LCDR. Thomas Finney, USN
Casanova, Virgina
E:mail
Tfinneyclan@aol.com

..
Communications Officer 1974-1977
aboard USS Kawishiwi AO-146

I reported aboard as an Ensign in November 1974 and was assigned as 2nd Division Officer for 2 years and then became Communications Officer for the final year.  I left the ship in July 1977.  I now live in Virginia and retired as LCDR in 1992.  Retired LCDR in 6/92.  Moved to Virginia following my wife's career after many uprootings for her.  Spent 3 years renovating our 100+ year old house and went back to work in 1997 for the U.S. Postal Service.

 
Tours of duty included:
1966-67 RTC and NTC Great Lakes, IL  (Seaman Recruit and Seaman Apprentice)
1967 Fleet Sonar School, Key West, FL  (Seaman Apprentice and STGSN)
1968-69 Naval Facility Centerville Beach, CA (STGSN to STG2)
1970-1974 Transferred to USN and MC Reserve Training Center, Dayton, OH
while attending Wright State University.
1974-1977 USS Kawishiwi (AO-146)  (Ens. and Ltjg-Deck Dept. and Operations Dept.
1977-78 Navy Supply Corps School, Athens, GA  (Lt  and student)
1978-1980 USS Valdez (FF-1096)  Supply Officer
1980-1984 Naval Supply Center, Norfolk, Customer Service Dept. and Fuel Dept.
1984-86 Naval Supply Depot, Subic Bay, Fuel Dept. Director
1986-1989
Commander in Chief, U.S. Naval Forces, Europe, London.  Petroleum
Logistics Planning Officer
1990-92 Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Bremerton, WA-Navy Exchange and
Commissary Store Officer

Have you ever heard from or about CWO4 Bill Speir?  He was Bosn previous to CWO4 McLamb.  I think about him every once in a while.  A real sailor's sailor.  Be that good or bad.  A real pair of shoes to fill but McLamb did a great job.  I have a letter from Tom McLamb and have been meaning to write back but something always gets in the way.  I read Jim Barton's account of the status of  the ship in the mid 70s.  Quite an eye opener.  I knew it had its problems but I wasn't aware of the extent as described in his account.  I remember a time or two Jim walked into the wardroom and was ready to resign.  I guess the pressure was greater than a lot of us knew.