Carl Carson, CTRC USN Retired, 1948-1967


Figure I might as well get into the act and explain why and how I became a CT. 

I don’t have the slightest idea.  In early March 1948, at age 17 I was out of school 
and working in the lettuce sheds in Calexico, CA, a heckuva way to earn a few dollars 
but better than  baling alfalfa which I had tried earlier.  A friend and I decided it 
would be easier to join the Navy and “see the world” so off we went to NAS El Centro 
to see the Recruiter.  My father was more than happy to sign the necessary papers to 
allow my enlistment.

After an overnight stay in LA we had a preliminary physical, was sworn in and sent down 
to San Diego for boot camp.  My friend had a medical problem and was sent to Balboa hospital 
so we never saw each other again. 
 
For some unknown reason the Navy was trying a new method of boot training and isolated four 
companies, E101-48 - E104 -48.  I was assigned to the first squad of E-101 and spent the next 
12 weeks doing what all boots do with the exception that we had lockers vice seabags and didn’t 
roll clothes.  I seem to recall that we had a lot of social type training, didn’t have mess 
cooking  duty and a few other oddball things.  We had a Lieutenant as a Company Commander and a 
CPO  as assistant CC.   We had a special  shoulder patch that indicated  our company  and I also 
recall that we were isolated from the other boot companies and were quite unpopular as a group. 
I’ve often wondered just what the results of this experiment was. 

After returning from 10 days boot leave I was assigned to Radioman School there at the Training Center.   
Again, I don’t know why, maybe I did well on the so-called “INT” test. 
Following 16 weeks of Radioman school I was sent to Recruit Transfer Unit or RTU. 
Then suddenly, I have orders to Bainbridge Island, Washington for what we  were told was 
advanced Radioman School.
  
At B.I., after a considerable wait for a security clearance I was assigned to Chief   
R.J. Kirkwood’s class, I seem to recall that we had about 15 personnel in the class.  
Chief Kirkwood was an excellent instructor and well liked by all.  Never ran into him again. 
Following graduation from B.I. I was transferred  to Port Lyautey, arriving there in August 1949.  

While at Port Lyautey I did a couple of tours of TAD duty in 6th Fleet
In USS Midway CVB-41, USS Bordelon, (DDR-881) and  the USS Leyte (CV-32).
I spent the next 17 years working for/with some of the greatest folk I have ever known. 
It was a wise move, that day in March 1948 when I went to NAS El Centro and began what was a fantastic career.  
I have often said, “I made three wise choices in my lifetime; 
I went into the Navy, I stayed in the Navy and I retired from the Navy”.   I would do it again.