When I was at Naval Station Great Lakes, Ill., for basic training 60 years ago, I really had it "rough." I had a little singing talent, and when asked to volunteer for the Blue Jackets Choir, I readily agreed. This was the beginning of a great boot camp experience. When my company shipmates were doing things like physical training or drills, I had to practice singing with the choir. When everyone else was committed to staying on base for our training duration, I had to travel weekends with the choir performances.
One memorable performance was the Easter Sunday service at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas, Texas. Another notable time was when the choir performed for a D-Day program on June 6, 1957, for the CBS TV “Tonight Show” with Steve Allen. I got to sing a solo, “The Battle Hymn of the Republic.” That made my mother very proud as she watched the program on TV at home.
My memories of boot camp are good. In fact, my time in the Navy was good. I served five years in airborne air traffic control and in tower operations the last two years of my service.
Best of all, at my last duty station, I met a beautiful blonde girl who became my wife. She has put up with me for the past 55 years.