Story and photos by Karen Butera
In October of 1965, a year after graduating from high school, Tom Hall decided to join the Navy during the Vietnam War era, prepared to fight for his country. His decision came because of a desire to follow in his father’s footsteps, also a Navy man as a Seabee years earlier. His six-year hitch in the Navy started in boot camp in San Diego, California, then onto school where the Navy sent him to learn to be an electrician. The Navy was not finished with Hall’s training yet, sending him on to Nuclear Power School, and then for prototype training at a submarine school on the Groton Navy Base.
After his original six-year hitch, Hall found himself with a decision to make. “I originally didn’t plan on joining the Navy for a career, but as things change in your life, you find your path in life changes also,” said Hall. “I had the choice to reenlist or get out.” With the money incentive they offered, Hall decided it was a good idea to reenlist, especially since he enjoyed what he was doing. Before he knew it, that six-year hitch turned into 21 years, and in the end, Hall was an Electrician’s Mate Senior Chief Petty Officer, Submarine qualified.
Once completed with his training, Hall was assigned on a fast attack submarine, the USS Sargo, as a Nuclear Electrician stationed in Pearl Harbor for two years. Submariners who operate the vessels that carry weapons under the sea are called “The Silent Service.”
“Our job was to stand watch, keep the boat repaired and trained for properly controlling the reactor and keeping it safe. Part of our job was keeping an eye on the Russians during the Cold War while they kept an eye on us,” said Hall. For two years, the sub was stationed off the Vietnam Coast.
For Hall, one of the nicest things about the Navy was “We docked in Singapore, Philippines, Korea, Japan and Hong Kong for a few days, getting to see places we wouldn’t have normally seen, and do things we wouldn’t have done otherwise.”
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