Gary E. Nagorka Prior rate: AO3 Final rate/grade: AW3 E-mail: nagorkage@yahoo.com

I started out my aircrew experience as just an airman, fresh out of Electronic's school (Memphis) in a rag outfit (VS-41). I volunteered because I liked to fly. Usually aircrew volunteers were rated, but they accepted me anyway.. Being the boot camper, every outfit put me in the galley duty roster for a while, yet at the same time I was aircrew training...

VS-35 , my fleet squadron wasn't any different; I did my time then finally made Plane Captain, worked the AT shop and flew as an Aircrew... In flight operations I'd work, then fly; kept me busy, never saw my rack, but I could catch a nap standing up sometimes while waiting in the lsland waiting for a flight to come in. I flew in S-2E's off the U.S.S. Hornet 1967-1969.

Left VS-35 in September 1969, from North Island San Diego, I was an AW-3. Lots of fond memories from those days in the Navy. It's my desire to just keep in touch with some of my ole "shipmates" the ASW community and watch it advance.