Find a Shipmate or Ship here. Try by last name only for best results.

NAVETSUSA Ralph E. Young OS1 (SW) 1979-1994 "The first Navy Veterans' Organization created on, and for, the World Wide Web." Founder Edward C. Reese, NCCS, USN, Retired navy tHonoring your past . . . Reminding your children The Navy Biography Site	Plank Owner  Navy Veterans of the USA
	Ralph E. Young OS1 (SW) 1979-1994 gatorsailor@msn.com 1522 North 550 West Clinton, UT  84015 OS 1 (SW) 1979-1994 (801) 390-1179     My Facebook

Enlisted in March 79. Attended boot camp at RTC San Diego, CA, after which I attended OS 'A' School at FCTCLant DAM Neck, VA. I was assigned to the first class of OS'A' students to go through the new school at Dam Neck, after moving it from NTC Great Lakes, IL.
My first ship was the USS Schofield (FFG-3), part of Desron Twenty-three, homeported in San Diego. In Nov 79, we deployed as part of the Coral Sea Battle Group, for WesPac 79-80, in which we spent three months in the Arabian Sea due to the Iran Hostage Incident. We returned to San Diego in May 80. In September the Schofield went in for overhaul at the Long Beach Naval Shipyard, Long Beach, CA. While the ship was in Long Beach, I was sent TAD to Long Beach Shore Patrol. 
In Dec 1981 I PCS'd to Fleet Electronic Warfare Support Group, Detachment Two, at NAS North Island, CA. There we provided training support to US and Canadian Fleet units, as well as units from other branches. I went on detachments on several different types of ship's, aircraft and land bases. All in all a fun assignment. In 1982 I put on OS2.
In Nov 84, I PCS'd to the Naval War College, Newport, RI, where I was assigned to the War Gaming Center. Perhaps the most intriguing assignment. We worked with students, Major Command Staffs, and other nations in running war games in order to test or develop doctrine, relearn lessons, re fight battles or what other directives came down from the SecNav or CNO. I worked in the Ground Combat Cell, for a pair of Marine Lt Colonels, that taught me how to speak fluent Marine. In 1985, I made OS1
In Feb 87, I was transferred to the USS Raleigh (LPD-1) on very short orders. Her OI Division LCPO and LPO had been fired for cause, and my detailer told me that I was going to the Raleigh. So I packed up my family, and moved to Norfolk, VA. I met the ship the day she returned from her Med cruise. When I checked on board, I didn't realize what kind of a roller coaster ride it would be. Two Persian Gulf cruises in support of Operation Ernst Will, Two Trips to Gitmo for Reftra, Two trips to Boston for the Fourth of July, a trip to Halifax, Nova Scotia, and last but not least, the big dance, Operations Desert Shield/Storm. We did things that LPDs were not meant to do, wrote doctrine for others to follow, fought Iranians, Iraqis, marines, played soccer against other ship, base and allied teams. And even came close to shooting down a helicopter flown by a British Prince in the Red Sea. Indeed Raleigh was an interesting ship.
After Decommissioning Raleigh in Dec 91, I was transferred to Fleet Combat Training Center, Atlantic, in Beautiful Dam Neck, VA. The Navy's best kept secret. Here I was assigned to Student Services, as the Company Commander, for the Holding Company. I was responsible for all non A School students awaiting school, students who had completed school and were awaiting port calls for there ships, or awaiting orders. I also had all sailors who had dropped out of school and were awaiting orders, sailors who were on legal hold, and sailors who were on medical hold. Needles to say, I was a very busy man, and I had a great staff supporting me. I worked for a SMCM (SW/AW) McGrath, who was probably one of the most squared away and best enlisted leaders I ever had the opportunity to work for. 
For the last Year, I was assigned to special projects, where we were responsible for the move of the schools at Mare Island, CA, to Dam Neck. However, a little earthquake in southern California that year, sucked all the funding for our project for the fiscal year, and we ended up (being an office of the sick, lame and lazy), attending doctrs appointments, reading message traffic, reading the sports page, then heading to the golf course at NAS Oceana, with the LT, for a round, before going home. In April 94 it was decided to medical board me out do to a knee injury, and in Jun 94, I was medically discharged from the Navy after fifteen years service.

Who We Are   How to Join  Members Page  HomePage Index  Navy News
Naval HistoryShip Locator   Links FeedbackCredits NAVetsUSA Events 

---

Send comments to navapps@earthlink.net