Mike Collum wrote:

>http://mysite.verizon.net/~collum/newyear.html
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>Mike
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Mike -- a funny and interesting tale! Much appreciated ..... because I
too spent my time in the Navy. And believe it or not .... I too was a
"Ping Jockey".   Never did 22 years at it though. But while I was there,
I had my fun, as did others my age at the time. I spent most of my time
in and around Norfolk, with frequent trips to sea for just a few days
and back again on many different vessels. You see, I got assigned to
what was called Preferred Sea Duty. I never got assigned to a ship. I
was part of a task group that tested new equipment that the Navy was
interested in maybe purchasing. Everytime something new would come out,
the Navy would load it on a ship, or small boat and send out a team to
test it. I was part of the team. We would go out to sea a few days, do a
bunch of tests, generate a bunch of data, and come back to port. It was
interesting but didn't really  allow me to really go anywhere. Got as
far as Halifax Nova Scotia, once, but never really got to go overseas.
Spent a lot of time running around in the Gulf Stream though. Got
smacked up side the head one time by a leaping flying fish trying to
catch the glow of a cigarette being smoked on the deck of the fantail of
a destroyer escort.

I almost re-enlisted, but decided I didn't want to be in the Service
without a commission. So I got out, went to school, became a pilot in
civil aviation -  and later a Bush Pilot in Alaska --- and never went
back to the Navy.

God, all that was so long ago that it seems like someone elses life.

I am perfectly content today to throw pots on a potter's wheel( I'm a
professional potter at this point in my life) , and  traveling  and
camping in my Vanagon.

Have a Happy New Year!!

Regards,

John Rodgers
88 GL Driver
Chelsea, AK