William R. Hadley, CTCS(SS) LT USN Retired, 1947-1974 Upon returning from boot leave in October 1947 I discovered that my AETM draft designation was changed and we were to report to CNO/OP20G instead. No one there knew why or what we were going to do since it was the first time a bunch of boots were assigned to CNO’s staff. There was a Chief Gunners Mate in charge of our draft consisting of 25 boots as we traveled via train from San Diego to Washington DC. We had a ball on the train until we switched to the CAPITAL LIMITED to Washington. Most of the people had their nose up in the air so it seemed. Once we arrived in town a bus took us to Quarters “I” in the tidal basin next to the Lincoln Manorial. We noticed our barracks complex was behind 10 foot chain link fence and assumed the reason was to keep us in. Later I discovered it was to keep the girls out. The next day we were instructed to report to the Navy building on Constitution Ave. and since it was only a short distance many of us walked it. I will never forget that experience because as a boot you were lucky to see an Officer higher than the rank of LT at a distance. Here I was walking down the passage way with Captains, and Admirals of all ranks. Being a hick I was not paying attention to where I was walking and bumped into a Capt which caused me to jump back into an Rear Admiral. With that, I started to run away and knocked down Fleet Admiral Bull Halsey. All I could see of the person under me was a sleeve with gold from the cuff to his elbow and took off running down the passageway and down one of the wings until I found a head. I went in there hoping they would not find me. Eventually I got enough nerve to come out and actually report to the proper office. All they did was give me instructions to take a bus from Quarters “I” to 17th and K NW and then another bus to 3801 Nebraska Ave NW at ward circle. When I arrived was given a temporary badge and when enough of us arrived, escorted into building #1. There I discovered another draft of 25 were due in the next day or so from Great Lakes. When we finally completed PHS-298 and given an briefing on what we would do and signed a document to that effect. We spent about two months on the 3rd floor of building one (the attic) working crypto grams as various members were reassigned to other areas. I had applied for the aviation aspect but went to the hospital for several weeks. I remember one of them who went into the aviation by the name of Purcell was the first CT killed by hostile fire in 1949. I spent 27 years as a CT and involved in many of our firsts in the field of intelligence. William R Hadley CTCS(SS) LT USN Retired