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"The Navy killed me, I just don't know how yet." -Lou

"If I owned Michigan and Hell, I'd rent out Michigan and live in Hell."  -Zaphro

"Michigan, at least it's not Canada." - unknown

I was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan and grew up in the surrounding area.  I pretty much hated it. Michigan is a great place to be from, so three weeks after my 17th birthday (much to my parents relief) I was in Navy boot camp.  That's right, I escaped the horrors of The People's Republic of Michigan to experience the horrors of the U. S. Navy.  I spent the next twenty years as a Gunner's Mate working primarily on guided missile systems.  Twenty years later (March '06) I retired and settled in Florida (which I'm pretty certain is the anti-Michigan) and there's not much left to say.... what a bizarre trip.... more countries than I can count, six continents, two hot wars, a cold war and a few skirmishes, many good times, plenty of boredom - punctuated with moments of shear terror, frustration, and more friends and experiences than I could've ever imagined...  fun... interesting... miserable... all of the above.  I wouldn't trade the experience for anything.  Anyway, it consumed 20 years of my life here's some pictures and text... (check out the links... they're more interesting than anything I plan on doing here)

USS Towers DDG-9  My first ship (1987-1989), home ported out of Yokosuka, Japan.  Pictured here on her last mission as a target.  She was a good ship that showed me many experiences, on the far side of the world, which set the course for the rest of my life.

USS Carr (FFG 52)  My second ship (1990-1992), home ported out of Charleston South Carolina. I spent some of my toughest years in the Navy serving in her.  This ship taught me that I was capable of putting up with more crap than one would think is possible.  She put me on 2 more continents during the 1st Gulf War.

USS Stark (FFG-31) (1995-1999) Undoubtedly the best tour of my career, home ported out of Mayport Florida.  I made more friends and had more fun serving in her than any other ship.  She's pictured here the morning after being hit with two Iraqi exocet missiles.  The crew fought for 24 hours straight to keep her afloat.  I had the privilege of serving aboard many years after this incident, that crew's legacy was never forgotten.  I learned on this boat how a bunch of drunks with piss poor attitudes and no military aptitude what-so-ever could function as a dynamic team and get things done.  Finally got to South America on this boat, making 6 continents... However the memories are a little blurry through an alcohol induced haze.  Now drink a beer to the "Brotherhood", fuck the Diaz brothers and join me in a game of Petty Officer bumper chairs....  oh yeah, Bob's going up!

Here's a perfect example of a few folks not doing their jobs lacking the ability to lead and getting their buddies killed, and a few others doing their job extraordinarily and saving their buddies- The report

When you take a ship to sea; don't get detected.   If you get detected; don't get targeted.   If you get targeted; don't get hit.   If you get hit; don't let it be a mission kill.  If it's a mission kill; don't lose the ship.

USS Taylor (FFG-50)  (2002-2003) A model in mismanagement.  Pictured here taking on fuel.  If you could see the other side the fuel is probably pouring straight out a misaligned valve into the ocean, if not there, it's probably pouring into AUX 2 in preparation for starting something on fire....  This is one very screwed up ship from top to bottom and has been since my first experience with her back in 1992; imagine my joy when I received orders to her in 2001 and all my suspicions were confirmed.  This is a floating example of what happens when shame eats too much stupidity.

Here's a short clip of the type of missile launcher I maintained.

It was fun... it was real... but it wasn't real fun.

Dad - Mom - Me

and something interesting: