"The first Navy Veterans' Organization created on, and for, the World Wide Web."  Founder Edward C. Reese,  NCCS, USN, Retired  NAVETSUSA Life Member
	Life Member, NAVetsUSA  Barry A. Cruikshank Ship's Writer NAVetsUSA barryc52@netscape.net My Navy  Story studpoker701@cs.com bac701@aol.com

R.I.P.
Barry A. Cruikshank '52
Published in Feb. 14, 2007, issue
Barry died June 24, 2006. He was 78.

He was the epitome of an enthusiastic and loyal classmate and Princeton alumnus. Undeterred by a stroke in 1985 that left him wheelchair-bound, he was in high spirits at our 50th reunion, and until shortly before his death, he gave of himself unstintingly as webmaster, treasurer, and interviewer for the Princeton Association of Monmouth and Northeastern Ocean County, N.J.

Prior to attending Princeton, Barry served aboard the USS Richard B. Anderson. At Princeton he was a politics major, an NROTC midshipman, and a member of Dial Lodge. After graduation and before embarking on a varied civilian career, he served on the USS John W. Weeks as a lieutenant junior grade.

Barry worked for Scott Paper, New Jersey Bell, Kemper Insurance, and then Boynton Brothers insurance agents and brokers, from 1960 to 1997. He also stayed in the Naval Reserve until retirement as a lieutenant commander.

Barry complemented his enthusiastic service to nation, class, and calling with equally enthusiastic pro bono work, especially for the Boy Scouts of America.

Surviving Barry are his beloved wife, Nance; three children, Wendy, Peter, and Susan; and three grandchildren. To them all, the class extends deepest condolences
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Barry A. Cruikshank

This is a brief bio of my Navy career

        I tried to enlist in the Navy V7 program in 1944, but a doctor from my home town was on the final review Board at Third Naval District Headquarters in New York.  He knew I had seasonal hay-fever and disqualified me since he said I couldn’t wear an oxygen mask. 

        So I started college at Lehigh University where I was in Army ROTC.  We learned to field strip an M1 Garand rifle. 

        I lasted two terms at Lehigh.  Couldn’t understand Calculus or an Engineering Drawing Course, so I enlisted in the Navy in April 1946 as a S1/c(Etm).  I was sent to Great Lakes for Boot Camp and Electronics Materiél School.  In boot camp we field stripped the M1 rifle.  I did it the Army way which included disassembly of the trigger assembly.  The young Gunner’s Mate who was instructing saw my work and asked if I could  put it back together, which I did. 

        He’d never seen the trigger assembly dissembled. 

        In Electronics Materiél School a group of us were asked  to take the exams for the Naval Academy as none had been given in the Spring.  We did and in late August several of us were ordered to the Naval Academy Prep School in Bainbridge, Maryland.  There we had two instructors who had just graduated from the Academy and were at Bainbridge to play football. 

        Before each class they asked us why we  didn’t dis-enroll, get out and use the G.I. Bill for college.  That was rather discouraging.  Several of us did dis-enroll and I requested destroyer duty in the Atlantic.  I was ordered to USS Agerholm DD826 in Boston.  As soon as I boarded, she got underway for San Diego where I was transferred to USS Richard B. Anderson DD786.  Served aboard her until February 1948 when I was discharged. 

        I was selected for the NROTC program and enrolled in Princeton in the fall of 1948.  Graduated in 1952 and was commissioned Ensign USN.  Was assigned to USS John W. Weeks DD701.  Served aboard her until May 1955 when I was transferred to the Reserve and released to inactive duty. 

        I joined NRSD 3-40 in Perth Amboy, NJ, then NROS 3-4 in Elizabeth and later instructed in NROS 3-6 in Earle, NJ. I transferred to Stand-by Reserve and retired in 1988 as an LCDR USNR with 27 years credit for basic retirement. 

I’m also a member of the USS Richard B. Anderson DD786 Association and Tin Can Sailors and of course NAVetsUSA.

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