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NAVRADSTA    Thurso Scotland
in the begining
updated 3 Aug. 2001
thanks to Paul Cafasso for the start of this:
Hello,
My name is Paul Cafasso.  I was an ET stationed at NavCommSta Londonderry from 3/62 through 7/64.  While there, we were sent a contingent of mobile communication vans, and I was responsible for making them operational.  I think they had come for Vietnam, and were going to be redeployed when they were operational.  The rumor was they may be going back to 'Nam or to Korea, and I was probably going to go with them to set them up. Needless to say, I wanted to make sure everying was better than perfect so I could delay the departure, and then get back to Derry asap.  Sure enough (and to my best recollection, it was the summer of '63 I think) orders came through to pack the vans, and pack a bag for TDY to........Thurso, Scotland!
I was sent with an officer, a LTJG or LT I think, whose name I can't recall, but would probably be able to pick out if I saw it; a Chief RM, again I think I would recognize the name, and an RM - a Seaman Babcock. I remember him - he was a little on the short side, and a little chunky and wore glasses.
Our job was to set up the vans and start transmitting and using frequencies.  When we arrived, the base was just being constructed.
There was only one building that was usable, and that's where we bunked and ate.  There was another officer there at the time, who drove a (new) American car - one of those small Pontiac station wagons, a brand new model, since the American car companies were just starting to make small cars.  I think the color was a dark red maybe, and it had a four-speed manual.  I remember these things because he used to give us all a ride into Thurso to check out the pubs or to John O' Groats.  Strange some of the things you remember, isn't it.
Anyway, I was there for about 2-3 months and then went back to Derry to finish out my Navy career.  I remember the base was on the edge of the cliffs, and I had just received a "dear John" from a girlfriend, and considered what it would be like jumping off the cliff (just kidding, but you know what I mean?)
I remember taking a pick up truck out one day to drive around.  Wasn't there a nuclear power plant  not too far from the base (west?)
I remember Babcock because, one night when a bunch (3-4) of us went into Thurso for a few pints, he had to stand watch at the vans, and we told him to make sure the generator didn't run out of diesel, othwise it would "blow up".  When we got back, we didn't hear any noise coming from the van area.  Guess what?
Anyway, I'd love to hear back from you, or anyone else that was there around that time.  I just stumbled on the Derry web site
(navcommsta-londonderry.freeservers.com), subsequently this one.  I'm striking up conversations with some old friends, and think this is really great.  Also was wondering if anyone served in both locations?
Derry is planning a reunion this July in Va. Beach, and a big one in Londonderry in 2003.  I see you had one last year.  Must have been a blast.
Thanks for listening, and would love to hear from you regarding this little bit of info on the beginnings of the Thurso commsta.

Paul Cafasso - ET3 USN '61 - '64 (kiddie cruiser)
 

Thanks to Everett Bombard for the following information.
I was there for 23 months..
I wasn't a plank owner but was on the front end of the 2nd wave
(1965-67) of the staff..
I recognize some of the names on your webpage..
here are some more.
The first sailor assigned to Thurso in 1963
was a guy named Bolton..
he was either an Electricians Mate or ICman
(he may even have been a snipe),
he was assigned to public works
and was reponsible for the attenna field,
diesel generators and the motor pool..
at that time there was a whole slew of government civilians
( they installed the transmitters, receivers,
microwave site and attennas etc.),
there were other navy "consultants" mostly offficers..
however, Bolton was the first permanent assignee to Thurso.
The second person was the Commissary Chief..
his name was Richardson,
he with the navy since WW2 and
was pretty much at the end of his career then
(but a con artist like you never met before)..
the third was RM1 Tracy Riff..
I noticed his name on your list..
I believe he is retired to NH.
After that I think Ojerholm gave you most of the
 guys who came in 64..
here is who I remember:
In Supply.. the Officer was LT Quigley,
we had a Ships Serviceman Chief name Forrester (from Georgia),
 SK1 Hunter (I think he made Chief just after I left),
Ships Seviceman 2nd class Baxter was our barber,
Ships serviceman 3rd class Carrigg worked in the ships store..
which was in the main barracks, by sickbay..
I can't remember our first corpsman..an HM1,
but he was replaced by Chief Barlow (HMC) in 1966,
our mailclerk was PC3 Fort
(he was relaced by PC2 DeWirth in 1966),
they also had a striker named Chilton,
we didn't have a disbusing clerk
(payroll was sent up from London) until 1966
then we got a striker named Dennis Smith from NJ.
 We also had a Storekeeper 3rd class Tony Nardone from NY.
We also had a couple of ships serviceman
second classes named Lesard and Skinner.
In Public Works,
we had a construction officer named Edinbrock,
a chief that I can't recall his name..
but he was the 1st casualty..got killed in a truck accident.
(while I was there another ET2
name Bob Para was killed in a car accident)
a DM1 Andy Baldwin, Bolton,
and a couple of general seaman
one was named Bighead/Noneck Smith from NY
and another was Lou Menafee form Roanoke Va.
( he was the first, and while I was there
the only African American on the base...
probably in all of Caithness..
he went to VietNam after his tour ..
but I lost touch with him about 1967,
also had a guy named Carl Caves.
In Personnel, I can't recall the Officer,
but he was of Lithuanian decent,(he had a balkan name).
PNC Chief Schelnick was from San Fransisco,
we had PN1 Porter and PN1 Larson.
Our Master-at-arms was Gunner Mangus..
he was replaced by GM2 Sellers.
I was a CYN (Communication Yeoman)
which was brand new to the Navy in 1964,
we also had CYN Charlie Vose,
CYN Bill Quackenbush,
CYN Moon Mullins
and a couple of others I can't recall right now.
The radioman I remember was
RMC Bowman,
RMC LePage (we called him Glooey)
RM1 Paul Reesh,
RM1 Jim Lovell,
RM1 Daryl Lucas,
RMC Griffin,
RM1 Tom Blunk,
RM1 Riff,
RM2 Ray Raymond,
RM2 John Ojerholm,
RM3 Joe Hines,
RM3 Ray Travis,
RM3 Moore,
RM2 George Morris (from Indiana),
RM3  Marv Clamp,
RM2 Vic Danart,
RM2 Decker,
RM2 George Osterberger,
RM3 Jim Zorman,
RM3 Jack Ennis,
RM3 Tim Toomey (both from Brooklyn),
RM3 Lenny Manual,
RM3 David McClave,
RM3 (Doc)Culler,
RM3 Jim Labor,
RM3 Ron Geshwin,
RMC Hudson,
RM3 Jerry Smith,
RM2 Morgan Evans,
RM3 Ray Evans
RM2 Urban,
RM2 Lloyd
RM3 Lewinski,
RM1 Bob Hahn,
RMCM Sandy Fried,
RM3 Karris
and another RM2 named Ray Evans .
The Comm Officer (also XO was LT. Buckley
and the repair Officer was Lt. Goodman..
he was replaced by Lt. Lashley in 1966.
The second skipper was LCDR Marcoux
(the other officers called him frenchy..but not to his face).
Other Officers I remember was LTjg Carpenter
and LTjg Hamilton.
In repair we had
ETC Chuck Cecil,
ETC Chuck Donahue,
ET1 Harry Myers,
ET2 Phares,
ET2 Wozniak,
ET2 JI Moore,
ET2 Jack Hausrath,
ET2 Dave Bishop,
ET3 Rick  Linnell,
ET3 Bunch,
ET3 Gordie Grimm,
ET3 Red Mann,
ET2 Ricky Wadel,
ET3 Rich McConnell,
ET2 Gene Gillam
ETCS Loveless came just before I left.

If I remember any more..I shoot you a note..I'm living in Taos, NM as a  Museum Curator..retired in 1984 as LCDR..eeejay