“How queer everything is today!
And yesterday things went on just as usual.” ― Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland
And yesterday things went on just as usual.” ― Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland
ACTIVELY RESERVED
Covering the 10 years between Active retirement and the decomissioning of USS Estes for the final time.
Very active at T.I., Presidio, Mare Island, Alameda, Pt. Chicago Naval Weapons Station, and Hunter's Point.
Whenever the Estes was in the region it seems his "Reserved" status become "Activated". Current events, certainly pertaining to military movements were always discussed seriously in the house. Certain current news events would trigger more serious discussion and the energy of the rooms would be palpably heavier. If trips to the bases ticked up, usually some noteworthy world event was going on that might activate him at any time... Cuban Missile Crisis - Bay of Pigs - Action in Vietnam, Middle East. It just seemed a VERY active "Retirement".
I was often taken on these excursions and day trips as they came up. During his tenure at Beckman on the E.A.S.E. super-Computer of it's day.
The Chief often took me into their facilities on weekends if he had gone in for some development, testing, programming and/or manufacturing. We would then go by one of the military bases for meetings in offices or Officers Clubs. As a Chief Petty Officer, he was welcome in both Chief's Clubs as well as Officer's Clubs. Children of a certain age and demeanor were welcome in these clubs, and I was often attended to be wait staff at a table removed from the Bar and Officers.
Very active at T.I., Presidio, Mare Island, Alameda, Pt. Chicago Naval Weapons Station, and Hunter's Point.
Whenever the Estes was in the region it seems his "Reserved" status become "Activated". Current events, certainly pertaining to military movements were always discussed seriously in the house. Certain current news events would trigger more serious discussion and the energy of the rooms would be palpably heavier. If trips to the bases ticked up, usually some noteworthy world event was going on that might activate him at any time... Cuban Missile Crisis - Bay of Pigs - Action in Vietnam, Middle East. It just seemed a VERY active "Retirement".
I was often taken on these excursions and day trips as they came up. During his tenure at Beckman on the E.A.S.E. super-Computer of it's day.
The Chief often took me into their facilities on weekends if he had gone in for some development, testing, programming and/or manufacturing. We would then go by one of the military bases for meetings in offices or Officers Clubs. As a Chief Petty Officer, he was welcome in both Chief's Clubs as well as Officer's Clubs. Children of a certain age and demeanor were welcome in these clubs, and I was often attended to be wait staff at a table removed from the Bar and Officers.
