This photo, republished in 1995, was probably done in late 1947/early '48 since I enlisted in April '49 after two semesters at Wm. L. Dickinson High School, Jersey City, NJ.

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Chronology:

1932 - 1949

Born alive to Helen V. and Andrew H. Barr, Sr., Margaret Hague Hospital, Jersey City, New Jersey, in 1932.  Most, but not all of my growing was done in Secaucus, NJ. - and became my original Navy official home of record.

The Lenni Lenape habituated this area "originally".  Secaucus, in 1949 when I left for the Navy, was known more for it's hog farms than its native beginnings.  You who travel may know, or remember, the healthy aroma around the northern New Jersey Turnpike meadows - aha! you are familiar with that aren't you?  Of course, early on, the turnpike hadn't yet been built.  Doris Duke once owned "perfumed piggeries" here.  John J. Kane was mayor for - 6000 - years, and Henry Krejewski, a local hog farmer, took a pig to the White House steps.  In 1949 we had two elementary schools - Clarendon and Huber St. (1 - 6) - and Lincoln Jr. High (7 - 9).  High schoolers went out of town.  We had a couple new police cars.  For a while I worked the 6PM to 6AM shift with Frank at Harold's Diner; later setting pins at Rudy Mraz's Plaza Bowl ... (hi, Doris).  My home town; I loved it.  I had - and still have - two friends ... Don Koons and Roy Otto, both of whom went Navy after Korea started.  There were several buddies, too - but lost contact has dimmed those a bit.  Secaucus today?  Check your Panasonic battery labels; the town grew up.

1947 - 1948 - Boy Scout Troop 22 (Star Scout) - (I couldn't swim); but I did a pretty good Indian hand wrestle at Camp Towadena one year.

1948 - 1949 - Sea Scout Ship 35 - (I still couldn't swim).

This ship was situate in an old (and holed) cattle barge down on the "Hackie" (Hackensack River).  I didn't know that the winter gangway watches were training me for future quarterdeck watches in similar freezing, wet weather.  I learned Morse code and blinking light there.  At high tide one corner of the inside deck would flood.  We had a boat; took a cruise down the Hackie through the Kill van Kull to the Hudson River and north to the Bear Mountain Bridge where a bearing went out on day two.  Spent three days at the Sea Scout ship in Nyack, NY awaiting transport home; they had an Admiral's barge "loaned" by the Navy - surplus.  But that's another story.

January 1949 - Left William L. Dickinson High School in Jersey City; tried without success to find a real job (I was still setting pins at Rudy's, primarily partnering with Roy during leagues - "Hey, Roy - remember those pins slamming the wall and splitting in two?") and never paid attention to the fact there were WWII veterans still without work.

Flustered with someone I "adored" and tired of hearing about Roy's plan to "Join the Navy" when he hit seventeen (he was checking off a calendar every day - yes you were -(:))) I, in a fit of one-upmanship (to both situations), went to 90 Church St. in New York in March and after two visits, was picked up for September/November entry.  Well, a week or so later I got orders.  Determined to have a good time before leaving I planned some "stay out late" things and immediately came down with - measles - mild, but enough to keep me at home wouldn't you know.  Anyway, I made my date and went off to the wonderful world of boot camp - Great Lakes - wherever THAT was.

I was very fortunate ... across "19-6-and 10" - by enlisting early I missed the draft (Korea) by a year or so; got into radar school setting a career path early; transferred to Norfolk before the Hobson made port in Charleston; navigated through several near misses at sea (and once in port); made the ranks quickly; and retired at a decent age.  And, being a frustrated destroyer skipper wannabe, I got to drive my last ship all over the Caribbean and Mediterranean Seas.  Good times; tedious, boring times - good, bad and no liberty (mostly, there were boats); good buddies and some really fine friends.  In the rear window, maybe I should have done thirty - but who knows?

The next pages are my recollections of duty stations, for whatever the value.  As "best effort", the "story" flows through the single links at the bottom of each applicable page.  For those using the GO Direct link you'll find pages titled Prologue, Ships and Stations. At Epilogue you might want to add sound.  Other bottom page links add Intro and Notes.  While many folks are attracted to one or two ships or stations, it is hoped that you will visit the whole site - for at least two reasons: (1) the story line in some cases carries into additional pages, (2) I do get feedback that either corrects (my memory) or adds to, or detracts from, "the Word" as published herein.  Besides, there are some pretty fine links here.  Things change - so come back from time to time - you may find it a rewarding few minutes.

Good Ship - Good Crew
Merry Christmas - Turn To!

Enjoy.
Andy Barr

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