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Re: Most famous person you ever got to meeet

I got out of the Navy and went to Weber State College from 1977 thru '79 to get my teaching certificate. While there, I became friends with a retired Air Force Col named Gus. His last command before his retirement was as CO of Edwards AFB.

Now senior citizens (Gus)can audit any class for free...and in the spring of '79 we sat next to each other in an Environmental Science class. One day I was running late, and got to class just as it started. I also had to get up and leave real guick at the end of class to meet with another professor.

At the next class, Gus asked if I had recognized the fellow that was sitting on his left the previous class...off course I said I hadn't and asked who it was. He said: "Oh, Chuck is just an old AF friend of mine...Chuck Yeager."

Would you believe...and I missed the chance...

Re: Most famous person you ever got to meeet

Bill Clinton? Hillary Clinton? Al Gore? Mitzi Gaynor? Lash Larue? (Lash Larue!)

Re: Most famous person you ever got to meeet

Alan Shepard, John Glenn and several other Mercury Seven astronauts on Grand Turk the day after Glenn's flight. Joe Louis in Club Bermadoo.

Re: Most famous person you ever got to meeet

You struck out on the first three - but hit a home run with Lash Larue !!

Dee

Re: Most famous person you ever got to meeet

OK, I forgot one. When I was on recruiting duty in Middletown Ohio, 79-81, I was in uniform one night at a high school football game in Lebanon where I lived when a friend asked me if I would like to meet a famous person. He took me up to a older guy standing there, looking up at the moon and introduced me to Neil Armstrong. Turns out that he lived there, just outside of Lebanon and had a big farm. I later talked to his son about joining the Navy, but he said he was already accepted to Stanford Univ.

Re: Most famous person you ever got to meeet

I was waiting in reception at the old Hereford House in Kansas City and in came Charlton Heston. I stuck out my hand and told him how much I admired his acting. That started a conversation of about 5 minutes. Seemed like a regular joe to me. Met Hank Williams Jr in Japan at a concert on Yokosuka base (a casual Howdy and autograph).

Re: Most famous person you ever got to meeet

When I was in Bermuda around 1970, Casious Clay (Mohamed Ali) was being interviewed at the local radio station. I jumped in my car and staked out the rear entrance to the radio station, and when he finally came out, I was able to get his autograph. I was the only person between him and his waiting car, so it wasn't that hard.

My son and I were in NYC for the Yankee old-timer's game in 2000. After getting a bite to eat around midnight, we rode the elevator up to our floor. The two gentlemen sharing the elevator with us were Hank Bauer and Bill (Moose) Skowron. They put off giving me their autograph by inviting us to the Yankee breakfast on the VIP floor the following AM. At breakfast, I had several of the old timers sign the bill of my Yankee cap. Many of you won't know who Bauer and Skowron are, but during my teenage years, they were among my heros.

I have also spent a lot of time on and off duty with Mr. Sosus (a.k.a. E.K. Smock)

Re: Most famous person you ever got to meeet

Met Johnny Vander Meer in Cuba in about 1965 and shot the breeze with Washington Senator Frank Howard in a pub in Brooklyn, NY a couple of years ago.

Re: Most famous person you ever got to meeet

I am fortunate to have met OTCM George Widenor (actually was in a car pool with him for awhile), OTCM Johnny Ellis, LCDR Randy Scott, OTCS Nick McConnell and Chiefs Pete Peterson and Chuck Cable and Barry Millard and ....... But I digress. I have met many dignataries and senior elected officials over the years but none can compare to my SOSUS shipmates. I have had the pleasure of shaking hands with SECNAVs Donald C. Winter and Jim Webb, Senators John F Kennedy, Ted Kennedy and Tim Kaine and Presidents Jimmy Carter, Richard Nixon (I was his driver once on Key West), Bill Clinton and many others over the years. But most significant was last April when I was honored to share the stage and present the Pledge of Allegiance with President Barack Obama at Green Run High School in Virginia Beach.

Re: Most famous person you ever got to meeet

At one of the SOSUS reunions the guest speaker (I guess) was ADM. Ben Hacker. He was the OPS Officer in Argentia as a Lt. When I went to introduce my self and my wife to him and his wife I started out with "Admiral I doubt that you would remember", he cut me off and said why yes I do PO Cable and Linda. I was amazed at that recall. To me he was one of the finest Senior Officers I had ever served with. Famous maybe not but impressive definitely.
Chuck Cable

Re: Most famous person you ever got to meeet

That's a great Selection Chuck. Adm Hacker was the poster boy of what a sailor was supposed to look like in Uniform. I vividly remember him in his aviation Dress uniform. It was a memory/example that stuck with me throughout my career.

Just a few days ago, I was telling John Burrell a story about an exchange between then LT Hacker and Ed Mulhauser during a personnel inspection and how only you could tell that story correctly.

J

Re: Most famous person you ever got to meeet

I guess I would have to say " Moses " at the burning bush... Ed Smock

Re: Most famous person you ever got to meeet

Ed -

I think it may have been me and Moses.

Since you are much older than I, your memory may be fading a bit, cause I'm thinking you were pickin' apples with Adam and Eve - were'nt you?

Dee

Re: Most famous person you ever got to meeet

I remember LT Hacker when he was a student behind the Green Door. He was an ex Army SGT and probably the sharpest dressed officer that had ever passed through FSS. Smart and he certainly kept the JOs in line. Met him again when he was a CAPT and the Reviewing Official of a Recruit Graduation at RTC Orlando when his son was graduating. And surprisingly, he remembered my name.

Re: Most famous person you ever got to meeet

Nick,
You know folks that were OT's tend to over analyze everything. I walked away from Adm. Hacker that night trying to figure out how he could recall my name when we never even had a conversation in the past except "Yes Sir". I then thought he had seen the list of people that bought a ticket and then researched the names. Until your story I was leaning on the ticket sales. But now I am convienced he had an amazing memory.
Chuck

Re: Most famous person you ever got to meeet

This short (???) story goes to Chuck's and Master Van's remembrances....

I was deployed to a Special Project many moons ago (when Al Brandt had brown hair) and the Spec Proj Officer (Skip Tracy.....great O ganger) brought a Captain up for a visit.

We did the typical grip and grin and fetted the good Cap with a nice steak lunch in our humble dining facility.

I had been on-site for about 6 months and hadn't found a local barber in all that time. Probably couldn't have passed a PI in Antigua with Rick Bolin as the attending.

Maybe 2 months later, I'm ordered to Pearl for important meetings.

I walk into the conference room, freshly groomed and looking remarkably like a CPO in my freshly laundered khakis.

Across the room is the aforementioned Captain surrounded by other Captains and Commanders.

He looks up, sees me, walks over and says.....Hello Chief McConnell.....nice to see you again. Floored me.

Maybe one of you knows this fine gentleman. He's the only officer I ever knew with a visible tattoo.....a small anchor on his right forearm. Ring any bells????

NTP

Re: Most famous person you ever got to meeet

John,
You are so right I will never forget the "words" from the Lt.!!!!!!!!!!!!
**** they were fun times.
Chuck

Re: Most famous person you ever got to meeet

HRH Princess Margret of Great Britain. Lunch at the NAVFAC Barbados BOQ lounge in 1969.

Re: Most famous person you ever got to meeet

Dear CDR Donovan,
I know of you by reputation of course. I was an unremarkable and lowly watch Officer in Kef in the early 1980s. I knew both Barry Millard and Randy Scott from those days. Do you know how to contacts those old pirates today?
V/R Kathy Corten

Re: Most famous person you ever got to meeet

Kathy, I can put you in contact by email with both Barry Millard and Randy Scott if you want. Please send me an email and I will let them both know you are searching for them. jim_donovan53@yahoo.com - Jim

Re: Most famous person you ever got to meeet

Neat Question. Neil Armstrong, and I have a picture of us as proof. And yes, I am in uniform. Also, Dan Rather, and in uniform with picture. Tom Clancy - no picture, but autograph. And many more.

Re: Most famous person you ever got to meeet

I cannot resist the urge to join in on he accolades heaped upon Benjamin T. Hacker. In Arg he called me into the Ops Office and gave me a special research assignment he wanted completed in three hours. My initial reaction (which I kept to myself) was that I couldn't do it - didn't even know how to begin. After struggling with the task for a half hour, a light bulb in my head clicked bright, and I finished the job a good 20 minutes early.

I remember being impressed with how well he could draw from people. He was a gifted naval officer, impeccable in every respect. On more than one occasion back in 1967, STC G.W.Smith would declare - "without a doubt, you are looking at a future admiral". He wasn't wrong.

I've never heard a negative word about LT/Adm B.T. Hacker. One of the very best officers our system has known.

Re: Most famous person you ever got to meeet

Admiral Arleigh Burke, toured my TASS van onboard USS Albert David FF-1050 in San Diego 1978.

Re: Most famous person you ever got to meeet

While on independent duty at one of our special projects sites, I had occasion to be invited to the ambassador’s residence for the annual Christmas party. My mom and dad were visiting from the states and so they got to attend as well. After we had gone through the serving line and were seated at our table, the Ambassador walked up and asked if she could join us. For the next 45 minutes, she regaled us with stories of her time in Africa and as the head of the Peace Corps. She finished by telling us of the time that she had the Defense and Naval Attaché, the assistant Naval Attaché and several other folks over to the residence for an informal discussion about some recent event. She offered libations and was asked by all the folks except the assistant for MGD’s. The assistant asked if he could have a Coors Light. Without batting an eye, she told us, she informed the officer that he probably would not be able to get one of those in her house. Her name was Loret Miller (as in Miller Brewing Company) Ruppe. What a classy lady.

Re: Most famous person you ever got to meeet

come on, tell us where

Re: Most famous person you ever got to meeet

Can't really top it, but I too met her (ADM Grace Hopper) during A School at Key West. She came in and talked to our class. I recall her telling us how the term "debugging" got its start, and she gave each of us a short piece of electrical wire, and I can't remember what it was for. I thought she was super; very down to earth, not full of herself, and the thing that struck me the most was how sharp she was. Just a real impressive person. This would have been in summer 1976.

Re: Most famous person you ever got to meeet

I had some interesting experiences. Adm Hopper was one, but there were others. Prior to the Navy, I cooked Eggs Benedict for Jack lemmon, crepes for Gloria Swanson, and a burger for Ernest Borgnine at the Anchorage Westward Hotel. In the Navy, I recall briefing the British Sea Lords as an OT1 Watch Coordinator, and I met the CNO once. That was the same visit to Brawdy where his cover mysteriously disappeared, much to the horror of the CO. Loads of fun, that. The same CO I (think) that insisted we perform mouth to muzzle on his dog during a midwatch visit when the little critter keeled over. Might have been the same week RAF SWAT folks were called out to blow up a vacume cleaner someone left out in the parking lot overnight. Since retirement, I've met a boat load of politicos, to include Jesse the Bod MN Gov, and got to open for Lynyrd Skynyrd and meet all those guys, but the biggest characters were the Navy ones!

Re: Most famous person you ever got to meeet

None other than the one and only Mr. Spock - Leonard Nimoy. Live long and prosper.

Re: Most famous person you ever got to meeet

Shook hands with Frankie Fontaine, aka Crazy Gugenheim from the old Jackie Gleason show. Also, met Satchel Paige as a kid and have a picture to prove it.

Re: Most famous person you ever got to meeet

I met the Queen of England and Prince Charles when I was stationed at NAVFAC ANTIGUA in 1976. They came to the island. I also talked to Glenn Cambel at a bar in National City California in 1968. I didn't even know who he was, at the time, until he introduced himself.

Re: Most famous person you ever got to meeet

Senator Margaret Chase Smith, House Armed Services Committee
Antigua
Jackie, Caroline and John John Kennedy
Antigua
Tom T. Hall, singer/song writer
Friend of the family
Lee Marvin
Passing thru Guam
Bobby Fisher, Chess Master
He hid out for a few days at the USO in Kef during his Boris Spasky match

Re: Most famous person you ever got to meeet

mmmmm 1993 i worked with a distant reletive of the KING , OTASC Joe Presely, had the extreme honor of meeting and conversing with Chairman of Joint Cheifs of Staff Gen john Kessey (hes my father in laws neighborin St Paul,MN and was at their 60th wedding anniversary hes 92 , last year.

also Had lunch with Tom Selleck in Waimanalo HI, ( was a freind of a good freind of minbe Tiger Wong)

had the pleasure of assisting the OWO training of Adm Gretchen Specht when she was a LTJG lolol

Re: Most famous person you ever got to meeet

I got to meet country star Marty Robbins back in 1979 and share drinks with him and his band, met Gloria Estefan and her family in New York, met Master Chief Carl Brashear when I worked at Naval Medical Center Portsmouth and met Admiral Boorda when he reenlisted me and my husband Jeff in 1993. I do admit I have met quite a few Soap stars in the past....always fun!!

Re: Most famous person you ever got to meeet

Yesterday I met and had a few drinks with Levar Burton in the United Club at an airport. Had a few beers and spent an afternoon with Shelly Duvall in Blanco Texas, spent more time with her S.O. Who was a really nice guy. Met Madeline Stowe in line for a flight, sat next to Stevie Wonder and Eric Estrada on flights once. (I fly a lot so am upgraded to First and spend layovers in the Airline clubs). My friend Mick McConnell, whom I met I while stationed in Sicily where he used to tour with a band that played the EM clubs has gone on to be the lead guitarist in a pretty well known rock band, Smokie, and recently released his first solo cd. Spent a whole day and evening with Mario Andretti years ago. That was fun and I was hosting that day as it was here in my home town, so I was driving which I thought even at the time was cool: me driving the world's most famous driver around. Sen Cornyn used to be a Judge here and and I met him when I was a legal runner. Met Dick Cheney at a function while stationed in Fairbanks. No one else in the shop wanted to go. It was 91 so he wasn't as famous then.

Re: Most famous person you ever got to meeet

I've shaken the hand and/or had conversations with:

Governemt: John Kennedy (saw him close up only), Richard Nixon, Bill Clinton & wife, Al Gore & ex-wife, George W. Bush, Mitt Romney, Condoleeza Rice

Actors: Elizabeth Montgomery, Mike Farrell, Valerie Harper

Musicians: Harry James, Stan Kenton, Maynard Ferguson, Woody Herman, Doc Severinsen, Ed Shaughnessy, Boots Randolph, Danny Davis, Pete Barbutti, Mercer Ellington, Louie Bellson, Dizzy Gillespie, Gil Evans, James Brown, Eric Clapton, Allen Vizutti, Urbie Green, Bill Watrous, Willie Nelson, and many others

Bill Turner
former OT2
KEF and COSL (68-72)

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