Jim Schaffer:
CLASS OF 1981
Smithtown High School WestClass of 1981
Smithtown, NY
Smithtown High School EastClass of 1981
Smithtown, NY
Tackan Elementary SchoolClass of 1973
Nesconset, NY
Jim's Story
Military
I joined the Navy in September '81 and had two months to consider what boot camp would be like. Great Lakes was a grey and dreary place in early winter, but the eight weeks went fairly quick. Next I was on to BE/E school (basic electronics/electricity) which was in Great Lakes also. That was one nasty winter. I recall hearing wind chills reached the -40's. I went on to Radioman 'A' school next which was in warm and sunny San Diego (I drove there with $1,300 in my sock). It took me 5 days to get there (another 5 days was mine to do whatever I wanted). After 'A' school it was on to Groton, CT for Basic Submarine school. Then in ...Expand for more
Groton I began my Electronics 'pipeline' training which unfortunately I did not finish due to reasons I would rather not discuss. I was then off to Patuxent River Naval Air Station for my first tour of duty at NAS communications. Then in mid '84 I shipped out to port of call Yokosuka, Japan for a 3 year tour on the USS Oldendorf. I visited Korea, the P.I., Australia (twice) and Hong Kong. Then my ship surely must have made the paper back home when we were one of three ships to first visit mainland China in more than 40 years (Quing Dao, I believe was the name of the city). I ended my military career after 6 interesting years in mid '87.
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