Veteran's History Project - Billy D. Rush

Billy D. Rush

RM 2nd Class

U.S. Navy

1948-1952

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

In mid-1948, World War II had been fought.

Not so many years before, tens of thousands of our nation's sons and daughters had fought and supported the effort valiantly. Most came home and went about their lives. Some didn't make it back.

Bill Rush had two brothers who were in the war. One had been in the U.S. Navy and the other had been in the U.S. Marine Corps. They had stories to tell and advice to give.

There was an obvious push that if one was going to join the military, the Navy was the way to go. It was a good thing to serve aboard a ship. One could see the world, make new friends, learn a skill, work on neat stuff and enjoy life.

Billy "Bill" Rush graduated high school and had worked for the railroad for about a year. He had a good enough job and had even switched to working the "extra board" for more hours and a better take-home check.

At this point in his young life, though, Bill thought that the railroad work might not be the best thing for him.

He and a friend had been talking about joining the military. The Army didn't seem like such a good fit and neither knew much about the Air Force. One of Bill's brothers had talked a lot about the Navy ... pretty soon, they were on their way to the recruiter's office in Scottsbluff and, then and there, joined up.

Bill's parents were, um, away seeing relatives. He would tell them later. The two young men were headed to Denver for their entrance physical and additional testing.

Upon completing the testing, Bill and other young men whom also had joined, were provided tickets and transportation. It wasn't his first train ride, but it was probably his longest.

All things considered, a lot happened in a couple of days!

The relay of transportation modes finally unloaded young sailors-to-be at the U.S. Naval Training Station in San Diego.

The usual greeting committee met them and advised that there was still daylight to burn! They were formed up into groups and marched along to get brand new haircuts, new clothing and footgear, and then were shown where the meals were to be taken.

Finally, they were moved to their living quarters, a barracks. This would be home for the next 12 weeks. Bill made time to write his parents and tell them of his decision and where he was in the world. Although not a total surprise, they must have accepted it proudly.

Basis training – or boot camp – consisted of a lot of close-order drills, physical training, marksmanship training and military customs and courtesies. Here, Bill learned about and how to be a sailor – who he was to salute, who not to.

Ship protocol and parts and places were new as well. But, it seemed like a good fit. The young guy he joined with was still nearby, in the same squad of men and bunked a few rows away as well.

The initial training was completed successfully and now the young sailor had begun the upward mobility required of him. When Bill was initially recruited, he had taken aptitude tests that indicated he showed potential in typing and radio work. Bill's next piece of training was to last 16weeks and just a few streets away from where he had been as a "boot."

He began Radio/Telegraph School. The main element of the training was the Morse Code. He would learn it thoroughly and practice repeatedly so that he could receive and transmit messages without fail. Not only was the code sent and received, the letters had to be typed into messages so that information could be passed on.

There were still details to perform and fitness training to be done, but this was to be their field of commitment.

On the day he graduated from the school, Bill was provided his orders for the next phase. He was assigned to be the radioman on the U.S.S. Robert K. Huntington, DD781. This ship, a Sumner-Class destroyer, was named after a naval aviator and a member of a squadron that had been destroyed at the Battle of Midway.

When Bill came aboard, he was shown the radio room, where he was to work, where his living quarters were and the rest he figured out for himself. The friend he joined up with was sent to a different assignment.

For the first few months, while Bill was getting used to things, the ship worked in and around the port there. He was the only one of his group that didn't get seasick when the ship moved. Others had to carry buckets with them – just in case.

Soon, though, it moved from being in the Pacific Fleet to the Atlantic Fleet where it would be a part of the carrier task force. Bill was aboard and watched with much interest as the ship moved through the locks of the Panama Canal. In a few days time, they passed through the Caribbean Sea and on to the Navy establishment at Norfolk, Va.

The U.S.S. R.K. Huntington went north in the winter for Arctic training and in the next summer, headed for the Caribbean. Bill kind of thought it should be to the Caribbean in the winter, but no one asked. The ship was part of a group of ships. Bills job was to handle all message traffic and provide the wording to the Command as appropriate. His radio room was not far from the ship's bridge.

The U.S.S. Huntington sailed to the Mediterranean Sea and duty with the Sixth Fleet. Here they were to assist in tracking Soviet activity. The ship left the Mediterranean on schedule and began a rotation of cold and warm water exercises with other ships.

Living aboard ship was good. Bill kept in touch with home by writing letters. The food was great and life in the bunks was good all things considered. There was some card playing, listening to music and now the commercial radio reception was decent. The entertainers were there for sailors as well.

When possible, Bill took leave time to return to Gering, Neb., to be with his family. He did have a good collection of his fellow sailors and himself, all seeming to have a great time.

The war with Korea had started in 1950; Bill's commitment was over in 1951. With all that was going on, he was involuntarily extended to serve one more year. It was called the "Truman" year. One more year for the President? No problem.

Toward the end of Bill's tour, an incident happened.

As the U.S.S. Huntington left its moorings, and headed to sea, a British merchant ship came aside it and struck the destroyer. There was considerable damage to the Huntington, and it had to be sent to dry-dock for repairs. Bill knew that his commitment to the country and the Navy was over and although they tried to keep this good sailor, he reported to the office where he could be released from active duty.

Bill returned to Western Nebraska. He had a different outlook on things and some savings. He also had the Montgomery G.I. Bill. He used the educational benefits to fund most of his college studies at Scottsbluff Junior College and Chadron State College.

Bill earned his bachelor's degree, master's degree and he has the hours for a doctorate, and only needs to finish the dissertation.

He became a teacher of mathematics. In time, he moved his family to Sidney. He taught in and retired from the Sidney Public Schools.

Good work, Radioman 2nd Class Bill Rush. Thank you for your service!