Posted in October '65 to MarDet as a Private First Class, I was assigned
to
various working parties stowing supplies and munitions in the lower recesses
aboard ship. I was also one of ten Marines assigned to guard the $3 Million
payroll brought on board before deployment. Once underway, my primary
function was as security guard on the nuclear weapons spaces. I attended
classes in marine corp related topics, was kept busy with the drill team,
physical training, Inspections and the occasional stint on mess duty. While
on station off Vietnam, I was a gunner on one of eight .50 cal. machine guns
strategically positioned along Enterprise's catwalk. These were intended to
defend the ship from attack by small sea craft, but never fired a shot in
anger. Another duty while on station was assembling bombs and getting them
to the flight deck.
I left Enterprise in October '67 as a Corporal and completed two more years
with the Marines as a Sergeant before discharge in March '69.
In civilian life, for 31 years I was a Police Officer with Norfolk
Southern
Railroad Police retiring in 2001 as Lieutenant in charge of the Lorain, Ohio
field office.
I am still happily married after 33 years and have one son who works for
Norfolk Southern as a Yardmaster.
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Images Provided by Jerry
Reinhardt
