GREETINGS.  I HAVE READ MOST OF THE FELLOW SAILOR'S MEMORIES SO I WANT TO GIVE YOU MINE, OF THE BIG (T).  I WAS 17 AND JUST QUIT HIGH SCHOOL AND DIDN'T KNOW WHAT I WANTED TO DO.  BACK THEN YOU DIDN'T NEED A HIGH SCHOOL EDUCATION TO GET A JOB .  I FOUND OUT I WAS GOING TO GET DRAFTED AND DIDN'T WANT TO GO TO THE ARMY, SO I JOIN THE NAVY.   I WENT TO BOOT CAMP 60 AND THEN WENT ABOARD THE BIG T RIGHT AFTER.   THIS WAS MY FIRST EXPERIENCE OUT OF ST PAUL, NE.  EVERYTHING LOOKED BIG AND I WAS AFRAID OF IT AT FIRST.  I WAS PUT IN 3RD DIV AND I DID NOT LIKE THAT AT ALL.  SO I ASK A SIGNAL CHIEF IF THEY NEEDED HELP AND HE SAID YES, JUST TURN IN A CHIT TO THE CHIEF.   HE TOOK IT AND THROUGH IT AWAY SO I TOLD THE SIGNAL CHIEF AND HE SAID TO TURN IN ANOTHER ONE.   ON THE WAY I SAW THE CAPT SO I TOLD HIM WHAT WAS GOING ON AND LIKE A FOOL I NEEDED TO GO THROUGH THE CHAIN OF COMMAND.  BUT I QUESTION WHETHER HE FORGAVE ME OR NOT BUT THE NEXT T DAY I WENT UP ON THE BRIDGE WITH THE OTHER GUYS AND IT WAS GREAT WE HAD A GOOD CHIEF, WAGNER AND A GREAT COMMUNICATION OFFICER THAT  HELPED ME TO GET MY GED, AND GO ON TO COLLEGE AFTER SERVICE.  

    THE THING I WANT TO PUT ACROSS THE MOST IS I GREW UP IN THE SERVICE AND I AM VERY THANKFUL TO EVERYONE .  AND NOW YOU ALSO AS I HAD A BAD HEART FAILURE IN '90 AND LOST A LOT OF MY MEMORY.  SLOW BUT SURE WITH GOD'S HELP AND THE OLD CREW I AM REMEMBERING A LOT OF MY PAST LIFE.   

TKS JACK BRIGGS,   SM2 - USS TULARE, AKA 112
GRAND ISLAND, NEBRASKA
JULY 2005

GOD BLESS OUR TROOPS AND THEIR FAMILIES