Life Afer Spinax: Leo "Doc" Carter

I rode SPINAX back from WesPac in 57, but that is another whole story. Not sure of the exact date but it was sometime in August 1957 I think. I had orders to the NAS, Grosse Ile, MI for a normal tour of shore duty. and departed the boat in San Diego. At that point I had completed 18 years and I knew retirement was only a short time down the pike. But a NAS!

I spent a few days at my mothers home in mid Michigan and bright and early on a Monday morning I reported to the main gate of this little "Reserve" NAS. I had to wake up the sailor behind the desk and I think I should have left him sleeping. He didn't have a clue on what to do with me. Reserve NAS's work Tuesday through Sunday with Monday and Tuesday their weekends. There was no one awake at the Dispensary and he couldn't find the duty officer. He also didn't have the slighest idea where I could find a bunk because an E6 jughead (Marine) was using the CPO room. I could see the problems I was going to face so I retrieved my orders and went across the street to a little 10 stool bar and had a cool one to scope out the situation. Made the decision to get a motel and report back on Wednesday when things should be better. Good decision on my part. The jughead was kicked out of the CPO room but the Dispensary had another problem. Here I was a regular navy, "black shoe" CPO and they had two "brown shoes" Chief's already there. I was wanted like a social disease. To make a long story short, I found a PR billet in an office with a boozer CDR, a 20 year LT who had been passed over 3 times and was waiting for his papers, and about 10 other enlisted T.A.R.'s. All had been at the NAS for at least 15 years and their primary employment was selling cars, real estate, bartending, etc. They grudging gave the Navy somewhere close to 40 hrs a week as long as it didn't interfere with their civilian life. Me, a sea goinig black shoe Chief had to put up with this. Took me awhile.

Actually this was some of the best duty I have ever had. Weekend flights to Miami for R&R, G'tmo Bay for booze runs, Alaska for crab legs, made two trips of two weeks each to N. Africa and Spain. I also married the Captains Writer, YNC Fosty, who immediately got pregnant and got discharged. It wasn't much but loss of the income hurt.

August 1, 1960. Big retirement ceremony in the main hanger for three of us, at 0800, retiring this day. 1032 I was driving out the main gate and really never looked back.

Many things happened during the next ten years. I was actively selling insurance and real estate. Bought a Auto Parts business with a partner and lost my butt when he ran away with a red headed airlines stu and about 70 plus grand of my money. Spent some time in the Industrial Relations Department of McLouth Steel Corp. doing the management side of labor problems and working with the Steel Contract. Sold my body for money to Vulcan Mold and Iron Company as the Employment Manager - probably a mistake. Almost two years to the day after I started I posted a massive lay off notice, got called to the Plant Managers office where I was informed that with the plant shutting down they didn't need an Employment Manager. My choices were a lateral move to Latrobe, PA plant (the armpit of the steel industry) or severance pay. No doubt - severance pay.

During all of this time I had been going to college at night, managed to buy an interest in a bar and grill, and raising a family of a wife and three children. Had two kids from a previous marriage that I was also close to.

Sometimes events happen in a persons life that seem disastrous at first but the silver lining waits just down the road. May 28 1970 while driving back from final exams I had a massive stroke and spent the next 2 1/2 months in the hospital learning to walk, talk, eat, etc. I was also contacted by a counselor at the VA who told me the "stress" of living in the Navy and submarines could have caused the stroke. Couldn't argue with that logic.

Spent the rest of 1970, 1971, and 1972 getting more dammed degrees than Carter has pills. Went back to work as a Counselor with Goodwill Industries, 6 months later went with the State of Michigan as a Vocational Rehab Counselor, and about four years later I was bought, again, for money as a Therapist with a Mental Health Agency. Of course I continued to get degrees, etc., that made me a marketable product. With this agency I went from Therapist to Clinical Manager in charge of about 60 therapists, psychiatrists, nurses, case managers and over 450 chronic mentally ill patients housed in 45 group homes in the Detroit area. Retired from there January 5, 1990, moved to Floida a few months later, bought a condo on the beach and am living the good life.

From 1979 to 1990 I was either a member or Chairperson of the Governor's Committee on Handicapper Concerns, Chair of Region V of the State Governors Committees on Disability, member of the States Rights Committee of the Presidents Committee on Disability. Got so many dam initials after my name that some times I wonder just who I am. This list could go on an on. I was a busy, hyper, know it all, for many years! Like all "mouths" I can't sit still so I volunteer with Hospice, sit on the boards of various county veteran groups, condo board member or president, taught AARP 55ALIVE/MATURE DRIVING for 6 years, beach (girl) watch on a daily basis. The grass does not grow under my feet!

I did slow down a bit after having 4 major surgeries on my left eye to repair a hole in the retina and several retinal tears. Left me with little or no vision in the left eye. I think a fair statement would be that due to the stroke with it's "gimp" residuals and the vision loss, I now can see some of the bikinis that are colorful and I can chase them but can't catch them (as if I would know what to do with them!)

Doc Carter