Ron Craddock:  

A month after graduatin', 5 july 78, I was in Navy bootcamp. In Orlando Fl. After bootcamp I went to my Sonar Tech ops school in San Deigo. Then in late 78 I got stationed in Charleston, SC on the USS Joseph Hewes FF 1078. In april 79, we left on a Med Cruise. I went to Spain, France, Italy, Sicily, Greece, Israel, Egypt an Djuboti Africa. It was a 6 month cruise. We sailed across the Alantic , thru the Med, the Suez Canal, Red Sea an into the Indian Ocean. I even got to see Mt Etna, on Sicily erupting! In april 80, I went back to San Deigo for my tech schools. Then I got stationed in San Deigo on the USS Halsey CG - 23. In April 81, we left for a 9 1/2 month west pac! We went to Hawaii, Guam, Singapore, Philipines, Hong Kong, Deigo Garcia, an Austrialia. Back across the Pacific Ocean, South China Sea, into the Indian Ocean, once again. So by the time I was 21, I had sailed around the world, east to west!!! Oct 6, 82, I got out of the Navy. Came back to Manassas. Got a job installin' air conditioners. Then Oct. 6, 84, on Sudley Manor. I got ran over on my harley. To make along story short. I lost 10 pints of blood, died on the table, an I am still here! They ended up takin' my right leg off below ...Expand for more