The Navy Years - San Diego
After I graduated from the Avionics Training in Memphis TN, I filled out a "dream sheet" stating where I wanted my next duty assignment. I chose the East Coast and was not surprised to find myself being sent to the West Coast. I was stationed at the Naval Air Station at Imperial Beach California. I was assigned to Helicopter Combat Support Squadron (HC-1, Detachment 3). This squadron performs sea-air rescue for downed pilots. It was a small Air Station with a landing field, nice barracks, NCO Club, movie theater, Navy Exchange and Chow Hall. We got paid in cash, They set up a table and we lined up to get paid. Two armed share patrol guys kept guard on payday. That was a little weird for me, but later there was a credit union option. I was making a bit more money after training and had the rate of ATN-3 (Aviation Electronics Technician). In Memphis I had to depend on a Navy bus to get into town, but San Diego had great commercial bus service and I was able to get a...