Ben Mercer:
CLASS OF 1955
DuBois Area High SchoolClass of 1955
Du bois, PA
Golden Gate UniversityClass of 1982
San francisco, CA
Pepperdine UniversityClass of 1977
Los angeles, CA
U.S. Naval AcademyClass of 1960
Annapolis, MD
Ben's Story
Life
Graduated U.S. Naval Academy in June 1960.
First ship, USS Thetis Bay (a helicopter carrier) Cruises to Hawaii, Japan, Hong Kong, and Phillipines.Short tour on board HMS Bulwark off Borneo. Rode out typhoon for 3 days.
Upon return from WesPac in Dec.1961, met a nurse from UCLA, ship transferred to Norfolk, bussed back to LA and married nurse. Brought her to Norfolk, VA.
Recently celebrated 46 years without a single bad day. Looking forward to the next 1,000 plus.
In '62 we moved to Newport, RI. where I learned how to become a department head. Assigned as Weapons Officer, and later Chief Engineer on an experimental Escort Destroyer based in Key West, Fla. Kathy moved 7 times in 13 months, followed the ship to Mayport, Fla. and Kittery, Maine and back to Key West while we tested experimental weapons and sonars and searched for the sunken sub, Threasher, off of Boston. Also did some cold water tests off of Nova Scotia. First son born in March 1965, at Naval Hospital, Key West.
Then we moved to Atlanta, Ga. via Marquette University where I learned to teach Naval Engineering at Georgia Institute of Techology. Taught 100 sophmores for 2 years and worked ...Expand for more
on a master's in Industrial Engineering. Second son born Dec. 1966, in Atlanta.
Got an all expense trip to South Viet Nam 66-67, with R&R in Malaysia where I stayed with old friend, Charles White, from the Thetis Bay and wife, the former Kay Byers, who were Peace Corps workers.
1967-68 saw duty on a guided missle ship, USS Luce, DLG-7,based in Charleston, SC as Chief Engineer. Lived on Sullivan's Island. Later moved to Mayport,Fla.Deployed to Carribean, S. America, and Africa. Flew back from S. Africa to Mayport for duty on the staff of a Destroyer Squadron18. Third son born in Mayport in July 1968. Deployed to Mediteranian with port calls in Rota, Spain; Naples, Italy, Ville France; Athens, Greece; Valleta, Malta; and side trips to Switzerland, and Pompey.
Then assigned to staff of Commander Cruiser Destroyer Forces in Newport, RI 1969-72, Maintenance Budget Officer.Had $50,000,000 to maintain 108 ships. Got it increased to 60 mil.
In 1972 was assigned as Executive Officer of a small Naval Base in the Middle East. Took the family.
When CO took ill during 1973 MidEast war, I was CO for six months.
fourth son born in Manama, Bahrain.
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