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Throughout this gallery,
clicking on most pictures will display a larger image.
After reviewing my career, the fun part began, starting with the CO presenting me with a letter of congratulations from the Governor of Hawaii, which is where I was born when my father was stationed at Hickam Air Force Base in Honolulu. Then he pinned on my second Navy Commendation Medal for my performance at Fleet Training Center, on behalf of the Secretary of the Navy, from the Chief of Naval Education and Training (CNET).
LCDR Colton then presented me with a Certificate of Appreciation from President Clinton, Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces. I asked if I could get one from President Bush when he takes office, since my actual retirement date is February 28, 2001. Maybe it will happen...
Next I received a Letter of Appreciation from the Commanding Officer of Fleet Training Center, recapping my duty station assignments and list of personal and unit awards received throughout my career.
This was followed by my Certificate of Transfer to the Navy Fleet Reserve. Some asked why the certificates were dated "February 28, 2001" when it was still December, 2000. The actual date of my retirement from active duty, and transfer to the Fleet Reserve, is February 28, but I had unused leave on the books and was going to use it. This is called "terminal leave." Fleet Reserve is a status whereby inactive personnel can be recalled to active duty in time of war, such as Desert Storm. The "true" retirement date is actually after 30 years of combined active and inactive service.
There were two items sent to me by the Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy, Jim Herdt. The first was a certificate containing the Chief Petty Officer's Retirement Creed on behalf of the entire CPO community. All active duty and retired CPOs in the room stood at attention as the Creed was read. I also received a personal Letter of Appreciation from the MCPON.
The Chief Petty Officers Association of Fleet Training Center had a few presentations for me as well, starting with a shadow box containing medals and awards received throughout my twenty year career, with a space reserved for my retirement flag that would be presented later in the ceremony.
The CPO Association still had a few more gifts for me. I was given another copy of the Retiring Chief Petty Officer's Creed on a plaque. Then they gave me a plaque with a clock and CPO anchor, wishing me "Fair Winds and Following Seas" from the CPO Association. This was followed by a third plaque containing the words to "The Watch," a traditional poem that would be read later, at the conclusion of my retirement ceremony.
Last but not least was a present from my staff, the 2M/MTR/Fiber Optics Branch Instructors. It was a clock they hand-made for me, using a circuit board. It was a very meaningful gift, for our primary tasking was to teach Miniature and Microminiature (2M) Electronics Repair to hundreds of students each year from every branch of the service, often on similar circuit boards. I am enormously proud of this special reward that sits above my desk today.
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