Christopher Baker:  

treet and 67th Avenue in 1975. After two years of recovery, I became a dispatcher and then Communications Supervisor for Metro-Dade Fire & Rescue until 1990 when I was injured on the job and retired on disability. Military I started college after high school but it wasn't very interesting and Viet Nam was actively killing people so I joined the Navy in 1968 and became a Communications Yeoman [my last choice]. Boot camp in San Diego, CYN School in Norfolk, first assignment at NAS Meridian, MS. I scored the highest on the test for Seaman [E-3] the base had ever had. Six months later, I made CYN3 [E-4]. Then off to Midway Island's Naval Communication Station. To advance to E-5, I had to choose Yeoman or Radioman. I became RM2. From there back to California and Coronado Amphibious Base to work Staff Radio for the Commander, Amphibious Forces Seventh Fleet [COMPHIBFORSEVENTHFLT]. We took a WestPac cruise on several ships starting with the maiden voyage of the USS Blue Ridge [the first amphibious communications command ship] which we picked up on our side of the Panama Canal and brought home. Then we transferred the flag to the USS Eldorado then the USS Dubuque and then flew back to Coronado from Okinawa. When we got back, I received the Navy Achievement Medal for Meritorious service in a combat zone. It was a fun four years.