My first duty station as an Ensign was the super carrier USS AMERICA (CVA 66), with then Captain Thomas B. Hayward in command.
After departing Norfolk on 3 January 1970 following the ship's first overhaul period, we sailed south for Guantanamo Naval Base, Cuba for eight weeks of refresher training. After being certified as ready for combat, we sailed for Vietnam, with stops in Rio and Subic Bay, Philippines. Pulling into Subic, the message came in that Captain Hayward had been selected for promotion to Rear Admiral. Eight short years later he was appointed Chief of Naval Operations (CNO)!
I still keep in touch with Admiral Hayward. As an Ensign, I learned a great deal from him and he had enough confidence in me to qualify me as an Officer of the Deck (OOD), running the AMERICA for four hours at a time. Being qualified by the skipper as an OOD on his carrier is no small matter, especially since our first night underway we almost collided with an oil tanker an hour after leaving Norfolk for Gitmo … but that’s another story.
This morning, I received this note from the Admiral …
John, for some reason I have just encountered this great email from you re Command Master Chief William's retirement. It might interest you that at my retirement in 1982, I dedicated the entire ceremony to the importance of the CPO to the Navy's mission; had invited all Command Master Chiefs to attend; and presented the Master Chief of the Navy, Tom Crow, with the Legion of Merit. His was the only award of the day. It was a stellar event that lives on in my heart. Tom Crow just passed away but served others right to the end.
Nothing like them...
Tom
After departing Norfolk on 3 January 1970 following the ship's first overhaul period, we sailed south for Guantanamo Naval Base, Cuba for eight weeks of refresher training. After being certified as ready for combat, we sailed for Vietnam, with stops in Rio and Subic Bay, Philippines. Pulling into Subic, the message came in that Captain Hayward had been selected for promotion to Rear Admiral. Eight short years later he was appointed Chief of Naval Operations (CNO)!
I still keep in touch with Admiral Hayward. As an Ensign, I learned a great deal from him and he had enough confidence in me to qualify me as an Officer of the Deck (OOD), running the AMERICA for four hours at a time. Being qualified by the skipper as an OOD on his carrier is no small matter, especially since our first night underway we almost collided with an oil tanker an hour after leaving Norfolk for Gitmo … but that’s another story.
This morning, I received this note from the Admiral …
John, for some reason I have just encountered this great email from you re Command Master Chief William's retirement. It might interest you that at my retirement in 1982, I dedicated the entire ceremony to the importance of the CPO to the Navy's mission; had invited all Command Master Chiefs to attend; and presented the Master Chief of the Navy, Tom Crow, with the Legion of Merit. His was the only award of the day. It was a stellar event that lives on in my heart. Tom Crow just passed away but served others right to the end.
Nothing like them...
Tom
(The file photo atop is from the Navy's website www.navy.mil Here is the caption: 790000-N-0000X-001 WASHINGTON, D.C. In this 1979 file photo, Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Thomas B. Hayward meets with the 4th Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy (MCPON) Thomas Crow and his wife, Carol Crow. Crow died of cancer Sunday, Nov. 30th at his home in San Diego. He was 74. Crow was selected for MCPON in June, 1979. During his time in office, he was instrumental in the opening of the Navy's Senior Enlisted Academy and the re-emphasis on pride and professionalism across the Fleet. (U.S. Navy Photo/Released)
After retiring as CNO, the Admiral and his wife, Peggy, moved to Honolulu and he started a consulting business that specialized in matters concerning commerce and other matters of importance to the Pacific Rim nations. I had the pleasure of doing some reserve duty in Hawaii, which provided me with the opportunity to visit with the Haywards. Then, in 1999 at a Change of Command ceremony for the Commanding Officer of USS MICHIGAN in Silverdale, Wash., I ran into the Admiral and Mrs. Hayward again. They had moved to the Seattle area to be closer to their children. As you might suspect, the Admiral is still very active and has been very involved in advancing our educational systems in the United States.
My days aboard AMERICA were most rewarding … Ninety aircraft, four and a half acres of flight deck, 5,500 men and 80,000 tons of ship capable of 35 knots – lots of responsibility for a 22 year-old. Although assigned to the ship for only nine months, I was took my responsibilities as an OOD and the Officer-in-Charge of a Repair Locker on the Hanger Bay during General Quarters stations seriously. In a previous post, I told the story of learning from Navy Chief Petty Officers. Ever Naval officer did. And if he learned well, he just might become a leader of men.
My primary job was Assistant Public Affairs Officer -- dealing with embarked media; running the ship’s radio and TV stations, daily newspaper and monthly magazine and fun stuff, like hosting Miss America. But, nothing was more rewarding that driving the ship, being a small part of the greatest Navy in the world and serving under a Captain who would soon run the United States Navy. I also learned, thanks to my Chiefs and fellow shipmates, how to become a leader, which has helped me tremendously in both my Navy Reserve and civilian careers.
Thanks, Admiral Hayward, and thanks to the late MCPON Crow and all his fellow Navy Chief Petty Officers. Sometimes you get lucky.
Thanks, Admiral Hayward, and thanks to the late MCPON Crow and all his fellow Navy Chief Petty Officers. Sometimes you get lucky.
Admiral Hayward lived in Los Altos, California in the late 1950's when he was stationed at Moffet Field. I had supervised the building of his home on La Prenda. Later I became a general building contractor and lived around the corner from Hayward and wife Peggy.
ReplyDeleteBob and Lisa Awtrey, Navy people lived across the street from the Haywards. James Stockdale and wife Sybil lived in the Los Altos Hills. The Awtrey's were great party people, where many neighbors including the Hayward's and Stockdale's attended
I was a reserve fighter pilot at the time and developed great respect for Hayward who was a man who was destined to great things. I have many little stories that I shall not recite here, but it was a pleasure to have such people as neighbors and friends.
To my surprise, no one at the Moffet Field Museum had any knowledge of any of those people serving at Moffet and had no pictures other than a small one of Stockdale with no comments.
I would certainly appreciate information about getting suitable pictures to be placed in the Moffet Museum, especially Admiral Hayward and Admiral Stockdale with some official information with time of service at Moffet and ranks at that time.
Any information about all of these Officers and families will be greatly appreciated.
Hayward sat in on meetings with local communities when they wanted the fighters to go away due to noise and fear of accidents. He informed them that they would likely be asking to bring them back, due to loss of business etc.
Sure enough the Locals did ask for return after Le Moore was built and of course we all know the answer.
HDLandon@aol.com
Roger all on MCPON Crow. I had lunch with VADM Lando W. Zech Jr., on Friday. He was CNP when Crow was MCPON. Together with CNO Hayward, they established the Senior Enlisted Academy in 1981 at Newport RI. VADM Zech had great respect from MCPON Crow and his wife Carol.
ReplyDeleteCheck out my blog at
www.navycaptain-therealnavy.blogspot.com
I would certainly appreciate information about getting suitable pictures to be placed in the Moffet Museum, especially Admiral Hayward and Admiral Stockdale.Meet and greet at Luton airport
ReplyDeleteI served in America 1969-1970. Can you tell me the name of the shipboard publication that covered the dependents day cruise just before the Vietnam deployment? I have been trying to get a copy of that one for several years.
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