United States Navy

~ United States Navy ~

David T. Killough, WMO Director (ad hoc) of Environmental Hazards and Safety, Houston, Texas, did research on two United States Navy (USN) ships he visited for a week in June 1963 while serving in the Air Force. The following article begins our contribution to the United States Navy, an important part of our Military Pride. Additionally, this page contains information from other members who served in the United States Navy. A personal favorite, "Sea Power - The United States Navy", brings a lot of memories back, and so does this fantastic flick!
Julia Hollenbeck

Sea Power - The United States Navy
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I visited two USN ships in June 1963 as part of a cross-training mission with the USAF: USS Midway CVA-41 (aircraft carrier-decommissioned, scheduled to become a museum in San Diego, CA.) and her escort destroyer (also aircraft crew rescue) USS Braine, DDE-630 (decommissioned and sunk during target practice by Argentine Navy, 1986).

In mid June 1963, about a week before I went onboard, Midway and her crew had accomplished the very first "hands-off," electronically-controlled, pilot-less carrier landing of a McDonnell F-4 Phantom fighter. This technology helped to land humans on the Moon in 1969.

In late 1945, the USS Braine suffered two successive kamikaze attacks off Okinawa, losing 67 officers and men, including a newly transferred Executive Officer (XO) who was in the Combat information Center (CIC). The actual events involving the new XO are uncannily similar to those described toward the end of the novel, play, and movie. "Mr. Roberts." USS Braine suffered the highest casualty rate for any destroyer that remained afloat after attack in the history of the United States Navy.

I spent two miserable days a walking seasick case in DDE-630, berthed in the mostly-underwater upper forward (fo'c'sle) bunk, bouncing off the overhead with each heavy sea. Due to foul weather (green water breaking over the bridge), the deck was pitching too violently for a safe helicopter or bosun's-chair transfer back to USS Midway.

USS Braine was later decommissioned and sold to the Argentine Republic Navy in 1971. This ship, renamed the Almirante Domecq Garcia-D23, later entered into warfare against the British Navy during the Falkland Islands Conflict. On 19 Nov 1986, she was used as target practice by the Argentine Navy and sunk by an Exorcet missile, in the area 38deg 57min S Lat/57 deg 57 min W Long.

The bunk and locker I used onboard USS Braine (Almirante Domecq Garcia-D23) are permanently under water! This feeling is strange to me, an Air Force serviceman, and is usually known only to sailors who have lost their ships.

For more information visit:
USS Midway
USS Braine

Submitted by David T. Killough
WMO Director of Environmental Hazards and Safety
Houston, Texas

The following article was written by a man who was instrumental in providing his knowledge, support, and on-hands experience with creating this website, and later building an extremely functional computer to keep us rolling. His time and expertise allowed effective web-mastering to unfold for the benefit of thousands of people around the world. Wheel Me On... extends their sincere appreciation to Beau Champion.

A Navy Veteran's Thoughts

When asked to write an article for Military Pride, for the next day or so I thought of what I was going to type, and why I was proud of serving in the Navy, and how to write about the commands, and places I had been. As the hours passed, I realized that this article wasn't about me. I was proud because of the importance of showing pride for those still serving in the Armed Forces, and those who had served in the past.

As I reflect back and think of how it was while I was in the service, and believe me, I wasn't always the best sailor, and at times, my evaluations sometimes reflected that, as I wasn't always a go-getter with a can-do or take charge attitude. But beyond all that, I did what I had to do, learned what I had to learn, and went where I had to go. There were times I was scared, and there were even times that I cried, and missed my family. I didn't have a chest full of ribbons and medals. I was content with my overseas service, expert rifle and expert pistol ribbons. I didn't have a service record over stuffed with unit citations or letters of appreciation. And I even suffered my bout of short timer's attitude, and looked forward to the last day of my enlistment. By now you're asking, "If this isn't about you, then why are you telling me all this?" Well, to be honest, what I just described about myself, no matter how brief, is the same description for countless service men, and women, who are serving in the US Armed forces, past, present, and future. There are countless men and woman, who will never be recognized for gallantry or bravery, but rest assured, they will be willing to trust the person on either side of them with their own lives, and defend our nation and freedom knowing all well, they may have to pay the ultimate price.

In the Armed Services, no matter what the reason we had signed up, whether it was for a one time enlistment, reservist, or for a career, at one point or another, we all knew the possibility of paying the ultimate price for our country. And while there is a certain amount of pride within the ranks of our Armed services, our pride is usually within our branch of the service, specialty, command, or unit. And once the transition is made from Active Military to Veteran, the pride of knowing where you came from, and what you were part of, will always be there, and for the most part, only understood by those who have served.

But, I think the most important form of pride in relationship to the Armed Services, is the pride shown by family, friends, and the Nation as a whole. While the average citizen will say that a service member un-selfishly gave his or her life for the defense of our freedom, I believe, it is the un-selfish act of a family, or friend, supporting that service member, knowing the risks, and the dangers, and willingly letting them go forward, to defend, protect and serve our Nation's vital interests is the most un-selfish act of all. Knowing you will have to deal with sleepless nights filled with worry and fears, not knowing what the next day will bring, whether or not the letter or phone call you receive will be the absolute last. I firmly believe, it is the pride, love, and support that our Nation holds for our men and women in uniform, that makes the Armed Services of the United States what it is today, for without it, there would be nothing worth dying for.

Beau Champion, Veteran US Navy
Houston, Texas

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