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Life Afer Spinax: Harold Earls
Where to begin....well let me begin with You, Sam, and the Chief. After all, you guys were my heros...and still are. You took a young sailor under your wing and through kind discipline and stern requirements made him qualify in about two months even while mess cooking. You taught me lessons that would last me a lifetime. I truly loved the Spinax and her crew, and it was a very sad day for me when I received orders to Dam Neck, VA. I felt that I had finally become one of you....finally been accepted as a crew member in good standing. After the incident with the 22 in Alaska (shot himself in leg while quickdrawing, ED), I walked off the carrier two weeks later in Long Beach heading for Dam Neck. I had made E4 on the Spinax and was also qualified....that meant a lot to this young, bright eyed sailor. I was off to see the world. After Damn Neck I was assigned to the Stonewall Jackson SSBN 634 at Mare Island, CA. I was a plank owner and rode her down the ways. I completed 7 patrols on the Stoney J and went to the Submarine base Pearl. The Steam Torpedo Shop. I was there during the filming of Tora, Tora, Tora. I left the Jackson as a first Class. I met my darling wife Leilani, in Hawaii and we are still madly in love and together 37 years later. I got out of the Navy in 70, just for a short while then re-enlisted in San Bernardino. I now had ex-shipmates in Washington as my detailers and received orders to the John Marshal SSBN 611. There I made Chief the first time up and was transferred to the Nathaniel Greene SSBN 636 after three patrols. I was Chief of the Boat on the 636 for six patrols before going to Shore duty at the Naval Safety Center. I was now an E8 and had made 16 patrols. At the Naval Safety Center I inspeced Surface, Submerged, and Air assets. I traveled with Carl Brashear, He's the Navy hard hat Diver that lost his leg off the coast of Palmyra Spain while retreiving the nukes that the B52 accidently lost. They made a movie about him called "Men Of Honor" We were very close and remain so to this day. At the safety Center I made warrant Officer, 7174, there were only 14 of us in the Navy, and I was very lucky to have made it. They had not rated a 7174 in about five years. I received orders to Cubi Point NAS, Phillipines as Torpedo Officer. I had a shop way out in the jungle, heavily guarded by Marines. We overhauled 44s, 46s and other things. While there I did several jobs for the Navy. When there was an accident, or a problem at a base somewhere, I would get a call from CINCPAC Chief of Staff and orders would shortly follow to go where ever and help or investigate. Sometimes my tasking would involve instructing on foreign soil, this would require that I be transferred to the State Dept. I had a specially configured C130 and a crew of 5, that I would courier weapons with, I also had a Platoon of Marines that worked for me in Security. So you can see I got around a lot. I was the Navy's Gunner for those years. After the Phillipines I was assigned to NWTGLANT in Norfolk where I was one of the members of the NWAI teams inspecting special weapons units, There, because of my background, I inspected surface, air, and submarine as well as shore stations. I also did DNSI inspections for the DOD. Talk about travel, I was on the road 89% of the time From there I was assigned as the Weapons Officer on the USS Yellowstone AD41 in Norfolk. After two years there Electric Boat contacted me and made me an offer I could not refuse. I put in my papers and retired in Sept of 83 after 21 1/2 years. I was EB's Rep in DC. you know, big office and all. I retired from EB in 94 Like My President said, "All in all not bad.....Not bad at all". (Ronald Reagan) Somewhere along the line I picked up the game of tennis. We were a perfect match, I play every day, and for a few years I traveled anywhere there was some good competition. I used to get to Vegas maybe 6 or 7 times a year, every thing was gratis all I had to do was bring my raquet. But I have lost touch with the guys there in the past two or three years and haven't been in awhile. Some of the really big shots at the hotels play tennis, and sometimes I would have to let them win...hahahahahaha, just to be assured of a return trip. I loved the navy, I loved my time there. I received everything I ever asked for and if I didn't, then it was my fault, not the Navy's. Throughout my career I never once forgot the men of the Spinax, and the lessons they taught a young sailor in need of guidance. I especially remember you Pecos, and Sam, and the Chief (Smitty), You men will always occupy a special place in my heart. I am so very proud to say that I sailed on the Spinax, for I was a crewmember there in good standing. I have told the story of the Spinax a thousand times to many sailors and have always said "I would still be in the Navy if I could be on the Spinax. I now live in Berlin, MD, just outside Ocean City. Berlin is an old, little town and it's like stepping back into the 1800s. Quiet and sleepy, we still sit out on the front porch in the evenings and say hello to those passing by. They filmed "Runaway Bride" here, and a few other movies, and my home is across the street from the house that Julia Roberts lived in in the movie. There is a meusem on the corner, and in the evenings there is a band dressed in confederate uniforms playing rebel music. People from miles around bring their chairs and sit on the lawn and listen. It is a peaceful town, a perfect place, I think.
Harold C. Earls |
