Daniel Torres:
CLASS OF 1973
Farrington High SchoolClass of 1973
Honolulu, HI
Kalakaua Intermediate SchoolClass of 1970
Honolulu, HI
Kalihi - Kai Elementary SchoolClass of 1967
Honolulu, HI
Daniel's Story
Life Story? Well, here goes, Born Dec. 5, 1955. Honolulu,Hawaii remebered going to Kalihi-Kai Elementary till about '67, survived Kalakaua Intermediate till '70, Farrington High till '71 as I did not survive that, actually I was supposed to grad in '73 but dropped out after 4 months in the 10th grade then a futile month and a half in the 10th grade the next year. Don't know, I just wasn't cut out for high school at that time. Joined the Navy in Dec. '72 after schooling for a GED from Mckinley Adult. I was 16 at the time of the test and when I was old enough to get the diploma, I was 18 and already in the Navy for nearly 2 years. Became a boiler technician after BT "A" school, did 2-1/2 years on the USS Wichita stationed in Long Beach, Ca., then 2 months at NDRC (I always got in trouble my first 2 years as I was somewhat of a rebel), but I paid dearly for it ending up at the Navy Drug Rehab Center in Jacksonville, Fl. After sucessfully passing the program, I was transfered to the USS Hassayampa (in my hometown of Hawaii), where I finished out the last 14 months of my 1st enlistment in Dec '76. Highlights? 1st 4 years in the Navy? Traveled half way around the world 2 1/2 times, Hong Kong, Japan, Thailand, Australia, Philippines, Singapore, and many other places, were visited. Met my love in the The Philippines in Oct. of '73. While suffering a hangover from the night before, walked into the Chopstix Restaurant needing a bowl of birdsnest soup. And when the waitress appeared to ask my order, she smiled, my jaws dropped, and it hit me like a ton bricks, as the first thing that went through my mind was "this is the girl I'm going to spend the rest of my life with". 5 years later, we were married, Yes people, there is such a thing as love at first sight, I know it because it happened to me. And last but not least, about a month or 2 before I got out of the Navy, God found me, used some of the Christian fellas in the Eng. dept. to lure me in and by golly he did it with guys like MM3 Roger Alley and FN Dave Workman and Jim whose last name I forgot. However, before becoming a Christian I will mention that my best freinds while on the Hassayampa (AO-145) was John a short, stocky, "I wouldn't want to mess with him", New Yorker who was one heck of a nice guy and a faithful beer buddy and Pepping, (last name)another heck of a nice guy/beer buddy.
Anyways back to my chronological story. When I got out in Dec. '76, went to work for the shipyard in Pearl Harbor for a few months then hired as a security guard for about a year, then decided that I should go back to the Philippines and see if that cute waitress would marry me. We had been writing letters back and forth while I was out of the Navy and since the security guard job was a dead end (I actually got fired). I decided to go back in the Navy and get that free ride to the Philippines. I figured that I new what not to do (by staying out of trouble), that I'd be able to make it in this world, (or at least in the Navy). In March of '78, I got a waiver to go back in because I did not make petty officer (E-4) in my first 4 years, I was given a 2 year probationary enlistment and all I had to do was make E-4. Well in May the USS Ashtabula (AO-51) pulled back in to Pearl and I was on it. We left for WestPac a few months later and while in the Philippines, on Sept 10th 1978, I Married that cute little waitress (which BTW was one of the best days of my life). By 1980 I made (E-5), Oh my, "what a difference a beautiful wife can make in the responsibility department". I had some very memorable times on the Ashtabula and B-Div. was a pretty close knit bunch of guys. I do remember Michael Shotts, Dave Jojola, Dimarco, Scotty Wagonette to name a few and of course BT2 Rios, who was probably the best BT2 in the navy at the time, (Never met anyone more levelheaded for the position he had). Also Norm Dunn who turned out to be a very good friend. Let me not forget BT1/turned BTC Stanchfield, whom I believe was the most respected E-7 that I had the pleasure working for. His description- Firm but Fair and he would help you with anything and would bend over backwards for you. I have nothing but respect for that man.
After about 2 years on the 'Bula, went to the Security Dept. of NAS Lemoore, Ca. for 2 years of shore duty. Ended up as supervisor of the Pass and Decal section as being a cop (Shore Patrol never really was my forte.) Well, after that, It was back to the good ole Wicked Witch of the West. That's right, back to the USS Wichita where I spent 5 years of sea duty, my my, how times had changed. Wow this part was now my worst living nightmare in my Naval Career. I'll mention this to get it off my chest but this is where I could not believe how bad politics in the Navy, really was. OK after about 2 months aboard, an E-5 (BT2) and have all my requirements completed to take the E-6 exam. Checked with personnel 1 week before to make sure everything was all set to go. It was. On the day of the exam I find that my name was not on the list and no exam had been prepared for me. I run to Senior Chief Grant, "What happened"? where's my exam? I asked. He asked me, "What are you talking about you're supposed to on the mess decks taking the exam". "But they don't have one for me senior", "Thats's f'd up let's go find out what the problem is", he exclaimed.
We went down to the ships office where we found out that my recommenda...Expand for more
tion from the CO had been pulled. Why? what for? what the f.. had I done wrong to get it pulled? Senior Chief Grant said to "go put in a chit to see the Captain". Then we headed for the Div. Officer to find out why my recommendation had been pulled. We were at sea when this happened because we found the Div. O on the fantail taking a break. So when I asked him why my recommendation was pulled, this is what he said. We had a hard time with the other first class (BT1 Carpenter), that was down in the pit, so we want to watch you for a while and see how you do. I told him, "so what you are doing is punishing me for someone elses mistakes"? and he said, "Yes". He then rambled on about BT1 Carpenter who had an attitude with the Khakis. I went and walked my chit through. Next stop the CHENG. The CHENG had convinced me that it was only a 6 month delay, and that I'm only going to piss off the XO and the Captain, he was a very smooth talker. At that point in my career I developed an attitude against all Khakis, and had understood why BT1 Carpenter was the way he was, "attitude wise". Please don't get me wrong I really liked BT1 Carpenter because He was smart as whip and knew everything in that plant and how it worked and the best way to keep it working. Everyone below him rank wise got along well with him and respected him me included. Well anyways 6 months later when the exam came around again I made it on the first increment. BT1 Carpenter left but I picked up where he left off (attitude wise). anyways, a total of 3 WestPacs and 5 years later, the next stop was Navy Recruiting Duty for 3 years in Concord/Vacaville/Fairfield California. That was a lotta fun. I learned how to meet people and communicate with High School students and staff. There are too many stories to tell from that 3 year hitch in Northern Calif. But it was both glorifying yet humbling in some ways to represent the Navy in the civillian world.
Finally I went to my last duty station USS Tarawa LHA-1 home ported in San Diego, Ca. It was my last 3 years in the Navy, the first 2 were in San Diego complete with a 6 month WestPac cruise, but the last year (ironically) was spent in dryock for a year and a half ship overhaul, in Long Beach, Ca. Right where I started my first tour aboard the Wichita.
All these things took me from age 17 to 38, single drunken sailor to sober married husband/father (with 2 children) and now 3 grandchildren,
Let's get back to the chronological story. Finally got a job after 4 months of searching, worked in a pump/compressor repair company, in La Brea, Ca. job lasted 2 weeks because after all the interviews I did, San Bernadino Hospital called me and wanted to hire me so I had to quit the La Brea job OMG i it was a 2 hour commute and one of the bosses lived the next town over from me, so they had plans to use me as a driver so that my boss wouldn't have to drive every day to work. When I told them i wanted to leave and go to San Bernadino they offered me a 50 cent per hour raise, plus use of the company truck, plus unlimited free gas, and litterally begged me not to go. Imagine that, 4 months without work 40 plus interviews and just about down on getting anything going, and now I have 2 companies fighting for me to work with them. It felt pretty good but I went with San Bernadino hospital, 45 min. commute vs. 2 hour hell commute. Don't know why, but that's the kind of stuff I remember. Worked at San Bernadino for a year and a half, decided that it wasn't my cup of tea, I wanted to be a professional Bass fisherman. Due to working hours and tournament schedules, I couldn't do both so I quit San Bernadino and fished tournaments which lasted about 2 and a half weeks. Let's just say it was a very stupid decision. Now i needed to stop the fishing and get back in to the workforce and do things right. I went to a temp. work pool and picked a job as weed abatement landscaper. (in other words, weed whacker) at Lake Skinner, 4 days a week 10 hours a day minimum wage, also at the time started delivering pizza at night and on weekends, also got hired as a custodian for the Hemet school district. That's right working 3 jobs at once juggling schedules for about a year and a half and finally landed a decent job a a custodian at the UCR, Still as a temp. worker for another year or so and then while working there, applied for a position at the steam plant as an operator. I got fired from the custodial gig cause I missed 2 days in a row because I literally ran out of money for gas. But a week later I was picked up for the operator job worked there 8 and a half years and technically I still work there because I'm now on disability as I developed a faulty Aorta valve and had it replaced (open heart surgery) with a graphite model 35, I'll retire officially from there soon. but I had not worked a day since Mar. 25 2008 I'm now in Winter Haven, Florida where I can fish from a selection of over 540 lakes in Polk County, and well over 1500 lakes within a 2 hour drive, Play any one of my 17 acoustic guitars, and watch American Idol (seasonal) or University of Hawaii football (seasonal), all provided that my honey-dos are done. It's now Wed. April 25th 2012. I hope you all enjoyed reading this, If you want to know more about me please e mail me at dannyt_92548 at yahoo dot com or see some photos on facebook . God Bless you all and have a wonderful day.
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