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Why I Joined The Navy
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- Photography -
It was Christmas day 1968 when I was given a Kodak Instamatic 44 camera. The camera came in a plastic blister pack and didn’t have any extras. Film, Flash and Batteries were extra. The film type was 126 cartridge film. My mother told me later that she paid $5.00 for the camera. At Amazon it is worth $18.40 + $5.45 shipping.
From that time, I was fascinated with photography.
Learning how to take pictures with the right
lighting and composition. On Christmas
day 1970 I was given my first enlarger with enough equipment to develop and
print my own pictures. Spring of 1973 I was
able to buy my first 35 mm camera. We
moved to California where I became a photographer in a photography class.
- Sunday Funnies -
In December 1976 there were only 3 people living in
the house. My dad, my mother and
me. On the first Sunday of December, my
mother was out of state taking care of my grandmother and my dad went somewhere
for the weekend. I was walking from my
bedroom towards the kitchen. Then I
paused for a few moments and realized how quiet the house was. I looked up started thinking there had to be
something more than this. Then I
continued to the kitchen and saw the Los Angeles Times Sunday paper. I sat down and turned to the Sunday comics
section. When I began to turn the pages,
something fell out and on to the floor.
I picked it up and read that it was an advertisement to join the army. It had square shaped coupons with different
jobs you could enlist for. One of them
was a photography rating. I immediately
thought this is it I’m joining the army.
One or two weeks later I went to the army recruiting office and told them I wanted to join the army and the reason. I handed the photography rating coupon to one of the 2 recruiters that were there. They both sounded real positive assuring me I could join the army and get the photography rating. Within the next one or two weeks they sent me to two different places. The first place was to take a written aptitude test to evaluate my abilities and what field I would be more likely suitable. The department that graded the scores said I made high scores on every section of the testing. The second place is where they had many of us go through physical examination including blood test. The results showed I was in excellent condition. After the testing I went back to the army recruiting office where they had already received the results of my testing and physical exams. They were impressed and wanted to sign me up right away. As they were gathering the paper work, I asked them, “What guarantee will I get to get the photography rating?” Their response wasn’t what I expected. They told me the photography rating was closed but I could join the army in another rating and transfer somehow to the photography rating if an opening came through. Then they handed me a list of different ratings that I could be in. I said I would like to take a few days to think about which rating to join. They said it was fine with them. Then I left.
One or two weeks later I went to the army recruiting office and told them I wanted to join the army and the reason. I handed the photography rating coupon to one of the 2 recruiters that were there. They both sounded real positive assuring me I could join the army and get the photography rating. Within the next one or two weeks they sent me to two different places. The first place was to take a written aptitude test to evaluate my abilities and what field I would be more likely suitable. The department that graded the scores said I made high scores on every section of the testing. The second place is where they had many of us go through physical examination including blood test. The results showed I was in excellent condition. After the testing I went back to the army recruiting office where they had already received the results of my testing and physical exams. They were impressed and wanted to sign me up right away. As they were gathering the paper work, I asked them, “What guarantee will I get to get the photography rating?” Their response wasn’t what I expected. They told me the photography rating was closed but I could join the army in another rating and transfer somehow to the photography rating if an opening came through. Then they handed me a list of different ratings that I could be in. I said I would like to take a few days to think about which rating to join. They said it was fine with them. Then I left.
I never went back to that recruiting office.
- The Navy -
- The Navy -
In January I thought about joining the navy. Then I received a phone call from my sister
in Texas. She told me I shouldn’t join the
service and about my parents getting a divorce.
And she invited me to be the best man at her wedding. I was surprised to hear the parents were
getting a divorce. Then I told her I
wasn’t sure if I fly to Houston and I would wait to join the navy until after
her wedding in February.
February had arrived and I was able to fly to Texas for the wedding. My grandfather flew from Orlando, Florida to become the best man in the wedding. After the wedding I went back to California.
February had arrived and I was able to fly to Texas for the wedding. My grandfather flew from Orlando, Florida to become the best man in the wedding. After the wedding I went back to California.
Days later I went to the navy recruiting office in
Canoga Park, California. I walked in with
confidence and saw there was only one recruiter. He gave me a strange look and introduced himself
as Jim. He asked why I wanted to join
the navy. I told him the truth and told
him about my experience with the army recruiters. Then I asked him if he planned on lying to
me. He gave me another strange look and
said no. Then I asked him if I could get
the photography rating. He said that
rating was always closed and I would probably never get that rating. I liked his honesty and told him I wanted to
be in the navy. He began with the paper
work and said he could transfer the test scores from the army to his
office. The physical exams would be done
again the day I signed my final papers.
Days later he called to let me know the scores were
in. I went back to the recruiter and
went over the results of the test scores.
He said the scores were really good and said I could sign up for any
rating I wanted except for cooking.
With his help I eventually signed up for one the accounting
choices. He even arranged for me to have
my boot camp training in Orlando, Florida.
Days later he called again on March 10, 1977. I arrived and he wanted to know if I was
ready to join that day. I said yes. Then he said I would probably spend the weekend
in a hotel in downtown Los Angeles. I
didn’t want to spend the week end Los Angeles and asked Jim if I could sign up
for the “delayed entry program” for 4 days. Jim
managed to sign me up for the 4 days and I was able the spend the weekend at
home. Then on Monday, March 14, 1977 Jim
picked me up at the house and we went to his office to sign the final papers. After signing the final papers, I was taken to
get a physical examination. Then went to
the hotel in downtown Los Angeles. After
spending the night there, I was flown to Orlando, Florida for boot camp on
March 15, 1977.
May 1977 - Sea World - Orlando, Florida
Kevin Kemp, Falkenberg, James Ashley Pearce, Michael
Lee Kribbs
May 1977 - Sea World - Orlando, Florida
Falkenberg, James Ashley Pearce, Kevin Kemp
July 7, 1977 - Hotel Caribe Receipt - Rota, Spain
July 7, 1977 - Rota, Spain
USS John F. Kennedy CV-67
USS John F. Kennedy CV-67
Valencia,
Jesus Alarcon, Wade Wiley Watley
October
1977 - Bush Gardens - Virginia
Wade
Wiley Watley, Jesus Alarcon
Wade
Wiley Watley
USS John F. Kennedy CV-67
USS
John F. Kennedy CV-67
May
1978 - Airport - Norfolk,
Virginia
Timothy
James Masterson
May
1978 - USS John F. Kennedy CV-67
L.
Masser and Wade Wiley Watley
May
1978 - USS John F. Kennedy CV-67
Littlejohn,
Timothy James Masterson, Tyrone Roden
June
1978 – Smithsonian
- Washington, DC
Lighthouse
Fresnel Lens 
June
1978 – Capitol - Washington, DC
Michael
Lee Kribbs 
1978 - USS John F. Kennedy CV-67
August 1978 - Trieste, Italy
Merimar Castle
Merimar Castle
August 1978 - Trieste, Italy
Jesus Alarcon - Merimar Castle
Jesus Alarcon - Merimar Castle
August 1978 - Naples, Italy
Dennis Crabtree, Lima, Mathew Schnur, Michael L. Kribbs
Dennis Crabtree, Lima, Mathew Schnur, Michael L. Kribbs
August 1978 - Naples, Italy
Tyrone Roden, Dennis Crabtree
Tyrone Roden, Dennis Crabtree
Mathew Schnur
Michael Lee Kribbs, Wade Wiley Watley
Kevin Pulliam, Dennis Crabtree, Frank Herbert
October 1978 - Torranto, Italy - Liberty Boat
Kevin Pulliam
October 1978 - Palma, Spain
October 1978 - Palma, Spain
Ronnie and McKellar
Spanish Soldiers
November 1978 - Rome, Italy
Vatican
Vatican - Pope Garden
Downtown
Fountain
Pigeons
Bird Lady
McKellar - Brass Bathroom
Pitti Palace
Pitti Palace Fountain
View from Leaning Tower
LTJG Larry Hamilton and LTJG Robert Knauer
USS John F. Kennedy CV-67 in Background
Spanish House
Wade Wiley Watley
Timothy James Masterson
Michael Kribbs
Portsmouth Boat Sign
Flight Deck on the Kennedy
Flight Deck on the Kennedy
Ship Refueling Hangerbay
Ship Refueling with USS Milwauke
Goswick and Littlejohn - 9 Fox Station
Broken Arresting Gear
Flight Deck - USS John F. Kennedy CV-67
Flight Deck - USS John F. Kennedy CV-67
Filght Deck Steel Beach Picnic
Kevin Kemp Spilled the Beans on the Elevator
F-14
Helicopter
View of Downtown
Lighthouse
John Profilet and Manuel Belanio - Wright Brothers Monument
John Profilet and Manuel Belanio
Michael L. Kribbs with Yashica Mat 124G Camera
Visitors Line On Ship For Tall Ships Celebration
Visitors Line On Ship For Tall Ships Celebration
Near Downtown
Leroy Adkins, Owen G. Squires, John Profilet, (?), Manuel Belanio
Pier
Plymouth Rock
One Room House
Michael Kribbs in White T-Shirt
Michael Kribbs On Left
Parachuters and Plane
Chart Map
Golden Anchor Picture
S-3 Division Muster - 7:00AM
LTJG Hamilton Passport Photo
Michael Kribbs - 20 Hour Work Day in Sales Office
LTJG Hamilton and SHCS Stoudt
View From USS John F Kennedy CV 67
Grapes
August 1980 - Toulon, France
Wind Sailing - USS John F. Kennedy CV-67 in Background
September 1980 - Capri, Italy
Leroy Adkins In Sales Office
Frank Herbert - Mess Deck
Air Show - Owen G Squires (Left)
Fountain at Zoo
The Barcelona Zoo Was The Home Of . . .
Snowflake, the World's First White Gorilla
Orphaned in Rio Muni, a Spanish possession in
Africa, a white gorilla finds a home in the Barcelona zoo.
https://nationalgeographicbackissues.com/national-geographic-1960-1969-back-issues/national-geographic-march-1967.html
https://nationalgeographicbackissues.com/national-geographic-1960-1969-back-issues/national-geographic-march-1967.html
White Pelicans at Zoo
The Barcelona Zoo Was The Home Of . . .
Snowflake, the World's First White Gorilla
Orphaned in Rio Muni, a Spanish possession in Africa, a white gorilla finds a home in the Barcelona zoo.
Tour Guide Lady
Brown, Owen G. Squires, Michael L. Kribbs, John Profilet
Flight Deck
Flight Deck Cleaning
Food Stand
Army Truck
Jonathan the Tour Guide
Wailing Wall Wedding
Dome of the Rock
Mount of Olives
Soldiers
Manger
Manger
William Sayles Bishop and Dave
William Sayles Bishop
Timothy James Masterson - Horseback Riding
Timothy James Masterson - Liberty Boat
Tony Cabral - Flight Ops
Michael Kribbs - Flight Ops
( Tony Cabral Took This Picture. )
F-14 Pilots LCDR Wayne Wilson and LCDR Barry Recame
F-14 Jets Departing
Flight Ops
Sales Office LT Hamilton Has A Baby
LT Hamilton, Walewski, Owen G. Squires, Leroy Adkins
Tony Cabral, Timothy James Masterson, Michael Lee Kribbs
Timothy James Masterson
Timothy James Masterson and LT Woods
William Sayles Bishop
( This Is The Last Picture I Took On The Ship )
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Comments Are Welcomed
Most Pictures Taken By
Michael L. Kribbs
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6 comments:
Great pictures, good times, you got to see ita lot of the world.
Thanks Mr. Unknown,
i would like to put your name in this comment field.
I am so thankful for the photos you posted in the blog. I served on the Big John for the 1980 Med cruise and all my pictures are lost. I only have a couple left which is cherish so I can share with my grandson who has just joined the Navy. Mail lost the rolls of film I shot at the Parthenon. I was heartbroken as I've never going to be there again. Thanks again, thanks for you service and Never Forget! Semper Fortis
Excellent pics and memories! I served onboard JFK May 80 to Jan. 82, I remember Boston well and you are right when you say that was the best port!!
I was on the Big John from oct 76 to oct 81 did and seen most of the cruises that u did great memories.
We may have been sailing together in the Mediterranian from off Naples on Feb 9, 1981. I being a Danish journalist was granted a US-funded European round trip. Boarded JFK and stayed overnight. Very interesting and a great memory for life. I have some pics, but this being a blog comment I don't think I can post them here. If you'd like them, you just send a mail or whatever.
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