I WAS BORN APRIL 25,1946 IN BESSEMAN ALABAMA. I JOINED THE NAVY JULY 17,1963. WAS SENT TO MONTGOMERY ALABAMA FOR MY PHYSICAL AND THEN TO GREAT LAKES FOR MY BASIC TRAINING. DURING BOOT CAMP I WAS SENT TO SICK BAY FOR ONE MONTH WHICH CAUSED ME TO STAY BEHIND TO FINISH MY TRAINING. AFTER BOOT CAMP I RECEIVED A 30 DAY LEAVE AND THEN WAS SHIPPED TO SAN FRANCISCO FOR DEPLOYMENT TO SUBIC BAY IN THE PHILLIPINES.I THEN WAS STATIONED ABOARD THE USS HANCOCK FOR PERMANENT DUTY GUARDING THE COASTLINE OF VIETNAM. AFTER THIS DEPLOYMENT I WAS TRANSFERRED TO MOFFITT FILED CALIFORNIA. WAS DISCHARGED APRIL 24,1967