Boot Camp

dreadnut

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I went to US Navy Boot Camp on this day, June 18, 1972, 47 years ago.

I enlisted on the buddy plan with two of my friends. The first friend got rejected for a Federal offense (he had blown up some mailboxes with M-80's) and then the day the other friend and I went to Detroit to be sworn in, they found he had an ulcer so he got rejected too!

So there went young Dread on a bus to Great Lakes Naval boot camp alone! 17 years old and one week out of high school. I definitely got to see the world aboard the USS Ranger - Indian Ocean, South China Sea, The Philippines, Yankee Station off the coast of Viet Nam, Gulf of Tonkin. I was an Aviation Electronics Technician on Grumman A-6, EA-6B, and E-2A (carrier-based "Flying Frisbie.") aircraft.

It seems to me I have more memories of those 4 years than the next 40 years. I still keep in contact with most of my Navy buddies.

Haha, here's the first thing we heard when we arrived at Great Lakes and got off the bus: "You guys are in a world of $hit!" That wasn't the last time I'd hear that phrase, LOL.
 

killdeer43

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Welcome home!
I was ahead of you by 10 years and spent my time at Forts Gordon, Benning, and Bragg before shipping out to do my little part for the world as we KNEW it then. It has certainly changed. :mellow:

Joe
 

Westerly Wood

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you guys are awesome! my only real regret in life is not serving in military.
 

dreadnut

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Thanks for the kudos, guys. We put in our time, but we didn't miss much fun, LOL. Except for "streaking," that all happened when we were in the Far East.
 

dapmdave

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Pretty similar experience for me. Joined the Navy on June 1, 1972. Being in Florida, I did boot camp in Orlando. Then on to Aerographer's Mate "A" school and Air Ocean Environment "C" school at Lakehurst, NJ. Following that, 18 months in Sigonella Sicily and 2 years on the USS America, mostly sitting in Norfolk. But did a North Atlantic cruise and a Med cruise before departing the pattern in 1976.
 

dreadnut

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Wow Dave, we were in Navy boot camp at the same time, albeit different locations.
 

adorshki

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Can u even blow up a mailbox with an M80? ;)
I no doubt saved myself from a DD...
With a real M80 and a flimsy enough mailbox,

solar-group-gray-t1-mailbox-st10


NO PROBLEM.
Wile E. Coyote swears by these:
s-l300.jpg
 

Stuball48

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Cherry bombs, silver tubes, and M80s and if I remember, correctly, each one a little more powerful than the other in same order as listed. Those were the days. And with the fuse "poked" through a lighted cigarette, you could get pretty accurate at timing a delayed explosion. And did anyone mention under water.
 

dreadnut

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A real M-80 from the '60's would blow the smithereens out of most mailboxes.

Stu, my memory has Silver Salutes, Cherry Bombs, and M-80's in that order. And the best all-around little firecrackers were Black Cats, they were hot. Remember "Lady Fingers," the little tiny firecrackers?

M-80's and Cherry Bombs had waterproof fuses; you could go fishing with them.
 

Stuball48

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A real M-80 from the '60's would blow the smithereens out of most mailboxes.

Stu, my memory has Silver Salutes, Cherry Bombs, and M-80's in that order. And the best all-around little firecrackers were Black Cats, they were hot. Remember "Lady Fingers," the little tiny firecrackers?

M-80's and Cherry Bombs had waterproof fuses; you could go fishing with them.

Heard rumors about local teenagers fishing with cherry bombs.
Zebras were the most powerful "regular" firecrackers.
 

adorshki

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I enlisted on the buddy plan with two of my friends. The first friend got rejected for a Federal offense (he had blown up some mailboxes with M-80's)

Y'know, on reflection you'd think they'd-a found a way to make sure they got that guy in.
:glee:
 

dreadnut

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Haha, Al, they did ultimately let him in the Navy. Too late to go to boot camp with me though.
 

adorshki

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dreadnut

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Haha, yeah sign that boy up for the Underwater Demolition Team!
 

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I went in a week after my 21st B-day in '87. Did 4 got out and joined the USCG. Life got a lot better.
 
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