Bowdish, Ralph interview

• Main Author: Central Florida, RICHES of
• Other Authors: Nazarian, Sara
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: Department of History, University of Central Florida 2019
• Subjects: Amarillo; Greenland; Pacific; Sumner; Treasure Island; Westminster
• Online Access: https://stars.library.ucf.edu/veteransoralhistories/643; https://stars.library.ucf.edu/context/veteransoralhistories/article/1642/type/native/viewcontent

Abstract Oral history interview of Mr. Ralph Bowdish. Interview conducted by Sara Nazarian at Westminster in Winter Park, Florida on 10/23/2019. Interview topics include, Introduction; Birth and Parent's Occupation; Siblings; Childhood in Amarillo, Texas; Camping in Camp Don Harrington; Effects of Oil Crisis in Texas; Move to Fort Worth, Texas; Father's Occupation at Fort Worth; Failed Attempt at Postsecondary Education; Attempt at avoiding the draft; Father's reaction to avoiding the draft; Enlistment in the Navy Reserves; Boot Camp Experiences in Great Lakes, Michigan; Advanced Training on Treasure island; Assignment on USS Allen M. Sumner DD-692; Failed Promotion/Revoked Security Clearance; Transfer to YR-71; Flight on Air America; Climate Shock in the Philippines; Duties on YR-71; Assignment on USS Henry B. Wilson DDG-7; Decision to leave the Navy; Work at the National Steel and Ship Building; Decision to not complete college education; Reenlistment into the Navy; Mixed up Orders; Report to Navy Yard, Washington DC, Bd. 214; Experience in Diving School; Assignment to Harbor Clearance Unit One; Combat/Diving Rotations; Diving Dinosaurs vs. Scuba Divers; Orders to Greenland and Assignment to USS Florikan ASR-9; Experience on USS Florikan ASR-9; Mixed Gas Diving; Problems Docking Submarines; Stays in Hong Kong; Attempt to be Reassigned to Key Port, Washington; Assignment to Experimental Diving Unit in Washington, DC.; Saturation Diving; Freedoms/Off Base Activities as Member of Experimental Diving Unit; Beryllium Mixed Gas Diving Experiment; Motorcycle Accident/Hospital Patient; Cancelled Orders to Vallejo, California; Assignment to USS Prairie; Duties on USS Prairie; BRAC under Johnson; Pulling out of the Western Pacific; Decommissioning the USS Prairie; Decision to request US station; Proposal to girlfriend during leave; Assignment on USS Tringa; Security Clearances/Personalities Onboard; Dilapidated Condition of USS Tringa; Marriage and Moving; Cross Deck to USS Sunbird; Dilapidated Condition of USS Sunbird; Experience working on the USS Sunbird; Assignment to Experimental Diving Unit in Panama City, Florida; Birth of Eldest Son; Failed Promotion Attempts to Master Diver; Assignment to USS O'Brien in Sardinia; Promotion to Division Chief/Duties; Back to Dive School; Rolling Back One Class; Assignment on USS Holland; Assignment on USS Shenandoah; Diving Accident on USS Shenandoah; Distrust of commissioned officers; Leaving the Navy; Reflections on service; Death, Cancer, and Agent Orange; Pay in the Navy; Conclusion.