USS HIGBEE ASSOCIATION

USS HIGBEE ASSOCIATION

USS HIGBEE ASSOCIATION Chairman:   Gil "Rod" Rodello chairman
                                                                P.O. Box 1554
                                                                Springfield, OR   97477

A little bit about myself:

I enlisted in the Navy in July 1958, attending Boot Camp in San Diego. After Boot camp I was sent to Great Lakes for BT"A" School. I was assigned to Admin Command while waiting for school. After graduating "A" school in August of 1959, I reported aboard the USS Higbee as a Fireman. In October of 1959 the Higbee and went for a three month yard overhaul in Long Beach.

In May of 1960 our homeport was changed to Yokosuka, Japan.... for 2 years and 3 months (Boy!! What Duty!!!). I made BT3 in May, 1961 and BT2 in May, 1962. I re-enlisted for four years in Iwakuni, Japan, in June 1962 to stay aboard Higbee. Higbee's homeport was changed to San Francisco in September 1962. On returning to San Francisco our homeward bound pennant was flying past the fantail suspended by balloons, and our famous train whistle blowing under the Golden Gate. I guess we created quite a stir on the Golden Gate, wondering where the train was coming from.

We went into San Francisco to await FRAM conversion at Hunters Point Naval Shipyard in Spring of 1963. I was placed in charge of the forward fire room for the overhaul. In November we completed FRAM and went to sea trials. Do you believe the old girl could do 36 Knots! After running aground in Puget Sound they put on different screws.

In January 1964 Higbee's homeport was shifted to Long Beach. In June 1964 Her Homeport was again changed to Yokosuka, Japan. I was transferred to the USS Hornet CVS-12 in June, 1964. By that time I was married and my wife did not want to be stationed in Japan because her father was quite ill. She was afraid she could not get home in time.

Well right back to San Francisco for another FRAM job on the Hornet in June 1964. We stayed there until April 1965. In fact my daughter was born the day the ship left San Francisco. In August, 1965 we deployed to Westpac for eight months, returning by the way of Sidney, Australia.

August 1, 1966, I was discharged off the Hornet. Ten days later I went to work for Pacific Gas and Electric Company in Pittsburg, California as a Power Plant Operator. Three years later a job opportunity came up in Eugene, Oregon. By that time we had a son, so we moved to Springfield, Oregon.

In July 1969 I joined U.S. Naval Reserve (Boy! I thought I would never be one of those damned Reserves). I retired as BTC in December of 1989 after 28 years, 5 months in the Navy. I also retired from Eugene, Water & Electric Board after 28 years 10 months. My job title was Substation General Foreman.

I hope I didn't bore you with my story. I just wanted to let you a little about myself as your Higbee Association Chairman. I could tell more stories but I don't think we should print those.

Gil "Rod" Rodello