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B.J. Freeman CWO USN-Retired
Grove, CA Served 1968-69
After graduating from High School in Denver City, Texas, I enlisted in the United States Navy in July of 1954 and attended boot-camp training in San Diego. In November of 1954, I received orders to the USS Shangri-LaCVA-38, the first aircraft carrier in the Pacific Fleet with Steam Cat's, Hurricane Bow and Canted Deck. I served 3 ½ years in the Shangri-La leaving heras a 2nd Class Machinist Mate for shore duty in Alameda, California. In
Alameda, I was assigned to the Base Master-at-Arms Force under Senior Quartermaster Chief Duke who had served in the USS Langley, the United States 1st Aircraft Carrier. In July 1959, I mustered out of the Navy as a 1st Class Machinist Mate.
After one year and three months of attempting to "Make it" in the mild recession of 59, I re-enlisted in Dallas, Texas and reported for duty as
a Station Keeper (Instructor) at the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps Reserve Training Center at 2309 and Line Ave in
Amarillo, Texas. After serving two years in Amarillo, Texas I received orders
to report to the USS Hopewell DD-681 and after six months on board I was advanced to Chief Machinist Mate and served in Hopewell for three years before receiving orders to Commander Destroyer Flotilla Five (CDF-5) Pearl Harbor.
As the
Assistant Material Officer at CDF-5, I was advanced to Senior Chief Machinist Mate. In 1967 and while at Pearl, I was commissioned as a W-1 Warrant
Officer and attended OCS in Newport Rhode Island. Upon graduation from OCS, I was promoted to W-2 and served in COMPHIBPAC staff for a year, then reported to the USS Askari ARL-30 (in- country) and operating in and around
Dong Tam on the Mekong. While in Askari, I served under Cdr. George Oncea USN and later under Cdr. Al Festag
Jr. USN. I reported as the Assistant Repair Officer and after approximately six months, I served as the Repair Officer. While serving in Askari, I was also appointed as the Ships Electronics Officer since the R-3 Division came under my supervision. After thirteen months of in-country life in South Vietnam, I received orders as a W-2 to report to Naval Ships Engineering Command (NAVSEC) at Headquarters
in Washington D.C. where I was selected and promoted to W-3 Warrant Officer status.
After Two years in Washington D.C. and as Program Manager for the Engineering Operational Sequencing System (EOSS) program, I received orders to the USS Sumter LST-1181 as the Assistant Chief Engineer (MPA). While in Sumter, I was qualified as CDO and OOD underway. After two years in Sumter, I received orders to the USS Piedmont AD-17 as the R-2 Machinery Repair Division Officer. While serving in Piedmont I was qualified as
CDO and OOD underway.
After a two year stint in the Piedmont, I received orders to the Long Beach Naval Shipyard to the Repair Department as a Ships Superintendent. Later
I was assigned as the Ships Superintendent for the 9 Million Dollar Modernization of the Australian Guided Missile Destroyer HMS Perth
D-38 and was subsequently selected for promotion to W-4.
I retired from
the Navy in October of 1975. After retiring from the Navy, I have attended Orange County Jr. College (AA), the University of San Francisco (BS) and the University of San Francisco
(MBA) and several other colleges for additional studies. Since this time I have worked
in Industry as a Facilities Engineering Manager for various Companies, i.e., Goodyear Rubber Company, Hunt Wesson Foods, Fluor, United Technologies - Carrier Division, Waukesha, and
ABM Building Management Inc. Later in 1987, I also worked for the Navy as a NAVSEC
representative as the Engineering Systems Test Development Director for the FFG-7 Oliver Hazard Perry Class Shipbuilding Program at the Todd Shipyard.
B.J. Freeman
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