USS Watts (DD-567)
| I grew up
in Lakewood, WA, near Ft Lewis and McChord AFB (now known
as Joint Base Lewis/McChord or JBLM) and
my father was a Reserve Army Artillery Officer. I
knew that I wanted no part of the Army. A classmate
of mine told me that he was already drilling with the
Naval Reserve and after high school he would only serve
two years of active duty and that was it. It sounded
interesting to me and I decided to join. (It was also a
way to avoid being drafted into the Army.) I was 17
years old and needed parent's permission, so Dad came with
me to counter signed the endless paper work, however, I
was sworn in on Sept 22, 1963, the day after my 18th
birthday when Dad's signature was no longer
required. We were sworn in by a Rear Admiral who
happened to be touring local Reserve Centers. |
 (That's me on the right.) |