John D. Armstrong, CTRC USN Retired, 1957-1976 Enlisted Jan 10, 1957 Fleet Reserve - Aug 16, 1976 Ret on 30 - Sep 1, 1985 Hind sights of course is 20/20 where as fore-sight is often rather limited.. None-the-less, Jon's email triggered some thoughts in my mind (what's left of it) Did you ever wonder why or how you came to be selected for CT School.. Was it your good looks, your charm, or your old man's money...??? I wasn't too long on good looks, really lacking in the charm dept, and my Dad was a hard working... "working stiff" So just how the hell did I get chosen...??? looking back here's how I see it.. The American Legion, in my home town, sponsored the Boy Scouts.. My Dad worked his way up through the "chairs" of the American legion, and it was probably about the time he was the Commander of that legion Post that I was working on my Boy Scout, Morse code Merit badge. My Dad helped me - boy can I remember his frustration as we struggled for me to memorize the Morse Code.. Later, in High School, I took Typing.. No, it wasn't really a wise forward thinking move on my part.. It was simply the fact that the School Board had hired this new, young, amply endowed, Co-Ed right out of college to teach the class.. Every able bodied male child in that high school signed up for typing.. Fortunately, I signed up first..!! For some reason I always knew I was going to join the Navy... I don't know why.. Young Armstrong's have been going to sea to seek their fortunes ever since King James V of Scotland hanged Johnny Armstrong (John of Gilnockie)d in 1530. my Grandfather had circumnavigated the globe 3 times - by sail - before he married and settled down to a life of farming... Maybe it was because my father had been a Chief Aviations Machinists Mate in WWII... When I first visited a Navy Recruiter, I took a written test.. I haven't a clue as to what was on it - give me some slack, that was 1956.. I do recall that I qualified to enlist as an EFSR (Electronics Field Seaman Recruit) Should I decided to sign up.. The problem was, I was only 17.. My Father had legal custody of me, He lived in Nebraska, This was in California where my Mother lived... Problem solved... we wouldn't show the recruiter the amendment to the divorce decree giving my Father full custody, so the Recruiter would think that my Mother had full custody and could sign... (this all came back to bite me in the butt later, while my final clearance was pending) So, I'm in Boot camp, Co 21 San Diego, 1957.. We go for the "basic battery tests... I don't know what my score on the Morse Code portion of the testing was, but I would imagine it was as high or higher than the majority of the "Boots" at that time.. So, I go before some SK3 for an interview on what "I" want to do in the U.S. Navy... I told him I wanted to be an Electrician's Mate in the SeaBee's..!! Unfortunately, (??) the SeaBee's were not accepting any "applications" at that time. HOWEVER, there was this super secret rating, that no one knows what they do, (and once you find out you can't tell anyone) and guess what...?? Since I seem to know a little Morse Code, and since I already know how to type.... I qualified...!! Seemed like a good 2nd choice, so I said ... okay...!! Of course I have never regretted that decision.. I'm very proud of the years of active duty I spent associated with the NSG and the personnel there-in. But still, I sometimes wonder.. What if I'd never have learned the Morse Code in Boy Scouts..?? what if I'd have never taken Typing in High School... Would that SK3 still have considered me for a "good" candidtate...??? It's certain, that life as I've known it, would probably have been much different. Although not as well thought out, nor organized as Chief White's 17 points. I would suggest that every young person contemplating joining the US Military, take advantage of every opportunity for any schools offered. Take advantage of any and all opportunities for College that may be available. And should that young person choose not to make a career of the military, to transition to civilian life knowing that they have gained a wealth of experience in leadership that can't be purchased in any school system. I really didn't seem to have a problem getting my "final" As I wasn't held up during school at IB... However, the BI created a bit of a stir in my "home town".. I grew up on a farm in North West Nebraska.. 20 miles from the Pine Ridge Reservation across the line in South Dakota. I spent the summer after HS graduation on the farm, when the Wheat harvest was over in August, I worked odd jobs for a couple different Ranchers on the Nebr/SoDak line, but when winter set in and I found myself unemployed I decided to migrate West. My Plan was to go as far as I could with what Money I had... Then Join the Navy and see the rest of the world... I simply failed to tell my Dad that I was leaving the country, kissed my girl friend good by, parked my car at my Grandmothers house and caught a train for LA. I spent Christmas at my Mother's house in La Puente.. In early January I convinced my Mother to tear off the Amendment to her divorce papers that showed my Father had Full custody of me.. Show the originals to the Recruiter, and Sign for me as I was about 2 months away from turning 18. I was finishing up Boot Camp at San Diego about March of 1957 when two FBI agents out of Denver show up in my little home town in North West Nebraska . The 1950 census stated that my home town had a population of 1950 in 1950.. Personally I suspect they may have counted a few people twice to come up with that many people. Picture if you will, Your Dad is at work when two men in pin stripped suites walk up to him and ask him if he's John Armstrong, then flash their FBI badges and begin asking questions about his favorite (only) Son. who up until this very moment he assumed was still working on a Ranch up on the SoDak/Nebr line. The only thing the FBI would/could tell him is that they were conducting a Back Ground Investigation. They didn't say it was for a Top Secret Clearance.. They only told him it was an "investigation". Poor Dad, tried calling the Last Ranch where he thought I was working but couldn't get an answer. He then called my (ex) girl friend to ask if she knew Where the H... I was. I think she said something like "Oh Hi John, - Johnny?? he joined the Navy about 2 maybe 3 months ago.. I don't know where he is - exactly - but think he's in California somewhere"... Dad finally tracked me down by calling my Mother (his ex) and she told him I was in some school in Imperial Beach. Of course the two FBI agents talked to the High School administrator and a couple teachers. You know rumors were pretty wild in that little town for awhile. "yea, that Armstrong kid, the FBI's after him... I always knew he'd end up in Jail sooner or later"... etc., etc., Strangely, about a year later the FBI from Denver are back in this little 1 horse town doing a BI on Ron Kukal and the rumors are flying again. (Ron was a CT2 on the Liberty) I might point out the BI brought to light the fact that I had actually enlisted Fraudulently in that I conned my Mother into signing for me when she did not have legal custody of me.. Right between Basic and Advanced classes at IB I was invited into the CO's office.. (LCDR Andreen) the error of my ways were pointed out to me and I was offered a couple options. There was a paper signing ceremony and I was allowed to continue to advanced training with my regular class (21A 1957) John Armstrong CTRC USN Retired A little SoWest of North