James Fox, CTR3 USN, 1965-1969


It was spring 1965, Vietnam was raging and I didn't feel I was ready for college.  
I already loved ships, sea stories and was a Navy fan, so the Navy was a slam dunk.  
My dad suggested studying to be an Instrument Repairman because in his work at an 
oil refinery, he said those guys made good money.  I followed his suggestion and 
having passed all necessary test with the recruiter, I was GUARANTEED Instrument 
Repairman school.  
 
At basic in Great Lakes I was told when being classified that I couldn't be an IR 
because I wore glasses!  He gave me the choice of Hospital Corpsman, something else 
and CT.  "What does a CT do?" I asked.  "I don't know, it's classified" he said.  
So I picked Corpsman as my first choice.  I became a CT R brancher and went to Pensacola.  :>)
 
I loved it.  Probably should have reenlisted.  CTR and HFDF training didn't have any 
parallel in civilian life but landed a good job with DuPont after my enlistment.  
Ten years into my DuPont career I left for college and am now a pastor.  I have so many 
great memories of my CT years and  really felt we made a real contribution during that cold war era.
 
Foxy