The Incredibly Stupid One at the Hanoi Hilton

Cherries Writer ^ | March 17, 2014 | Dick "Beak" Stratton

[Twotone]

It was a warmer than usual summer day in Clark, South Dakota when a rather large and ungainly young man, a recent high school graduate, set about finding his way in the world. The salivating Navy recruiter asked the youngster what it would take to have him sign up: “why, I’d like to go to Australia.” It was as good as done. After all, in 1966, if you were lucky enough to ship out on the USS Canberra, more likely than not, during the course of your hitch, there will be a port call to the ship’s namesake— Canberra, Australia.

[Larry381]

Usually they were volunteers, violators of direct orders from their Seniors and traitors to our cause of resistance.

/Has anyone ever found out which "traitors" he was referring to?

[The_Media_never_lie]

Will read later....

[longhorn too]

“I think that tower was 40 feet high. I remember thinking “Why haven’t I hit the water yet?” So, I looked down and BAM! Right in the face. Water is hard.”

I was in navy boot camp in 1968. I too remember jumping off the tower for the swim test but one thing I didn’t know, was how to swim. They told all recruits it does not matter if you can swim are not, you either jump or you are pushed off, the choice is yours. I had to go back one night for swim class and passed the swim test that night. Boy was I ever glad!

[VerySadAmerican]

I had to jump off the high tower in aviation training. There was a Gunny Sgt standing there who would push you off if you didn’t go when he said “Go”. Then you had to climb back up and jump again.