Veteran's History Project - Jack L. Schilling

Jack L. Schilling

Petty Officer Third Class

U.S. Navy

EDITOR'S NOTE: This story is one of many American Veteran accounts published in The Sidney Sun-Telegraph. The writer, who is from Potter, is conducting the interviews as part of the Library of Congress' Veterans History Project.

In late 1958, Jack Schilling had graduated from Sidney High School, was working and fielding some questions as to whether or not the "draft" was going to catch up to him.

His draft status was 1-A – meaning anytime now. He surveyed his situation: the Army? The Marines? What about the Air Force?

He picked the U.S. Navy. The recruiter got Jack all signed up – depending on the successful completion of the physical examination, background check and some other testing. Toward the end of December 1958, Jack and others took the Greyhound bus to Denver. The assumption was that once the military stuff was done, the young men could return home for New Years, then report for duty soon after. The Navy had different plans. The men would be held over in Denver and sent on to the U.S. Naval Training Station in San Diego. And on the second of January 1959, Jack was sworn into the Navy. Here's your train ticket!

Jack had no issues dealing with the training in "boot camp." There was a lot of marching, weapon qualification, learning about the Navy, who to salute and who not to salute, wear of the uniform, etc. No problem. On signing into this branch of service, Jack was given a listing of available jobs and he made his pick. Often times, it doesn't come out, but Jack got the job he wanted! Good deal. He would be a "ship-fitter" and was assigned to the USS Princeton.

There was some delay in going aboard this ship. It was at sea and wouldn't be back to port for several weeks. Usually, that puts new sailors (or soldiers or Marines) into a temporary holding status and referred to as "Hey, you!" Many details are completed by "hey yous." There are an endless number of jobs that seem to need done on military installations and it's a good exercise to get over one's self.

Finally, the U.S.S. Princeton arrived at the Navy dock at Long Beach, Calif. Things were going to change for the Princeton, though. When it arrived, it was an aircraft carrier, CVS. It's duty description was to change to that of an LPH, a Landing Personnel by Helicopter ship ... number 5.

If one was to look that up, the finding was that the Princeton had a long service record dating to the 19th Century. In the course of time, ships were rebuilt and renamed, or downed and re-named at a later date.

Jack reported aboard the Princeton and was familiarized with it. In not much time, he knew were his rack (bed) was, where the galley (where to eat) was and where to report to work. There was a routine aboard the ship. There were 1,200 men aboard the wooden decked vessel. In his work area, there were about 75 men. They were sent to one of four work areas to maintain the sail-ability of the ship. There was carpentry, sheet metal, ship fitting and – for lack of a better word – iron works.

In making the conversion from a carrier to a helicopter landing ship, there was plenty of work. Jack was busiest using his welding skills. There was quite a bit of taking down the mechanisms for launching aircraft. There was constant training that went on as well. There were responsibilities for sealing up the ship when the alarm was sounded. The men practiced scenarios as well. For instance if the ship was torpedoed, creating a hole in the hull, they would bring plankage and large pieces of plywood to the damage areas and learn how to brace the wood to stop water from coming aboard.

Jack kept in touch with home by letter writing. One could call home but it was very expensive. There was time to read, engage in various competitive games, etc. Jack joined the skeet shooting group. Blue-rock was launched off the deck so shooters could ply their skills. There were movies to watch. A U.S.O. group came aboard on one occasion.

The ship sailed on several training missions. As there were plenty of helicopters on the deck and flying. During a night-time landing exercise, a pilot brought his chopper a little too close to the bridge section of the ship. It's rotors slapped into the steel, causing it to veer hard to the right, and landed on the deck at an odd angle, but none were hurt. More damage ... more work for Jack and his crew.

On a particular day in 1962, the Princeton was at sea and the word was put out that if they wanted, the men could be on the deck to watch a bomb explode. The bomb was dropped from a U.S. plane thousands of feet over them. Upon hitting the sea, the explosion roared. The massive fireball went skyward and laterally, making the Princeton move ... the men later learned it was a hydrogen bomb. The power of that explosion is still clearly remembered by Jack.

While on shore leave on Japan, the men were afforded the chance to see the ruins of Nagasaki. Jack was impressed at the way the people had worked so hard to re-build their city. Another unforgettable item.

Jack was assigned a helicopter as it made two visits to the southeastern Asian piece of land now called Vietnam. The war actions were a few years from starting on record, yet there was activity.

After nearly four years, Jack's time of service was coming to an end. In that the ship was in port at Long Beach, jack out-processed and found transportation back to Nebraska. He called ahead and told his mother, but wanted to make his homecoming a surprise for his wife. It worked!

Jack became a member of the Sidney community and worked in the area. He used the GI Bill to further his education as well. He became a draftsman and later, learned the computer assisted side of it as well.

Jack is a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Disabled American Veterans. He is a member of the Honor Guard funeral detail.

Good job, Petty Officer Jack Schilling! Thank you for your service!