been a Monon 
telegrapher and station agent since 1918 and had brainwashed me...I had no choice.

Decided, against Dad’s wishes, to join the Navy in 1954, and was recruited by a 
nice, soon-to-retire Chief at the recruiting office in Lafayette, Indiana who 
asked me ‘what’ I wanted to do/be in the Navy.  I responded “...a radioman on an 
airplane, and if I can’t get that I want to be a radioman aboard ship....”  
He responded, “OK, and where would you like to be stationed?”  My response?  
“Germany, or somewhere in Europe, since my family line was from European background.”  
He responded, “OK – done – and now lets get you signed up!”  He said that with 
such a friendly, nice, gentle smile....  

The only airplanes I saw was a “Connie” Constellation from San Francisco>Hawaii 
and a smaller aircraft to Midway where I served March 1955-March 1956, and – later – 
a “Connie” from San Francisco>Hawaii>Wake Island>Japan and a bus to Kami Seya to 
serve in 1956-57.....But they would never let me operate their radio equipment, 
including the Navy bus driver.....so I guess the recruiter conned me, because I 
became something better than a Radioman...I became a CT ! [...even though I never 
did see Europe.........]

The only ship I was ever on was the M.M.Patrick, an old converted troop ship which 
brought Dee, my wife, and Dick Jr., my brand new 6-month old son, home from my tour 
of duty at Kami Seya in December 1957, in extremely heavy seas (laid in at harbor near 
Adak to escape a storm), and – by then – I knew that the Chief, probably now retired, 
had definitely conned me again even as to what duty stations I had initially requested !

I knew I was really in deep trouble when, as a new recruit at the Bainbridge NTC, 
a telephone call from home resulted in my being told that the FBI had been in town, 
and that among other questions, the agent consistently asked if the people being 
interviewed knew whether I threw my beer bottles in the yard or not.  I guess that 
not being a beer drinker [...at that time] and always neatly mowing dad’s yard....qualified 
me to become a CT!!

Started boot at Bainbridge on March 17, 1954. Graduated June 3, 1954 in the 44th battalion, 
4th regiment, Company 59 under the watchful eye of Chief Fisher.  So, if any of you are 
Company 59 grads, drop me a line.

Off to Imperial Beach with three simple white stripes on my arm...and graduated in 
Class 8-55-R in February 1955 along with 24 great guys, and with a beautiful spark and 
quill on my arm along with those white stripes, and off to Midway I went where I had 
the distinct pleasure of sewing on that beautiful white eagle signifying I’d made CTR 3rd 
Class. Would love to hear from any of you whom I was privileged to serve with on Midway 
at CommU#43, and who shared that little Quonset-hut-for-8 for what, laughingly, was called 
a good night’s sleep. (Russ Irving, Marty Gloster, Charlie Heiner, Milton Copenhaver and 
Smokey snored like Banshees.....)

Kami Seya, April 1956-December 1957, brought with it a bit more red, CTR2, to keep my eagle 
company; brought my childhood (7th grade) sweetheart to Japan as my brand new wife, and 
presented to both of us our brand new son, Richard Jr.  We left our Japanese home at 
3433 Shimo Tsuruma, Yamato Machi-ken, Japan  West of Kami, in late December 1957 and 
boarded the M.M.Patrick, heading back to civilian life.  Dee and I will be forever grateful 
to the Captain of the Patrick who, when the ship’s doctor told him that because of the 
unusually rough seas, and the degree of dehydration our 6-month old little guy had suffered, 
that he would die if the ship stayed on course in those seas.  The Captain took us to quiet 
waters near Adak where many of my IB shipmates had served, and as of this writing, Dee and I 
have been married going on 54 years, and our little boy lives today.

I’m also reminded, daily, of just how much I enjoyed being a CT [ that is COMMUNICATION TECHNICIAN ]
when, as I sit down to my computer, I glance up at my own CT Museum hanging on the wall.....and my 
Navy memories on the table below.....with the green fishballs from Midway’s Eastern Island beaches 
sitting in the middle still held together by the bent-up coat-hanger stand I made for them in the 
Galley on Eastern Island back in 1955.  Hard to believe that was....54 years ago.......and I was 
[and still am...] a kid of “20”....

And then, in the not too distant past, I learned about the NCVA.  
Good to be back with you guys again........

Take care....have fun....enjoy....and, of course, smile lots!

Dick.........a 'CT' forever....

Bainbridge-1954, IB-54-55 CTSN, Midway 55-56 CTR3, Kami Seya 56-57 CTR2

Richard D. Cupka Sr.