The Navy, and all branches of military.

creilly · Veteran Member

Hello, I was reading though some posts and I notice a few Navy men here. I just wanted to say Thank you. (To all the Armed Forces)
My father was in the Navy for 35 odd years. Submariner, Nuc. Some of you might know him. LTCDR Everett Reilly.
As a child growing up he wasn't around much. But, I was always so proud of him. (Still am) I moved so much I find it odd now as an adult, that I have been in the same house for 2 years. I mark my life by where we were stationed. Nothing like standing on the peir and watching the ship come in. The anticipation, the love that was felt by all.
When I was young he would get stuck with duty on the holidays and as I got older he choose it. Not because he didnt want to be home, but because he knew what he missed out on and didnt want the younger guys to miss it. We understood.
Anyway he gave up a life as a civilian and much of his family life, to protect our way of life. It instilled in me a great sense of pride.
Being military is a way of life, or it was, its not the same now but still. My pride is there.
So I wanted to say thank you to all the military people out there. I know what you gave up, to keep what we have. I appreciate it very deeply.
Thank you.

coppercoins · Site Admin

Thank you for your post. I an Air Force vet, as is BobP. We all appreciate when others make special effort to thank us, of that I am sure I can speak for the group of us.

Bob P · Site Admin

I agree! Thank you so very much for you kind words. Your father was quite dedicated to be a submariner for so many years. I found it difficult enough to be outside for 24 years Laughing

Thanks again. That really means so much to us, especially some of the Viet Nam vets who got little more than a kick in the ass when they came home.

Dick · Expert Member

Catherine, Your dad, like BJ spent time under water, and no doubt was engaged in anti-submarine warfare exercises. Ask him, (if he is still among us), if he ever had to surface because of being bombed with PDC's? BJ, I'm siure went thru that, and I, being retired Navy, spent my whole career, flying, from "Yoke-boats, to P5M's. We were the ones dropping the PDC's to mark a "kill", which the Submarine acknowledged by surfacing. I am referring to the 1943-1963, when I retired.
The part that hurts most, is the reception, and "recognition" that the Vietnam vets got, and still are getting!
I am one of the few "Sailors" that never sailed a ship, (other than as a passenger). I don't believe "pig-iron" will float! Aluminium, yes,floats just like cork. That was proven many times. Very few aircraft I flew in had wheels! Welcome aboard, all you retirees of all services!
Dick

smed · Senior Member

I retired from the navy almost 3 1/2 years ago. Seems like somebody else's life now. My dad has been retired for longer than he was in, and he did 27 years. He was a subhunter for a time.

It takes a certain breed to be a bubblehead -- I sure couldn't do it.

creilly · Veteran Member

Dad went in in 60' went straight into Sub program built some ships. Hand picked by Rickover. He went Mustang... He was on the Batfish in Nam. Some how became a POW but not the Batfish or the rest of her crew. Came back after 2 years. I remember it well watching him walk down the pier. Umm lets see I dont remember all the subs, Ill ask him Thursday when I see him for a list... some of you might know some of the ships. I know he went to sub tenders late in carrer, Yellowstone, Shanadoha, Then Ike and Roosevelt carriers. He was on the ground.. strange in desert storm just befor he retired.
Hey.... I just found some old film just the other day in one of my coin boxes of all places and hubby had the Negs scanned. Here are 2... taken from a sub... Some other photos with it I was about 7 so this is during Nam.

On the same roll.... We went to disney land when he got home...5 Wheaties to anyone who can figure out what the big brown guy with the bow standing beside Yogi Bear is.... Yeah that cute little thing is me and the ugly one in back is my brother.....

coop · Expert Member

The only thing that comes to mind is the "Chicken Hawk" from the loony toons cartoons? I don't think it is a Turkey as you wouldn't hold hands with a turkey!

creilly · Veteran Member

Chicken Hawk... OMG..... Laughing

Now I got s stitch in my side thank you!!!

What this the Brown thingy hanging off its face??? He's HOLDING it down flat for the picture.

I noticed you didnt mention how adorable I am.... What with my cute little dress and sweater... all that blonde hair. Embarassed

Steven · Expert Member

Only thing that comes to mind for me is Dumbo the cartoon elephant.

Steven

coop · Expert Member

OK, Guessing from the outfit your wearing and the guy with the flair legged pants and sunglasses, I guessing 1969? Yogi was thin then?
The chicken hawk had to hold down his beak. With a beak like that he could of got a job........ Directing traffic. I remember you mentioning you were/are a blonde. I always dated blondes and somehow married a brunette. My next wife was a blonde till this last year and now she is a brunette. So the question is: What do they call it when a blonde dies her hair brown? I'll let this simmer a while to see if anyone knows the answer.
Cool

creilly · Veteran Member

Artificially Intelligent.....

Come on.. I maybe blonde, but I am the daughter of a SUBMARINER............

By the way I dont know what that brown thing with the beak is either. I am guess a duckbilled platapuss or .. the designer was on drugs and had a really good laugh.

Steven · Expert Member

Another guess...Lumpy the Heffalump..
Steven

creilly · Veteran Member

wavysteps2003 · Expert Member

Hi Catherine - Like your Dad, I went into the submarine service in 1962, although it seems just like yesterday. My first boat was the USS Abraham Lincoln SSBN602, one of the first submarines that was stationed out of Holy Loch Scotland. From that command, I went to the USS George Bancroft SSBN643, then to the USS Tirante SS420 and the final boat was the USS Theodore Roosevelt SSBN600. My last command was NSTPAC over in Hawaii where I taught "anti-submarine warfare".

Oddly enough, I enlisted because I did not want to be a ground pounder, who at that time were being shot at (Nam War) and spent the next 21 years never regreting that decession. Believe it or not, I even had to pay to get into the service, but that is another long story, LOL.

If my memory service me right, the picture through the scope looks very much like an ELINT trawler that the Soviet's used to spy on us; use to find them about 3 miles out from ever Naval port in the USA. Lots of fun and games in the Cold War and the last bastion of action was underwater.

Didn't know your Dad, but then again, that was when the submarine force was expanding fairly rapidly and a lot of new people were being "qualified" (getting their dolphins).

Thanks for your post Catherine, it has brought up some fond memories and also the memories of those lost at sea when the Threasher and the Scorpion went down during this period of time and as always, I salute those two crews.

You all have a great Thanksgiving and don't eat to much, LOL.

Regards to all,
BJ Neff; Ret. USN(SS)

creilly · Veteran Member

OK I was just talking to Dad and he said OFFICIALLY he was on:
Forgive spelling here too guys:
Caberra
Bang (??)
Blenny
Henry Clay
Lewis and Clark
Ganard
Batfish
Ike
Yellowstone ( Aka Rolling Rock.. he was on there for the big roll )
LY Spear ( Aka LY Sly )
Shenandoah
The Norfolk Naval Ship Yard ( He took a dry dock there because I was in high school and had horses and was competing a lot and wanted to give me some stability there.)

He did a SRA on the USS Theodore Roosevelt SSBN600 in the late 70's. Was in sub school when the Thresher went down and was sent to the Canberra right away. (Interesting story with that ship and some poor officer who went crazy over the door to his stateroom and his inability to find it.) Also he was on the Batfish tied up along side the Scorpion 2 days BEFORE she went down.
And wants to know how many Buoyant Assents you have done?
Correct on the Russian ship and he was on the Blenny when that picture was taken just before they sank it and rescued the crew. Apparently they were able to save some really good bottles too.

Also it was the Blenny that Dad was seperated from during Nam, not the Batfish. I was wrong. And he reminded me: I know trhe rule. Im not suppose to ask about that... so......

I am off to start the Holiday Baking.