Bruce Plummer, CTOC USN Retired, 1959-1978 From 56-59, I was a active, paid member of the Army National Guard (E-4), a high school graduate with a full time job, with thoughts of marriage and attending college nights on the horizon. At that time , life was good Then the rug got yanked out from under me and things changed drastically for the worst. I was laid off at work, because a returning vet had to be given his job back and being the last hired, I was the stuckee. Economically, like today, the job market was depressed and there weren't many career opportunities that I could find. In an impulsive moment, I visited the local recruiters. Apparently, it was lunch time, the Army and Air Force recruiters were gone; I knew that I didn't want to go in the Marines, so I approached the Navy recruiter: a grizzled EMC. As a high school graduate, with prior military service he welcomed me with open arms. I thumbed through the Navy manual on occupational specialities and the communications field interested me. I asked about this field, he sidestepped my question and went on at great length that with my prior military service, I would do well in several Navy fields. Being desperate for a change in life financially, young and naive, I signed on the dotted line. Several weeks later, I arrived at Great Lakes for Recruit Training. When the training was completed, our company commander began reading off duty assignments and mine was the last to be read: Duty in Wash, DC with the Navy Ceremonial Guard; the Navy Honor Guard component of the services. I spent a year participating in countless military funerals as a Bodybearer (casket lugger/flag folder), along with numerous other ceremonies at Arlington cemetery and being part of the Navy contingent in parades in the DC area. Interesting and prestigious assignments, got to see a lot of parts of DC, learned how to have a nit-picking free squared away, sharp uniform, and military drill and precision. However, even with prior military service, I was still an uncoded SN. When this impressive tour was up, I received orders to the USS Borie (DD-704) in Norfolk, VA. Wound up on the deck division, chipping paint and cleaning decks, toilets, etc. I knew I didn't want to be doing this for the remainder of my enlistment. My life was miserable! One day, posted on the ship's office door was a notice about the STAR program: reenlisting for a guaranteed school--and CT with an "O" behind it was listed! Desperate to get off the ship and away from that awful existence, I applied immediately. Two months later, I was at NTTC, Corry Pensacola, for CTO school. Upon completion of school, in 61, I was advanced to CT3 and was entitled to wear a hashmark. Wow! Life became interesting again and with my wife and new son, embarked on my interesting, challenging career as a CT. In retrospect, making that decision to apply for the STAR program and becoming a CT was one of the best decisions I made. Bruce Plummer CTOC (USN, Ret) 59-78