Seaman Recruit

Alan F. E. Thiese

United States Navy

Today, 31 July 2024 I will focus on a History Lesson for the Readers here on My Blog - The World This Week!

Sixty Three Years ago in August 1961 I Joined the United States Navy from Guttenberg, Iowa.  I was six months away from being drafted into the United States Army.  All I knew about the Army is that they marched on gravel roads and I had already done enough of that so "Join the Navy and See the World" certainly had an appeal to me.  

Now to let you that I am still alive and fairly well I had My Bride of some 52 years capture this picture of Alan today.

When I had My Join the Navy Physical at the Military Processing Center in Iowa's Capital City, Des Moines I weighed 132 pounds.  If I had been four pounds lighter I would not qualified for Enlistment.  

I participated in Boot Camp at Recruit Training Center, San Diego, California after enjoying two plane rides from Des Moines to Kansas City and then the final ride from Kansas City to San Diego.  

This is what I looked like while I was in Boot Camp!

As a newly minted U. S. Navy Sailor I had gained a few pounds during Boot Camp and I weighed a total of 145 pounds!!

After I completed Boot Camp I traveled by Bus to Northeast Iowa to spend "Boot Leave" with My Family.  Of course I was the oldest of six wonderful children and My Mom determined that a "Family Picture" would be in order.  After all I had achieved a milestone in My personal life after a miserable three semesters at Valparaiso University.  It was My own fault.  Thus the joyous event of Alan graduating from "Boot Camp" required a picture.

Although not a part of My Navy Story, My two Brothers did also serve in the United States Navy.  

During My twenty one years of service I achieved four Navy Good Conduct Medals.  My base time frame was 18 April 1962 because I had failed Electronics Technician School and that date was when I was transferred to My First Sea Duty, the Great Aircraft Carrier, the USS Ranger (CVA-61).

Here is a collage of the four ships I served in:

During My Career I learned that the Earth is at least 70% water and I certainly saw plenty of that, however the Many Liberty Ports we visited were educational and also wonderful for an Iowa Sailor to see how people around the World lived.

I am proud of My Navy Service and when I transferred to the Fleet Reserve on 31 December 1981 I recall that I weighed at least 178 pounds.  A gain of 33 pounds from the date of My Graduation from boot Camp.  

Since My Transfer to the Fleet Reserve I have been able to use the Veteran's Administration (VA) for two sets of teeth and more recently I have had My ears upgraded so I can hear better!  This happened on 9 July 2024 and the VA hearing upgrade has been rewarding.

I post this today so let My Readers here know that I have certainly been "Well Blessed!" and I look forward to many more years of "Happy retirement" from our great U. S. Navy.  A recap here is critical:

  August 1961 - Enlisted in the U. S. Navy and weighed 132 pounds.

  November 1961 - Graduated from Boot Camp and was 145 pounds!

  December 1981 - Transferred to the Fleet Reserve weighing 178 pounds.

   January 1991 - Transferred to the U. S. Navy Retired List.

Today, 31 July 2024 I weigh 193 pounds.  

63 Years ago I joined the U. S. Navy.

43 Years ago I transferred to the Fleet Reserve.

33 Years ago I was placed on the U. S. Navy Retired List!

A weight gain of 61 pounds in 63 years is not that bad!  In fact I feel quite health and My Civilian Doctor has advised me that I am in fairly good health!

Now You Each Know more about Me than you probably cared to know.  For anybody who does not now know Me, Alan I did transfer to the U. S. Navy Fleet Reserve at a Navy Yeoman and I achieved the Pay Grade of E-7 which is also "Chief Petty Officer!"

In fact My Parents flew to Macon, Georgia to be with Me and My Family when I transferred to the Fleet Reserve!  A collage of some Navy pictures which show me.

My Now Sainted Parents.  This picture was taken when I visited them in 1991 as they recreated the famous "American Gothic" photo scene which was also taken in Iowa.

 A Report on two Vendors 

for Mounting Pictures 

for Display

I recently had two different firms mount pictures that I will display.  You can see for yourself which firm did the better job.

 The backing board by Michael's cost a mere $2.00 more.  Note the rough edges on the Hobby Lobby backing board.  This work was conducted by these firms in Macon, Georgia.  I am not stating that all work done by these firms is as I experienced here in Macon.  You can be certain, however that I will use Michael's for all future photo display projects.  

 Just the other day I published My letter Number 32 to My Honorable and Duly Elected Leaders.  Here it is:

Alan F. E. Thiese

6 July 2024

The President of the United States of America

The Senate Majority Leader

The House of Representatives Speaker

The Senior Senator for Georgia

The Junior Senator for Georgia

The Eighth District Representative for Georgia

Greetings Honorable and Duly Elected Officials,

Letter Number 32.  First of all, I recently learned that Our President had an Uncle who was eaten by cannibals.  Mr. President, has this been fact checked by any responsible news media organization?

I also recently heard that You, Mr. President stated that No Service People had lost their lives in your term as President and also Commander in Chief.  What about the thirteen “Gold Star Families” who lost family members in Afghanistan under your watch.  In fact My letter number 31 of 14 June 2024 included pictures of these Heroes.  With such a lack of memory and compassion you clearly displayed to Millions of American Citizens that you may have shown us enough reason why we should not vote for you this November.  

Mr. President, Please ask Your Staff how many of our fellow citizens have died from fentanyl poisoning in the last three years and five months since you became our President!!  I can not speak for My Fellow Citizens of the United States of America, but I can not agree that our Borders are secure.  Fentanyl and other dangerous drugs are entering our United States of America at an alarming rate, yet You and Your Staff consistently and constantly inform all of us that our Borders are Secure.  Please, Sir, acknowledge the situation for what it is and not what you desire or think it is.  The Chinese Communist Party is aware of what they are doing.  Thousands of their Fellow Citizens have entered our United States of America and I suspect, as well as many of my peers, that You can not enforce their return simply because You and/or Fellow Biden Family Members have received funds, read money, from the Chinese.  It appears to me that you do not wish to offend the Chinese because of the Money You and/or other Biden Family Members have received.

Mr. President, You were elected to Serve the Citizens of the United States of America, not any foreign enemy.  That is a fact you simply can not ignore even in the face of the support you gain from “The First Lady!”  As You know, The First Lady was not elected, however, we all know She is Your Wife.  While she may give you wise counsel, it is imperative that you realize that You and You alone are solely responsible for Your Performance as our President and our Commander in Chief. 

 

Mr. President, I have heard that Your Son has been granted admittance to “Cabinet Meetings” and other events which may require access to Classified Data/Information.  Has You Son been the subject of a complete “Background Check” such as any Member of Our Military must submit to prior to being allowed access to Classified and/or Sensitive Data/Information?  

I realize that there are five additional addees to this letter.  What have you been doing as regards our President’s passive and in some cases mediocre performance?

Please be sure that I am totally aware of three branches of our Federal Government.  We have the Legislative Branch, the Judicial Branch and the Executive Branch.  Each of these Branches is equal in power.  However the Legislative Branch is also responsible to insure that the Executive Branch is functioning properly.  That is a fact!!  I do not need to remind you, You in Your service in the Legislative Branch are tasked to Impeach the President should He/She not keep us all Safe and also Serve in the best interest and protection of “We the People!”  I, along with Millions of Our Fellow Citizens of the United States of America recently celebrated “Independence Day!”  The United States of America was established to avoid living under the rule of a King or a Queen.  That is a fact that none of You can contest or ignore.  

In closing, I would suggest that our President is using the Judicial Branch to insure his re-election as our President this coming November.  This is a major breach of the separation of power between the Three Branches of Our Government. 

As always, I submit these letters with My Concerns about the future of Our United States of America.  Hopefully You also share valid concerns for our great USA.  I expect each of You to Serve in the best interest of the USA so that Our respective Children, Grand Children and their Offspring of the future can enjoy this great USA such as we all enjoyed in our Younger Years (Read post World War II, post Korea, post Vietnam, and post Middle East Wars of recent years)!  These Children, Grand Children and the Yet Unborn certainly deserve better than we who are living here today are experiencing.

Thank You and I wish You all God’s Great Guidance as You seek to Lead and also Serve “We the People!”

Sincerely,

Alan F. E. Thiese

History

1973-1975

Today, 2 July 2024 My Bride and I traveled to Jones County, Georgia as well as returned to our home by traveling through East Macon.  Here are the photos of this Visit History Travel!!

We traveled to Griswoldville to these Markers:

Then we viewed these Markers which display the History of our Civil War:

These Markers certainly tell the Visitor about this Area's Efforts during the Civil War.

We traveled on the Civil War Heritage Trail to visit this site:

My Bride as we both recalled taking our Oldest Son to this site prior to our departure to Sea Duty in California in 1975.

As we traveled back to our home in West Bibb County we took the opportunity to see the first home we had in Ease Macon.  We lived here from 1973 through 1975.

We enjoyed the opportunity to revisit our history and to recall some of the events of our Youth!!!!