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After being gone from home for over 20 years, I'm back. My family and I moved to the low Desert in the early 60's. In 1964 we moved to the High Desert. So, I have always thought of the Desert as home.
In 1966 I joined the US Navy. During boot camp in San Diego I volunteered for submarine duty. I was lucky enough (some would debate whether it was good luck or bad luck) to be selected for sub duty. So, when I finished boot camp I was transferred to Submarine School Groton, Connecticut (no it is not in New London). I graduated Sub School in December of 1966.
I pulled two shore duty rotations in the twenty years I was in. In 1974 I taught Submarine Sonar Schol in San Diego. My last duty station was Sub School in Groton, Connecticut (no it is not in New London).
I am often asked "What is the longest you were underwater?" It was actually my first patrol on the USS James Monroe (SSBN 622 (gold crew)). We were submerged off the coast of Holy Loch, Scotland before Halloween in 1967 and didn't surface until after New Years Day in 1968 off the coast of Connecticut. It was 115 loooong days. During that time I did get 10 minutes of periscope liberty. So I saw the sun once in 115 loooong days. I retired from the Navy in February of 1990 as an STSC(SS) (translation - Sonar Technician Submarines Chief - Submarine Qualified).
In 1993 I woke up one morning and said to my wife "Wife, lets move back home and be by family". She said "NO" but we had been married for over 30 years and one thing I have learned is how to block out answers I don't want to hear. So we moved. So, here we are today, my wife is working as an Admissions Coordinator and I'm in Real Estate. Of course every day our temperature goes over 100 degrees I have to hear her say " I said No!" But I just pretend I don't hear her and we move on to the next subject. I'm full of sea stories (aka BS) so if you would like to hear a few of them give me a call. Maybe we can even talk about Real Estate.
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