Stribling, Grady, CWO3

Best Friends
FA John Brady
EM1 Shorter
EM1 Murphy
MM1 Marshall

Best Moment
I successfully completed the "Fireman's " (FN) course October 30, 1964 and advanced to pay grade E-3 on November16, 1964. The personnel officer made this a prerequisite for approving my request to attend Electrician's Mate School.

Worst Moment
John Brady and myself pulled-in four new heavy duty electrical cables from a manhole where the pier began to the main disconnect switch near the far end of the pier. As the tide allowed, the cables were past through openings in the cross beams under the pier using a 10 ft. Jon boat.

Other Memories
Close to the end of Boot Camp we were given the opportunity to select three choices of where we wanted to be stationed after Boot Camp. However, it didn't mean we would get any of our requests. I wanted to go to Electrician's Mate School but my test scores were too low in the "Mechanical Knowledge" part of the entrance exam to qualify. After all, I just turn 17 and straight out of high school and my knowledge of of hand tools was limited to a hammer, saw, pliers, well; you get the picture. ALL I knew about where I was going was, it wouldn't be Electrician's Mate School. As time came nearer to Boot Camp Graduation, we had a visitor from the Personnel Office announcing there were two opening's for Electrician's Mate "Strikers" here, at the Training Center's Electric Shop. I didn't like the idea of being stationed at Cape May, N.J. with it's miserably cold winters. After thinking about it, I decided if I wanted to be an Electrician's Mate, I would have to go after it. No one was going to to give it to me. I submitted my request with my experience from working with my Dad, an electrician. Although, my experience was limited to pulling some wire in an attic of a house, at least twice, which I didn't indicate in my request. I didn't think about the time would come when I would have an interview with the Chief Electrician's Mate in charge of the Electric Shop. Actually, I didn't think it would get that far but it did. At the interview, I let him know just how limited my experience was, although I was willing to learn and put forth the effort. The out come was my request and John Brady's, another member of my Company, was approved.
And so began my tour of duty at the USCG Training Center Cape May, N.J. in March of 1964. One of the first things we had to do after reporting to our new assignment was have the two white stripes on our uniform sleeve changed to two red stripes. Our designated rank had changed from "Seaman Apprentice" (E-2) to "Fireman Apprentice" (E-2). We now became members of the "Permanent Party" with a room in the new barracks. The living conditions were excellent. For someone in the pay grade of E-2, Cape May had everything I needed. I remember John and I would go to the Enlisted Club and shoot pool and have a beer. Our Assistant Company Commander during Boot Camp, BM! Jeremiah Donahue, was tending Bar. He would always buy us a beer every time we came in. The first time I had three beers and almost fell off the bar stool. It wasn't long after that I found myself in the Head "talking to Ralph". It was not a pleasant experience for the first time as a beer drinker.
John and I Found the summers at Cape May were very pleasant . When we had enough money, we would visit Wild wood, N.J. and Atlantic City. Atlantic City had a boardwalk and The Steel Pier where a DJ would play the latest hits and everyone would be dancing to the latest dance craze. One in particular I remeber was the "Bristle Stomp". I remember when the Supremes were singing in one of the clubs at Wildwood but John and I didn't get in because we were not 21. We had a lot of fun and made a lot of friends that summer.
Our shipmates in the Electric Shop were a great bunch of guys. They advised John and I to put in a request to go to Electrician's Mate School because we could learn so much more in a short period olf time rather than "striking" for the Rate. After recieving our request, we met with CDR Hall, the Personnel Officer. She told us to complete the CG corespondance course for"Fireman" and she would send us to EM School at Groton, Conn. John and I both got busy and completed the course by Nov.1964 and advanced to our new Rate of Fireman (E-3). CDR Hall was good at at her word and John and I both were given orders to report to the CG Training Center at Groton, Conn. in December. I know the recommendation the guys in the Electric shop had a lot to do with John and I attending electrician's Mate School. My last memory of Cape May was being invited to have Thanksgiving Dinner with EM1 Shorter and his family. I'll never forget their kindness and hospitality.