Bruce Whealton:
CLASS OF 1975
John P. Stevens High SchoolClass of 1975
Edison, NJ
Herbert Hoover Middle SchoolClass of 1972
Edison, NJ
Clara Barton SchoolClass of 1969
Edison, NJ
Benjamin Franklin Elementary SchoolClass of 1968
Edison, NJ
Bonhamtown Elementary SchoolClass of 1965
Edison, NJ
Bruce's Story
Hi. Well, we graduated on June 11, 1975. I was already enlisted in the United States Navy. I was going to get into Computer Programming, but the Recruiter suckered me into Nuclear Power. I didn't know what that entailed, so what the heck. I got on my first 707 in Newark on August 25, 1975. The whole 6-hour flight, I kept asking myself, "What the heck am I doing here?". Too late. Anyway, I spent 6 months in San Diego, Ca. going to Basic Electricity and Electronics School (BEEP School), since The Navy determined I was going to be a Nuclear Trained Electrician. There was a choice of what Nuclear Rating you could be. A Machinist Mate, Interior Communications Mate, Electronic Technician or Electricians Mate. My test scores determined I was going to be an Electrician. After EM School ended in March 1976, I drove across country in my brand new 1975 Chevrolet Monza Town Coupe (with a 350ci V8). Wish I still had it. I stopped in New Jersey to see family and friends, (Met my first wife at the Rustlers Steakhouse where I worked during High School) I headed off to Orlando, Florida for Nuclear Power School. It wasn't an easy school. I was in Orlando from April 1976 to December 1976. I then was transferred to Windsor Locks, Connecticut for Nuclear Prototype training at S1C Combustion Engineering Site. It is an actual Submarine Reactor based on a class of Submarine. We operated it. drills training, maintenance, etc. I don't know if the locals knew there was an actual operating Nuclear Reactor in their back yard, buried in the Tabacco fields. I stayed in Windsor Locks until July 1977. I got Married in May 1977. I then transferred to New London, Connecticut to the Fleet Ballistic Missile Submarine USS Casimir Pulaski SSBN 633 Gold crew. We flew to Holy Loch Scotland to take over the sub from the Bue crew. 3months out to sea and 3 months off crew in New London. During my second Patrol, my first son was born. December 1978. I did 5 such "Patrols" and then the sub went for a 2 year Refueling Overhaul in Newport News, Virginia. My wife and I purchased our first house for $26000 near Langley Air Force Base. It was many long hours, but I didn't have to go to sea. My daughter was born in Hampton, Va. in March 1982. After 5 years on the "Crazy Pollock" I was allowed some shore duty. I chose a non-nuclear "job" in Washington State. I did something that I wouldn't do ever again. I moved myself from Virginia to Washington. There's a lot of stories on that move that I won't get into. I ended up as a Supply guy for Nuclear Repair Department. This was my favorite job in the Navy. It was at Submarine Base Bangor Washington. One of the nicest Bases ever. Beautiful are...Expand for more
a of the U.S...I was there from September 1982 to October 1984. My youngest son was born there in April 1984. THEN, I got transferred back east to Norfolk Virginia. I was sent to a Los Angeles Clas Fast Attack Submarine, The USS Norfolk SSN 714. The "Norfolk" out of Norfolk. How quaint. I was the Leading Petty Officer there near the end of my enlistment. My now "X" wife decided to mess around with a friend of mine when I was out to sea. Typical Navy story. We separated in October 1987. I asked the Navy to transfer me out of Norfolk and they said that I wasn't eligible, so I got out of the Navy in March 1988. Divorce or not, I wasn't going to throw away 12.5 years of service, so I joined the Navy Reserves and did 8 more years. Retired in 1997. Best thing I have done. The Health Insurance and pension helps!! I drove down to Florida and moved in with my parents, who like most Yankees, moved to Florida in the late 1970's. I drove around dropping off resumes and finally hit paydirt, when I stopped at Lockheed Space Operations Company on Merrit Island Florida. Lockheed was a major contractor for NASA and the Space Shuttle Program, at the Kennedy Space Center. They hired me as an Electrician in the overhead Crane Crew. I got certified on Overhead Cranes up to 250 Ton. The cranes in the Vehicle Assembly Building are about 450 feet up off the ground. Can't be queasy of heights at this job. The Crane crew Puts the Space Shuttle Together as it were. Stacking the Solid Rocket Boosters, attaching the External Tank and finally the Shuttle. We did other jobs, Payload Canister, OMS pod removal from the Shuttle, and on and on. I spent time in various shops as an Electrician in my 19 years at the Kennedy Space Center. I worked there from May 1988 to July 2007. My last position was as the Electrical Leadman for the Crawler Transporter Division. I re-met my current wife on Classmates in 2005. She is my Sweetheart. She is the former Denise Fahad. We worked together at the same Rustlers Steakhouse in Menlo Park, that I met my first wife. Denise was going out with head cook and I was just a dishwasher, but who won.... ME !!! Yay !!! Anyway, she was in Pennsylvania and I in Florida. Commitments and circumstances made it so that I moved back up north, away from the 9-month long summers and the State Bird called the mosquito. I worked for a few places here in Pa. The longest was with the City of Easton, Pa. as an Electrical Supervisor for 11 years. Now I am retired and living the life here in "O Little Town of" Bethlehem, Pa. Occasionally visiting my 3 kids. two in Virginia and one in Florida. Along with my 3 Grandchildren, 21, 13 and 11, as of 2023. CHEERS!!
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