Herb Yates, 52-53 DK

CONGRATULATIONS!

Herb Yates 52-53 DK

July 2010

Shipmate of the Month

As I commence this BIO I am still in SHOCK that I am being "Considered" for Shipmate of the month. I know that there are other's more deserving, than I.
I will commence by saying that I am honored by your consideration, Paul Hopper. Now I feel somewhat, like my shipmate, Wally Barrus, said "about being so hard" to follow the likes of Commander John T. Ziegweid and also to follow Wally Barrus. What a career Wally had. I have to say that I had a very good career having stayed in the Navy for 20 Years. Being someone that comes from a very, very small place. A little town of maybe 650 residents, in the middle of the state of Alabama. A little town called "Gallant". I was born October 13, 1929.

In January, 1952, I received a Draft notice, for the Army. I really didn't want to carry around that pack the Army was required to do. I think it weighed 90 lbs., as I recall, so I beat it down to the Navy Recruiting office, located in the Post Office, Gadsden, Alabama. They signed me up and told me to report to the Navy Recruiting Office, which was located and the 2121 Building, 8th avenue north, Birmingham, Alabama, where I raised my hand, February 5th, 1952 to be sworn in. The reason I am telling you this about the 2121 Building, it will come into play some 17 years later. I, along with approximately 20 others were sent, by train, taking 5 long days and nights, stopping along the way, picking other new recruits, en route to San Diego, California for basic training.

After completing (11), eleven weeks Basic Training and also, after a 14 day Boot leave, I returned to San Francisco to catch a Transport Ship to Sasebo,
Japan. Within a few days, I along with the estimated 20 other recruits were hearded aboard the USS CIMMERON (AO-20) to sea to find the Mighty Mispillion. Cimmeron went alongside Mispillion and we all had our first Hi-Line ride and as I recall, we each were let drag a little in the ocean, which I still believe to this day, was planned. This would have been toward the end of April, 1952.
I served 28 Months aboard the Mispillion, which I really enjoyed, with Capt. Munson being my first Commanding Officer and LtCdr Ziegweid as XO. I spent a couple months in Deck Force, chipping, scrapping, redleading and painting. I was attached to the Second Division.

One day, I was approached by a guy named Neil Schmitt. He had looked at my service record and saw that I was from Alabama, where he lived prior to joining the Navy. Neil was a Disbursing Clerk. We talked awhile and he ask me, "Would you like to become my "Striker". I said to him, "What is a Striker?"

He explained it all to me and I said "OK" and that folks is how my 20 year Navy Career got started. By the way, Neil Schmitt has been my very good friend till this day. We only live 12 miles from each other and see each other quite often. Two others, Paul Hopper and Wally Barrus, are also very good friends that I met aboard Mispillion. Paul and I talk, almost weekly. Thanks to Cell phones. I have attended only 1 ship's reunion, being the Branson 04 reunion.

I belong to two other Ships association, the USS ESSEX CVA-9 and the PETERSON DE-152. I have not attended an ESSEX reunion, but I have attended 3 PETERSON reunions. That was maybe 15-18 years back.

During the month of August '54, I requested a transfer to the USS ESSEX CVA-9, To serve with my brother. The request was approved and I was transferred to ESSEX. I served approximately 8 months aboard ESSEX and requested Shore Duty, signing a two year extension. My request was approved. I received orders to US Naval Receiving Station, Washington, DC to serve two years. That is where I met and Married my Lovely Wife Shirley.

This July we will have been married 53 years. We have one Daughter, Donna and two beautiful Grand Children, Andrew, who is 19 and Rachel, who is 17. Oh, I almost forgot Greg, Donna's Husband.

During April '57, after serving two years Shore Duty, I received orders to the USS GWIN DM-33. Homeport, Charleston, SC. Served aboard GWIN until we de-commisioned ship in 1958 at Naval Shipyard, Philly, Pa. I, then got orders to USS PETERSON DE-152, homeport Key West, Fla. Served aboard PETERSON for a year and when PETERSON was order to "Deep Freeze 5", I believe, I found a DK aboard USS ROBINSON EDE-220, that wanted to go to New Zealand. So we made a request to "Swap Ship's", which was approved, so I continued to stay in the Key West Area. Near the end of '59, I submitted a request for Overseas duty and received orders to US Naval Support Activity, London, England, arriving July 1960. Naval Support Activity, was attached to CINCUSNAVEUR, Commander in Chief, US Naval Forces, Europe. This was wonderful duty. We saw many Stage Plays. One being Agatha Christie's "Mouse Trap". At that time, it had been running for 16 years and if I'm not mistaken, it is still running. A great "Stage Play". This was one of many things we did during our 3 year stay in London. After my time was up in London, I received orders to report to USS WALDRON DD-699, homeport Norfolk, Va. knowing thru a friend that I'd met in London, who was going to Bupers for duty, that I would serve only 1 year aboard WALDRON and he would be sending me orders to US Defense Attache Office, Copenhagen, Denmark, after completing a 15 week course of Instructions at the US Navel Intel School at the Pentagon.

We left DC 15 April 1965, by plane for Copenhagen, Denmark for a 3 year tour of duty, located at the US Embassy, which, by the way, was located directly across a cemetery from the Russian Embassy. Again, we had a wonderful tour of duty, met some very good friends that we still correspond to this day. So, after completion of the 3 years, ending in 1968, brings me to the end of 17 years, that I mentioned earlier, I received orders to--you guessed it, to the U.S. Navy Recruiting, 2121 Building, still on 8th Avenue, North, Birmingham, Alabama. After 6 months, we moved the Recruiting office to Montgomery, Alabama. I Retired, or transferred to Active Fleet Reserve, September 2, 1971. So that, my Shipmates, I'd have to say is a better part of my life. By the way, I did have to go to work after retiring. I worked 20 years as superintendent with a small construction Company in Leeds, Alabama.

Thank for hearing me through this and hope I haven't bored you to tears. God Bless to all.

Please. I invite all of his Friends, Family and Shipmates to post a story and their feelings about him on the communications board. I’m sure they will be of interest and we would just love to hear them. Please CLICK HERE and post a message to say hello and congrats to him for being this month's SHIPMATE OF THE MONTH

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