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Randy G. Greenlee 
email: randy.greenlee@yahoo.com

FTG SN  1966 - 1967

Three of my best friends during that period were Gary ‘Ivan’ Plavljanich, Lenny Scaletta and Robin ‘Hubie’ Huber.  We were in FOX division and were Fire Control Technicians.  Our job was to maintain and operate the computers, directors, radar and related equipment that locked on to and tracked air and surface targets during battle.  FOX division also included the gunners mates.
1966

2001

I was also trained to be part of the Kawishiwi recovery team on the Gemini Capsule recovery missions.   We went to the Recovery training School in Pearl.  I don’t remember if the trainers were Seals or UDT back then.  As I remember, the training lasted about a week.  The 1st thing we had to do was to swim (4) ¼ mile laps in the canal to prove we could survive in the water for a bit.  Then we were taught how to properly swim with snorkel, mask and fins.  We were then given pool training on how to attach the flotation gear to the capsule.  If I remember correctly, timing was important here because without the flotation gear the capsule had only a limited about of flotation life.  Another important fact was the ability to hold one’s breath because most of the work had to be done under water.  On the last day of training the capsule was put into the canal and we were timed on our performance in order to pass.  Unfortunately we did not get to try out our new skills because Gemini put down in the Atlantic.

In October of '66 while on Yankee Station off the coast of Vietnam, or on the way to Yankee Station the Kawishiwi developed a problem with one of the propeller shafts.  The Ship headed for the dry dock in Sasebo, Japan for repairs.  While we were there Ivan (Gary Plavljanich) and I asked and received permission to go down into the dry dock to look around at the ship and take pictures.  This first one is of me at the Bow.  A few years later when my young daughter, Angela, saw the picture I told her that 'Dad was holding up the bow so the workers could slide the resting blocks underneath'.
 
The Crew had good liberty while in Sasebo and in general we found the people very friendly and most of us had a good time.  There was one incident of interest though.  Because there had been reports of anti Vietnam/American 'student' protests prior to our arrival, the Captain posted an 24 hour armed guard watch on the dock.  We were issued an M-1 with no ammo.  Sure enough, one day when Ivan had the watch several thousand protesters came marching through the yard toward the ship.  Sporting Yankee Go Home and anti-American banners and wearing head bans, screaming and yelling- who knows what, they approached Ivan.  Ivan was ordering them to halt as they backed him up to the gangway.  Someone from the mob grab his M-1 and tossed it to the bottom of the dry dock.  Ivan was order up the gangway as it was raised.
 
The result of the incident was that Ivan was put on report for relinquishing his weapon to unauthorized personnel while on watch.  He was sent to ExO Mass where he was fined an amount equal to the replacement cost of the M-1.

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