Don Coons MM2 2-8-61/6-70
2-61/5-61 USNTC San Diego Boot Camp Company 091
5-61/9-62 USNAS Alameda Security Department
9-62/11-64 USNS Guam, M.I. Security Department
11-64/4-65 USNTC Great Lakes MM “A” School
4-65/10-68 USS Isle Royale AD-29 M Division
10-68/6-70 NAS Alameda Ass’t. Mgr. E-5/E-6 Club (Early Discharge)
6-70/6-71 Ass’t. Mgr. “O” Club NAS Alameda
6-71/4-79 Boiler Operator/HVAC Mechanic U.S. Dept. of Agriculture Albany, CA.
4-76/4-85 Part time Commercial Fisherman out of San Francisco
4-79/1-92 Boiler Operator, Leadman, Foreman Navy Public Works Center, Oakland, CA.
1-92/5-93 Utilities Mgr. Concord Naval Weapons Station. (Retired due to base closure)
7-93 Obtained license as Life, Disability and Long Term Care Insurance Agent (Never sold a policy)
10-98/10-05 Volunteer Reserve Contra Costa Sheriff Dept. Through Amateur Radio
9-00/Present Joined Gold Wing Touring Association. Served as Chapter Safety Dir., Chapter Ass’t Dir., Oregon State Safety Dir., and now National Rider Education Director.
At present I have over 500K Accident free motorcycle miles and ride both a 1997 Honda Goldwing Trike and a 1995 Goldwing Bike. All I can say is that at this stage of my life it’s been a great ride.
Oh, and as of 6-23-2011 Judy and I have been together 49 years (She still looks the same).
I have just looked at the web site and am sending this
note regarding my father, Lt. Jeremiah Edwards Jr. He served on the ship
from re-commisioning in 1962 until 9/63. He was the 1st Lt on
board through the transfer from the USS Hamul AD-20 which he joined in Hawaii
during the deployment in 1961.
I visited the ship many times. Two stories to
share.
During the transfer from Hamul to Isle Royale,
large machinery was transferred. Dad’s Deck Dept sailors had to rig
these machines to move them horizontally through ports cut in the sides of the
ships. He said it was the toughest moving job he ever had.
When the ship deployed to Hawaii in 1963, several men,
including the Captain and Dad, were allowed to take cars on the ship.
Both the Captain and Dad had 1953 Hillman Convertibles. Dad’s was
stowed inboard on the deck and the CO’s was outboard. (Guess who was
responsible for stowing them?) During the trip, the ship encountered
heavy weather that damaged the CO’s Soft Top but left Dad’s untouched.
Since Dad was transferred while in Hawaii (nothing to do with the Cars), he
had to sell the car to one of the Shipmates. I wonder what ever happened
to that car, as it was really my car and I let him take it so he would have
one on the island.
God speed to all of the crews of the Isle Royale.
Grants Specialist
LeGacy Resources Corp. for DOE
Oak Ridge Tennessee
865-241-9248
edwardsjiii@oro.doe.gov
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After leaving the Isle Royale in 1965, I returned to
Sacramento, CA, where I entered CA State University, Sacramento and
received my BA, MA, and Secondary Teaching Credential. I taught
high school government for two years and then left teaching to work
for the CA Senate. I remained with the Senate for 33 years,
working in various capacities for 13 different Senators, most of whom
retired or moved on to higher office. I left the Senate to take
an appointment from Governor Pete Wilson as his Undersecretary of
Veterans Affairs (a Cabinet-level agency). I remained with the
Department as the Executive Officer for 3 years, and spent the last
year as the head of the Department, replacing a USMC Colonel.
Working with CA veterans and veterans directors from other states and
at the federal level was very enjoyable and the highlight of my
career. I am now retired, as is my wife,Shirley--a retired
teacher. We were married 43 years ago in Lucca, Italy and have
two sons, who are both in commercial property development. The
youngest,32, is an attorney in Houston, and our oldest, 36, lives with
his wife and children in Milan, Italy, where he oversees projects
throughout Western Europe. We visit them both frequently.
Best wishes to all shipmates!
Lee Bennett, MM2, R-2 Division (1963-1965)
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Wallace (Red) Crowder
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HAROLD ROY SHEELY DT1 1967-68 MED-DENTALRotated from Isle Royale to Philadelphia Naval Hospital late 1968, where I continued my fight to get out of the dental field. Attended Rutger’s University at night. Competed for MSC commission when minimum time in service was completed, was designated as first alternate but never selected. Selected for E-7 appointment on first try but declined to extend active duty obligation for the appointment. Left active duty via early out Apr 1971 to attend college full time. Completed BS Industrial Engineering degree Nov 1973. Received full tuition/expense research position for MBA (quantitative methods) May 1975. After college, worked in Atlanta for US GAO, developed computer system applications for internal agency use (75-76). That led to an 18 month assignment in DC (same type work). Then transferred to GAO staff in Huntsville AL to review Army weapons development projects (Patriot, I-Hawk, MLRS, etal) and tactical computer systems (TacFire). In 1981 transferred to GAO staff in Oak Ridge TN to lead program reviews of Clinch River Breeder Reactor Program. After CRBR, led program reviews of Uranium Enrichment Activities and development of centrifuge and laser enrichment technologies. Transferred to DOE contractor in 1988 where I worked on Strategic Petroleum Reserve, management of radioactive waste, weapons development, and nuclear facility decontamination and decommissioning. Presently project manager of DHS/DOE program to gather surplus radiation detection equipment from DOE and DOD for placement to community volunteer fire departments and other first response organizations. Expecting to completely retire this year and enjoy the East Tennessee mountains from the seats of my Suzuki Boulevard and Mazda Miata. My life has been good and interesting, blessed along the way with two wonderful, now adult, children. Proud granddad of 6-year old boy/girl twins. |
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Mike Hammond, IC2 1967 - 1970, R-3 Div.
Seems like a lot of us went into police
work. Worked fro the Everett, WA PD for 25 years. Retired as a
Lieutenant. Worked for a short while for the Snohomish County Department of
Emergency Management. Am now working for the Federal Emergency
Management Agency as the site specialist for the Columbia Generating Station
Nuclear Power plant. Prior to my "nuclear" duty there I worked
as their HazMat specialist. Married for 32 years to Jill. We have
two kids and now live in Marysville, WA.
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Andy Brown FN/SFP3 R-Division 64-67Transferred to Uss Horn, Uss Piedmont and out in 1968. returned home to L.I. N.Y. worked 4 years doing civil engineering work for N.Y. State, 1972 joined the Suffolk County Police Dept. retiring to Deerfield Beach, Florida in 2001. My job now is playing golf and getting to the early bird specials. Would like hearing from some old shipmates. |
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Danny Rider
I enlisted in February 1951 and was assigned to the Isle Royale. A vehicle
sent to pick up our draft in Long Beach had a TM3 as the driver and I got to
talking to him about the TM rating. By the time we got to the ship I knew what
I wanted to strike for, TM. I made TM3 on the ship, TM2 on the Sperry AS 12,
TM1 in Atsugi, Japan, went to GMT school and Made GMTC on the Kitty Hawk,
GMTCS at NAS North Island, and GMTCM in COMCRUDESPAC. I retired in 1974 and
have retired multiple times since. I now live in Sandy Valley, NV (50 Miles
from Las Vegas) and will celebrate 50 years of marriage to a wonderful woman
on Christmas eve this year, 2003. We have four children, two boys two girls
and thirteen grandchildren and five great grandchildren. Life has been good to
me and I love it. My best to all Isle Royale shipmates.
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Glenn P HayesLeft ship in 1969 for EM school in
San Diego, went to Harbor Clearance |
James PetettJames Petett, 3rd Class Engineman
from A Division. After Navy, I married, |
Jim PetroMy name is Jim Petro, when i was on
board Hamul& Isle Royale they called me |
Terry L. CunninghamI served in B Division from April 1964 until July 1966.Then went to The |
LIFE AFTER ISLE ROYALE
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Frank O. HomstadI was separated from active duty' in Dec. of 1967. I went
to work for the Modesto, CA Police Department shortly after getting out. After
about two years I got divorced and quit the PD. I took off hitchhiking and
made it to Rhode Island and back to Nevada, taking about nine months to do it.
I then went to work for the Nye County Sheriff's Department and rose to the
rank of Captain. I spent approximately 22 years in law enforcement. In '89 I
quit law enforcement and went to work for Hilton Hotels as Director of
Security. After about four years of this I transferred into engineering.
Several hotels later I am currently Chief Engineer for the Grandover Resort
and Convention Center in Greensboro, NC
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