Name is Dave Leach, Joined the Nav in 1975, and for some strange reason, and despite only having a 10th grade education, the Navy in its infinite wisdom, selected me to become an Oyster Trainer.
Hit Fleet ASW Training Center Key West, Florida on January 2nd, 1976. The only instructor I can remember is OT1 Pleacher. After "A" school, shipped to NAVFAC Barbados at the end of May, 1976. Arrived on the island at the tender age of 17, turned 18 on Sept. 15th, and departed the rock the second week of December 1977 at the ripe old age of 19 as a qualified Coordinator. Next landed at Fleet ASW Training Center Norfolk, VA at the end of January, 1978 for OT "C" school. Completing school in August, landed at Comoceansyslant a few days later. Served at COSL until June of 1980, at which point I left the rating to serve on a destroyer until my discharge in August, 1981.
It is only in the last few years that it has truly hit me how important our mission was. With so much that has been declassified regarding our mission, I am glad that I can finally tell my grandchildren what their Papaw did when he served on the front lines in defending our nation during the Cold War.
