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R. C. (Bob)
Chrisman, LT., USNR, 1961-1971
Navy brat:
son of CWO-3 (Surface Ordinance)
Charles W. Chrisman, USN.
Spent first
Christmas with Fox Division
onboard the USS INDIANAPOLIS
(CA-35) in Pearl Harbor, TH.
Enlisted as
a Seaman Apprentice on St.
Patrick’s Day in St. Louis, MO;
completed college and attended
Officer Candidate School July to
November, 1961. OCS
class 53 was the largest since
WWII, responding to President
Kennedy’s build-up for war over
Germany.
Ordered to
the amphibious warfare school
and the USS UNION (AKA-106).
Walked off
the plane at Clark AFB,
Philippines, in dress blues (the
uniform for San Francisco in
December) and a pool of sweat
all the way to
Subic
Bay before changing into light
khakis – and shiny new gold
bars. Caught up with the
UNION in Hong Kong and, with a
degree in human relations, was
assigned as damage control
assistant in the engineering
department.
  
UNION
completed a
WestPac tour and returned
to San Diego in time to embark
an armored Marine unit and
transit the Panama Canal with
the invasion fleet during the
Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962.
Another
WestPac tour was made in
1963 (qualified as engineering
watch officer, combat
information center watch officer
and officer of the deck;
promotion to LTJG).
Transferred
to USS EDMONDS (DE-406), home
ported in San Francisco, as
communications officer for
1963-64.
Conducted
over 200 submarine attacks while
training reserve crews; caught
sub while exercising as carrier
screen; visited
Esquimalt,
BC (qualified as anti-submarine
watch officer and command duty
officer).
Transferred
to USS CURRITUCK (AV-7)
 (1964-65);
Made official visit to Bangkok
en route to relieving as
flagship, Vietnam Patrol Force.
Flew from
Da
Nang to Con Son in P5M
Mariner; two trips to Saigon in
UH-1 Albatross. Promoted to LT
effective 7/1/65; released from
active duty September, 1965.
Served in
reserve units in London, San
Francisco – USS Laws (DD-558)
 –
San Jose, and USS Hooper
(DE-1026
.
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