A Tribute to My Father, A Veteran of the U.S. Navy

On December 7, 1960 (Pearl Harbor Day), Dad (Leroy Rowe) and his younger brother, Ronald Rowe, enlisted in the U.S. Navy on the Buddy Plan so they could stay together while they were in the service. They were flown to the US Naval Training Center at Great Lakes, Ill, just outside of Chicago, where they went through boot camp together.

Boot camp was quite challenging, even for my father who was quite physically fit from playing basketball, from walking miles to school, and from roaming the mountains of McCreary County, Kentucky. When say “roaming,” I don’t mean four-wheeling or riding around in a car. He walked all over those mountains on his own two feet. There was a also a time when he had a bicycle and delivered newspapers, and riding up and down those hills was another way that he stayed in shape. That certainly helped him during boot camp which was quite rigorous.

Most of you have probably seen movies or television shows which give you a good idea of how difficult it is for new recruits. Dad said that’s pretty accurate, but he told me that back when he was in boot camp, things were a little different. For example, everyone had to wash and dry their own clothes and bedding, but keep in mind there were no washers and dryers. At home, they washed their clothes on a washboard which required a lot of physical labor. While in boot camp, they had long troughs with slightly slanted sides where they washed clothes by hand with a large scrub brush.

Boot camp also tested the endurance of the new recruits. For example, Dad told me about how they were required to stand guard outdoors in bitter cold weather for hours at a time. He said that at least when you’re outside in sub-zero temperatures and high winds and can move around, you can generate some body heat from the physical activity; however, when you’re required to stand still, that’s just not possible. You simply had to endure it…and both Dad and my Uncle Ronald did just that.

After completing boot camp, they departed Great Lakes on March 1, 1961, and went home to McCreary County Kentucky for a visit. In the photo below, Dad is on the left and Ronald is on the right.

Here’s another picture of Dad and Ronald right out of boot camp with the family. Back row from left to right:  Ronald, Papa (Raymond), Nana (Goldie), and Dad (Leroy). Front row from left to right:  Sylvia, Boyd, Hazel, Eleanor, and Diann.

Dad and Ronald then reported to the US Navel Base at Norfolk, Virginia, on March 16, 1961.  Although Norfolk was their home base, they were transferred to a Naval radio station in Drivers, Virginia, where they stayed for about one year. Naturally, these sailors spent a good bit of time in the water. In the photo below, Ronald is on the left and Dad is on the right.

Here’s a photo of Dad at the Naval base in Drivers.

Ronald (shown in photo below)

was transferred to USS Watchman AGR-16 a couple of months before Dad.

The Watchman was a Radar Picket Ship that was home ported on Treasure Island in San Francisco, California, sailing along the western coast of the USA as far north as the Bering Straights, scanning the skies for enemy planes.

On March 15, 1962, Dad left Drivers and reported to Treasure Island,

but the Watchman was out to sea.  He waited a couple of weeks for the ship to return home, joining Ronald aboard the Watchman.

Dad had taken a test in Norfolk, and when he arrived at Treasure Island, he received news that he made the rank of 3rd class Storekeeper.

Naval life wasn’t all about work, service, and studying though. They had some free time to hang out and socialize. Here’s a picture of Dad and Ronald on the banks of the Russian River in Guerneville, California.

Dad met my mother, Carol Ann, in June of 1962. Dad and Ronald were on a blind date with Mom and a lady by the name of Nancy. Dad and Mom weren’t actually paired up on that blind date, but they were attracted to each other and by the end of the night, they ended up being paired up. They fell in love, and got married on April 18, 1963. Their wedding photo was taken at the Treasure Island Naval Base. We’re not sure who took their picture so I don’t know who to give credit for taking such a beautiful portrait of them.

Dad spent as much time as he could with my mother while he was in San Francisco. He was stationed on The Watchman until February 8, 1963. Here he is standing on the pier in front of his ship.

And here he is on the aft steering deck.

Here’s a picture of him on the Watchman, taking just a second to pose for the camera.

And finally, here he is relaxing on #3 hatch.

Dad was transferred from the Watchman to San Diego, where he attended school at Coronado Island in San Diego.  Little did he know that some day he would have a son, Leroy Michael, who would go through the very same school! Here’s a picture of Leroy, who followed in Dad’s footsteps. I would like to give credit to the person who photographed him, but I don’t know who the photographer was.

After attending school in San Diego, California, Dad left on April 26, 1963, arriving on Midway Island on May 2, 1963. Here’s a picture of  the crew At AUW Compound on Midway Island. Dad is the first person on the left who’s squatting down.

Dad was at Midway Island for 14 months, and was there when I was born (much earlier than anyone expected). Here’s a picture of Mom holding me as a newborn.

Dad spent his off-duty time on Midway Island scuba diving, swimming, and making reel-to-reel videos. Over the years, I’ve enjoyed watching these videos because it me a glimpse into my father’s world. Dad also enjoyed playing with the gooney birds, as well as with Sooner, the very cute dog who was the mascot of Midway Island.

They named him Sooner because he’d sooner do his business indoors than out.

Dad left  Midway Island on July 7, 1964, flying first to Hawaii and then taking an 18 hour flight to Japan where he reported aboard the Graffias AF-29 (a supply ship) at Yokosuka Japan.

While he was there, he was the Storekeeper in charge of cargo hold #1.  On the last day of July, the Graffias sailed for Subic Bay in the Philippines.

When North Vietnamese motor torpedo boats attacked US destroyers Maddox DD-731 and Turner Joy DD-951 in the Gulf of Tonkin on August 4, the Graffias was sent there to help, and Dad and the rest of the crew not only resupplied the two US destroyers which were attacked, but they supplied many other ships of the 7th Fleet. The ship actually ended up setting a record. According to the Naval Historical Center,  the Graffias replenished “supplies at an average rate of 168.9 short tons per hour.” Dad said they got very little sleep during this time, generally working about 18 hours a day.

The Graffias then started making its way back home, and during that trip, she set port in Hong Kong, Yokoska and Pearl Harbor. The ship was also in Sasebo Japan, and pretty much all over the South China Sea.

Dad returned home from Viet Nam, stopping in Hong Kong and Hawaii before finally returning back to San Francisco on November 27, 1964. He was then transferred back to Treasure Island, where he was discharged from active duty on December 2, 1964; however, he then became a part of the Navel Reserves, subject to recall.  He was totally and honorably discharged from the Navy in 1966.

I’m proud of you, Dad,

and I want you to know how much it means to me that you sacrificed so much so you could serve your country.

And thank you also to my uncle Ronald,

my uncle Bobby,

my brother Leroy,

and my grandfather, Michael John (pictured with my Uncle Bobby)

for all the sacrifices you made as well.

Thank you, Dad, for everything you did to protect the United States and our freedoms! It means so much!! Thank you also for telling me about your Navy days! I love hearing the stories! Love you!! sheila

P.S. Thanks also to both you and Mom for the help with the timeline, dates, and stuff like that. Thanks also for scanning the pictures. Speaking of pictures, I have no idea who took these old pictures that are in my parents’ family album. I would like to give credit to the photographers who took them, but I simply have no idea. If anyone knows who took any of the photos, please let me know so I can give proper credit. Thank you.