Serving proudly since 1873 as the beautiful Nebraska Panhandle's first newspaper
Serving proudly since 1873 as the beautiful Nebraska Panhandle's first newspaper
Having a parent who had served in the US military (Navy) for over 30 years would have an influence on a young man. Upon graduation from high school, William Simmons (Bill) pretty much knew what he was going to be doing the next few years. He had listened to his Dad’s advice and stories most of his life. He knew what to look for and what to expect.
After passing the usual tests for entrance into the US Navy, Bill flew from Denver to Chicago. A military bus awaited new recruits who would need a ride to the Great Lakes Naval Training Station. In that the arrival time was late, the new people were put in a condemned building until the next morning when things would get underway (Navy term).
Bill recalled that when he went to the clothing issue point, he was provided a stencil set. Once the letters and numbers were arranged per the specific user, all items of clothing would be personalized with the sailor’s name, etc. “W. Simmons …” would be permanently inked on every item of clothing -including the skivvies!
This was a measure used when large batches of clothing were washed and dried. The items usually reached the owner after the cleaning process.
During boot camp, however, there was an “RTC washing machine”. This was a Recruit Training Command bucket, where brand new sailors got to wash their own clothing! Due to the freezing temperatures in northern Illinois, wet clothing left outside usually froze instantly. There were large facilities that were out of the weather and useful for this piece of cleanliness.
Bill got through boot camp by meeting all the standards in a timely manner. In that he had joined the US Navy Reserve, once he completed boot camp, he returned to his Reserve Unit in Cheyenne, WY. Bill worked in the unit for a couple of years but it would be time for him to do some active duty aboard a ship. His Dad’s advice, “don’t get on a bird farm (air craft carrier) or a battle wagon (battleship). He selected the ATF section.
ATF is Attack Fleet Tug. This tremendously powered ship had the capability of towing the battleship USS New Jersey! It had four diesel engines in sync with one another. There were 85 personnel aboard. The ship had the usual accommodations of a galley, hot showers, and good hard work.
Aboard this ship, there are so many tasks to complete that all hands do work that is out of their official rating. Bill was an enlisted sailor who worked on the clerical level, the mechanical end of towing or lift suspension, and laying beach gear.
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