James H. Stewart CTA2 USN 1962 - 1965 My brother and future brother-in-law joined the Marine Corps together in 1953, on the buddy program, and went through boot camp together. When I graduated from high school in 1962, my friend from down the street and I wanted to do the same thing......join the Marine Corps on the buddy program and go through boot camp together. Well, the Marine Corps recruiter wanted me but didn't want my friend. Seems he hadn't been a model citizen. Not wanting to join the Marine Corps alone, I went over to the next office and joined the Navy. I enlisted at age 17, under the Kiddie Cruise program, so my enlistment would be up when I turned 21. I don't recall having any conversation with the recruiter about what ratings I'd like to pursue, I just wanted to get out of Tucson, AZ and see some of the world. Went through boot camp in San Diego during the summer of 1962, in Company 360. My face became so scabbed over and bloody from being constantly sunburned that when my mother saw me she just sat down and cried. When it came time during boot camp to discuss ratings opportunities, I was told I had done well on the GCT/ARI tests and would normally have a number of options available to me except for the fact that I was color blind. Didn't even know I was color blind until I got only two correct answers out of twenty on the color blind test. The counselor suggested since I had done well on the tests, but was limited in my options because of being color blind, that I should become a Communications Technician "A" branch and attend YN school in Bainbridge, Md. I agreed since I didn't really have anything else in mind. So, after working in the galley for five long months at Bainbridge, serving chow to WAVE boots, my class finally started and lasted less time than I spent working in the galley. Was at Bainbridge the winter of 1962/1963, and being a kid from Arizona nearly froze my butt off. A bunch of us went up to New York City and spent New Years Eve of 1963 in Times Square. What an experience, I had never seen so many people in my life. On New Years day, we went out to Brooklyn and watched the Rose Bowl game in a bar on Coney Island. The drinking age in New York was 18. Got orders for NSGA Kamiseya, but first spent a few months at Atsugi NAS couriering classified materials to the different bases on central Honshu, while waiting for my clearance to come through. At Kamiseya, I was assigned to the Communications Center, working with the"O" branchers . Spent about 25 months in Japan. I happened to be walking a night watch on the day President Kennedy was assassinated......it was quite interesting to observe the varied reactions as the guys woke up to the news. The Japanese must have been fond of Kennedy as they hoisted large banners with his picture on the sides of buildings in Yokohama. I was scheduled to still be at Kamiseya in 9/65 when the fire took place, but had gone home on emergency leave in 7/65, and wasn't sent back since my enlistment was up in October. I enjoyed nearly everything about Kamiseya and my time in Japan. My only regret is not spending a little less time in Chinatown and a little more time seeing the sites. Had a long and rewarding career in commercial banking, but have wondered from time to time through the years how far I could have gone if I had made a career of the Navy. It was a good outfit. James H. Stewart CTA2 USN 1962 - 1965