Edward Tall wrote on 2004-01-04 12:52:09.0
Comments: Have many wonderful memories of friendships made during my period of active duty, such as with Bill Sweet, Yancy Blackmon, William Cantrell and Romaine Van Rossum. Thanks to Keith Harmon and other squadron buddies, I had a great time at our first VP-3 reunion in Jacksonsville, Fl. in December 2001 and I look forward to attending the 3rd annual reunion in Charleston, S.C.
One of the more unusual things that happened to me while I was with VP-3 was an attack of appendicitis. Actually, that was not unusual in and of itself. What made it different is that (1)the same day I was at the base dispensary I met Ted Williams of Boston Red Sox fame who was being inducted back into the Navy; and (2)after my appendix had been removed, I was unable to rejoin my squadron because, while I was in the hospital, they up and left for Argentia, Newfoundland. During the period that my squadron was gone,the Navy,instead of sending me to Argentia to join my group,decided instead to send me to Class "A" Aviation Storekeeper school right there in Jax, Fl. All things considered, I couldn't have asked for a better deal except that I really did miss Newfoundland (say what?).
And how could I ever forget our squadron's three weeks' of TDY to Brunswick, Maine in the summer of 1952. Talk about sweet duty. Food cooked the way you liked it. Work finished by 10:00 hundred hours and off to liberty in Lewiston, Maine or many other, wonderful quaint New England towns. Oo La, La, the French-Canadian girls we met and wined and dined. And, even though the temperature was in the 90's, can we ever forget how cold the Atlantic Ocean was when we first ran into it-- and ran right back out.
Last, but by no means least,this was a fantastic learning experience for a 19 year old who was just setting out on his own and starting to sort out what worked and what didn't. And, now, at age 72, still occasionally trying to sort it out--with about the same results.
Keywords: Was called to active duty in November 1950 and assigned to VP-3, JAX, Florida. As an aviation storekeeper (AKAN), I served under Lt.SG., Daniel Metzger until I was honorably discharged in November 1952.
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