Montana's Best Kept Secrets TM

-Welcome -

To the Land of the Free ... And the Home ... Of the Brave

My Family's service started with Lieutenant James Mellen, a Minute Man who enlisted in the Revolutionary Army from South Framingham, Massachusetts, and was in the Battle of Lexington. Every Generation has served honorable to Modern day.

From 1st grade to 9th grade, it was required, prior to starting the first class of the day, all students stand next to their desks. Put their hand right hand over their heart and say "Out loud" in joyful chorus!!

"I Pledge Allegiance To The Flag, Of The United States Of America , And To The Republic For Which It Stands, One Nation Under God, Indivisible, With Liberty And Justice For All!"

As an adult, the oath is still said with your right hand upright in salute Pledge in a Joyful Chorus!

OATH OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

"I hereby declare, that I will support and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States of America against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I will bear arms on behalf of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform noncombatant service in the armed forces of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform work of national importance under civilian direction when required by the law; and that I take this obligation freely without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; so help me God."

Then your off to Boot Camp for 8 weeks, Then off to (A) School for 12 more weeks. Then you report to your duty station & your told as soon as you walk into the squadron door...

"Forget what you learned in School, Your in the Real Navy Now"

" I was an Aviation Life-Support Specialist ( A.K.A. a Parachute Rigger ) in VAW-120, a Training Squadron for E2C & C2A Aircraft that I voluntarily picked from A School for wanted a Challenging job. Then four years, 8 Months and 24 Days later I was Discharged due to the Government's Convenience in 1988 ".

"This is what happens when you are part of the Graham-Rudman Statistical budget cuts. Sometimes you have no choice for the government made it for you"

"My Squadron"

"Before leaving I did several artistic things."

Changed the Squadron Logo with Vice President Bush's Approval which was a big deal back then. The patch landed on over 5,000 people in a year." The old logo is seen on my plague that the squadron personnel called the "Chicken & the Book" And I still have my flight jacket.

" Then drew pictures for "Special Events" The Mess Shack (Gedunk) and made a logo for the hardest working "Line" Personal that became a patch for them."