Rod Boyd:
CLASS OF 1968
Carroll High SchoolClass of 1968
Corpus christi, TX
Carroll High SchoolClass of 1968
Corpus christi, TX
Campbell High SchoolClass of 1968
Ewa beach, HI
Tom Browne Junior High SchoolClass of 1965
Corpus christi, TX
Central Park Elementary SchoolClass of 1960
Corpus christi, TX
Rod's Story
Here's the "CV" for reading. Broken up into ten year increments, scroll ahead to the decade your interested in. ;)
1968-1978
Basically, three days out of high school, I was in the gutter and in the United States Coast Guard at the USCG Recruit Training Center, Government Island, Alameda, CA June 1, 1968-July '68. Glen Louis Dubois and I rode the bus from Corpus Christi, TX to San Antonio, TX for a short swearing in ceremony, to serve and protect the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic.... Then another BUS to Oakland, CA. Sir yessir was new to my vocabulary! Managed to become Recruit Battalion Staff and later traded my M-1 for a sword. What a relief that was! At graduation ceremonies, I was the Recruit Battalion Commander and lead the entire Recruit Battalion around the parade grounds during "Pass and Review" on graduation day. I believe the Company was Alpha 68 and the Company Commander was RDC Pliska. He was a great guy and head and shoulders above the other CC's. He instilled many traits and virtues that would last a life time, but the most memorable statement of his was: "there ain't no bad duty in the Coast Guard". I believe it to be true to this day. BM1 Hood, DC1 Menard are others that stand out.
After Boot Camp, I went to USCG Class A Radioman School, Governors Island, New York City, NY. Rudy Weisner, Kevin Hudson, Dave, just to name a few. Rm1 Al Scharf was the primary instructor. August '68 through February '69 was a long school and a long winter at GINY. But upon completion as a SNRM was stationed at USCG Radio Station Honolulu, NavComSta Navy-85, Wahiawa, HI. Working for CWO-4 Kenneth L. Hienzen and CWO-2 Calvin Goforth was slightly testing, but eventually it all worked out and I made RM3.
From Honolulu, I was assigned to USCG Secondary Radio Station Galveston, Texas working for Captain Early. This assignment was short lived, the needs of the service wanted me somewhere else since the station was being "down-sized". Nine months later, assignment USCGC W...Expand for more
innebago NBYG, Sand Island, Honolulu, HI. Pack up and drive back cross country for the second time in my life with first daughter Crystal along with my High School Sweetheart and wife for life Deborah.
Upon arrival aboard the "Winne" I was told that the ship was being decommissioned and I could volunteer for "ferry duty" to USCG Base Portsmouth, VA, and that the boat would be leaving in "few weeks". I hadn't learned yet about not volunteering! Off, 1/2 way across the Pacific, one burial at sea for WWII Ensign Dale Jacobsen, then stopping at Manzanilla, MX for our skipper, Captain Hal F. Olsen and on to Rodman Naval Station, Panama Canal Zone to transit to the "other side". Outta the locks to Cartegena, Columbia, Curacao DWI, Port-au-Prince, Haiti then up the coast to our final destination. We were told enroute that our ship would probably become razor blades. All the way, rockin' and rollin' through a hurricane, with the ship almost sinking, exciting and sad.
Back to Honolulu commercial airline (that was nice - no bus ride), and TAD to the USCGC Planetree NRPY working for LCDR John Linnon, and with RM3 Samona Samona Tigilau, RM1 Ray Gibson, and RM2 Duane Bjerk for a SouthPAC down to Johnston Island, then on to Howland and Baker Islands, Lautoka FIJI, Pago Pago American Samoa, Apia Western Samoa then back up to Fanning and Christmas Island and back to Honolulu. About six weeks sailing in a round bottom, 8 foot draft buoy boat!
Upon arrival at Sand Island, HI I was transferred to the USCGC Mellon NDIT . I was aboard the Mellon for at least one Ocean Station November, ASWAC RIMPAC with the USS Enterprize, USS Bainbridge, USS Long Beach, HMAS Melbourne and a number of Fijian and New Zealand frigates. We also did GFS exercises off Kahoolawe Island and numerous patrols out of Honolulu. Another shipmate made First Class and I was transferred to the CCGD14(oc) or USCG Headquarters 14th District, CommCEN, where I worked for LCDR Bobbie Hollingsworth and with the JARCC Pacific.
More to come....6/6/08
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