Richard E. (Rick) Harrington, CTR2 USN, 1969-1973

Upon graduating in the spring of 1969 from Central Piedmont Community College in Charlotte, NC. 
I asked my draft board what were my chances of getting an additional deferment to enroll in a 
new program at Appalachian State University.  They told me I could enroll,, but they were going 
to draft me anyway.  I then promptly made an appointment to see what the Navy had to offer. 
Back then, the Navy had a program allowing me to enter as an E-3 with a guarantee of a class "A" school.  
I wanted to use my business degree and felt that becoming a Personelman would be my cup of tea. 
Upon my arrival at boot camp in Orlando and taking the placement tests, I learned that Personnel school 
was closed, but I had been accepted for training as a Communications Technician in Pensacola.  
I asked what a CT's job was?  No one knew what the job pertained to other than I would have to 
investigated for a top level security clearance.  This was all I could find out about the rating.
 
With boot camp completed, it was home for two weeks and then to Pensacola and NCTC.  Let the games 
begin with the Big Room and mores code training.  I survived this endeavor and learned a little 
in the process.  From NCTC it was on to Guam where I had the privilege of working for CTRCS John Gustafson 
(Chief Gus) in ANCO Westpac.  ANCO comprised one- third of the duties tasked 23 Division, with the other 
two-thirds being HFDF and wideband acquisition.  Being Alternate Net Control, we had a certain amount of 
down time, and opportunities for cross training within the division were available and I took advantage 
of these opportunities.  Let me say right now that some seeds were being planted that would take many years 
to germinate.  Looking back,  the nineteen months I spent on Guam were really good, though I would have 
never admitted it at that time.  The jobs we performed within the NSG were vital to National Security, 
but a 21 year old kid just could not grasp the concept.
 
With Guam in my rear view mirror, it was back to Pensacola for HFDF "C" school.  The hours I spent in the 
HFDF outstation on Guam paid off.  "C" school was a piece of cake as I breezed through the training.  
From there it was to Northwest, Va. where I worked in the HFDF outstation as a wideband HFDF supervisor 
until my discharge in January, 1973.  Guam was a hell-of-a-lot better than Northwest.  Don't ask me why, 
but the sailors on Guam were more cohesive as a unit.
 
Upon my discharge from the Navy, I enrolled at the University of North Carolina and earned on BA in History, 
with a concentration on Modern European History.  The seeds that were planted on Guam were now getting damp.  
The fall of Communism in the late 1980's and early 1990's brings everything we accomplished as members of 
there Naval Security Group to fruition.  We fought the Cold War and the information we provided did not 
hinder the outcome of this period in American History.  It just did not seen as important as it really was. 
It was vital.  I am truly grateful that I was a part of this momentous happening.
 
Collectively speaking to all members of the Naval Security Group, a job Well Done!
 
 
Rick Harrington, CTR2 
Enlisted April, 1969
Discharged January, 1973