Veteran's Story
Ronald J. Harris is a U.S. Navy veteran who served from 1972 to 1975 during the Vietnam War. He completed boot camp at Camp Berry in Great Lakes, Illinois, and was stationed aboard the USS Canopus (AS-34), with additional service in Holyloch, Scotland, and Norfolk, Virginia. Harris earned the National Defense Service Medal and was honorably discharged following his dedicated service.
NAVY 1972-1975
I enlisted during the Vietnam War, not knowing if I’d get drafted or not—so I didn’t take any chances. I signed up and headed to boot camp at Great Lakes, where I did all my training from August to November.
After that, I spent eighteen months in Holyloch, Scotland, serving on a submarine tender. We worked on submarines, supplying them with food and weapons like missiles and torpedoes. Every six months, we’d go out to sea for training. I even got to see the Rock of Gibraltar during one of those runs.
Once my time in Scotland was up, I finished my service stateside in Norfolk, Virginia, working on an AFDM-7 dry dock.
It was a big experience for a little old country boy like me. If I had to do it again, I’d probably do some things differently—but I enjoyed it, with all its ups and downs.