William 'Rip' Van Winkle CTR1 USN, 1963-1972


I graduated high school in 1962 and enrolled in a local drafting college.  During the rest 
of '62 and the beginning of '63 I also worked for a local civil engineering firm as a draftsman 
and surveyor aide.  In January '63 I got married and we got pregnant.  Not having a well paying 
job, I decided the best thing would be to enlist in the Navy.  When I went to the recruiting office 
I told the recuriter I wanted to go into the Sea Bees (really dumb idea since I would have immediately 
been sent to Vietnam).  In boot camp, after further testing the Navy decided I wanted to be a 
Communications Technician.  My question was, "What's that?"  The answer, "We can't tell you but 
you'll like it."  And just how did they know I'd like it if they couldn't even tell me what it was.  
So off I went to NCTC Corry Field for training as a CT...whatever that was, arriving there in August of '63.  
After basic 'R' Branch school I was slated for 'T' branch training just as soon as my final clearance came in.  
Well I waited....and waited....and by the middle of '64 still no final clearance so I got to finish training 
as an 'R' brancher.  I was good enough to finish in the top 10% of my class and found out if I extended my 
enlistment for 3 years (making it a 7 year obligation) I could receive CT3 at graduation.  So, I did it.  
Then all I had to do was wait till just before the extension started and re-enlist and I could pick up a nice 
chunk of change (variable re-enlistment bonus).  I got orders to Edzell, Scotland, and spent a year there 
before getting 'emergency' orders to USNS Jose F. Valdez. With the exception of 2 weeks TAD on USS America, Valdez 
was my only sea duty.  After the Valdez, where I re-enlisted, I went to NRRF Cleltenham, Md. for 2 years.  Then it 
was off to NSGA Kamiseya, Japan, for almost 2 and a half years, during which time I went TAD on the America.  
When Kamiseya cutback in '72 I went with a lot of the other Kami people to Misawa to convert it from a Det to an Activity.  
At the end of a year at Misawa, I decided to get out (the Navy was offering a 6-month early out).  That is the extent of 
my Navy career as a Communications Technician.  Since getting out I have been a letters and flats clerk, mail processing 
equipment mechanic, and electro-mechanical and advanced electronics instructor for the USPS from which I retired in 1992 
on early retirement.  I went back to work at the postal training center in 1997 on contract through the 
University of Oklahoma and am still working there, but looking at retirement again next year (Social Security) as I'm now 65.
 
William 'Rip' Van Winkle
ripper22@valornet.com