Harvey Wright – Rescuing the Rescuer
Harvey Wright describes some of the places he visited while on board the Orleck in Japan and recounts some times when he rescued other sailors.
Bertha Foster – Satellites and Stars
Bertha Foster describes the positive experience she had working for space command at Vandenberg Air Force Base in Lompoc, California.
David Waterman – Lost in Translation
Fire Controlman 2nd Class David Waterman talks about being stationed on the Orleck, which was homeported in Yokosuka, Japan for two years.
William Walker – A Salute to Penguins and Polaris
William Walker served in the US Navy from 1952 to 1972, including a deployment to Operation Deep Freeze in Antarctica where he handled paperwork and observed wildlife. He was later transferred to Patrick Air Force Base and witnessed Polaris missile tests.
Terry Tingley – The Presidential Dirt
Terry Tingley recounts his journey into the Navy’s hospital corps, contrasting it with his initial aspiration of becoming an aviation photographer. He also shares stories about President Johnson’s hospital stay, detailing the President’s demands and ties to Texas.
Larry Kent – Air Assault Computer Operator
Larry Kent joined the Army to find direction in his life. He was older than most recruits and surprised his mother by enlisting before telling her. Kent wanted to see the world, especially Europe. He trained as a computer operator at Fort Gordon, Georgia, and was stationed in Pirmasens, Germany, where he worked at the […]
Robert LeClair – Living the High Line
Robert LeClair, Machinist Mate 2nd Class, USS ORLECK 1965-69, was highlined on and off the Orleck three times and describes the time he fixed a steam leak in the ship’s main condenser.
Bob Buehn – Fence-Line Diplomacy
Bob Buehn served at Guantanamo Bay from 2000 to 2003, characterizing it as a historic and beautiful location where he felt like a small-town mayor. The base primarily focused on operational continuity and had a civilian-heavy population. Following 9/11, it rapidly transformed into a detention facility for 300 individuals. Buehn cultivated a strong working relationship […]
Aaron “Gary” Newman – “Welcome to the Hachi Hachi Roku”
Gary Newman remembers the young sailors he encountered when he first arrived in Japan and checked on board the Orleck. Many spoke Japanese and were very ingrained in the local culture.