I was out for several years, so at age 36 I went back in the Naval Reserves. I joined a surface division in Knoxville TN. and started drilling on Monday nights. I had been out of the service so long that I lost all my rating and went in as a Seaman. It was very hard on me every week to get in late and then have to go to work the next day. So I decided to go in the Sea Bees, Their schedule was to drill on the second weekend of the month. That was much easier and the Sea Bees is a good outfit too. By doing this I also had to pay the price of changing from seaman to construction man. I had to do that in order to go for a rating in the Sea Bees. So here I went again! From the bottom.
We were required to take two weeks training each year on active duty. Several times it was so that I could take my family for two weeks. We had some good times and very educational experiences. We saw places that we would have perhaps never have seen if I had not been in the military. My many thanks to the men that I worked with, because they would exchange days with me to make it possible for me to attend drills and continue active in the reserves.
As time in grade permitted I advanced in grade and got more moneys. Of course this meant more responsibility and more dedication to the navy. Our training was rigid and demanding. I fired the most modern weapons, even launchers and flame throwers. I crawled infiltration courses with machine guns firing over us. I was part of perimeter defense where planes took part in the activity. We were ready! In case we were called to defend our nation and families.
Now I am retired. What does it mean to me now? I draw a small pension, Can go to any military base and get medicine at the pharmacy, at no charge. Can go in military hospitals and I get the same benefits as a man that retired from the regular service. I feel a great honor for having been a defender o this great country of ours!
The Military has been almost a life time thing with me, I served under President Franklin D. Roosevelt and in some way, served under every president since that time till this day. Am I proud? You bet I am!
By John Ray Partin
