Fifty years ago, Naval Station Norfolk was, I believe, what it is now — the world’s largest naval base. I was there to go to the Fleet Operational Intelligence Training Center, Atlantic (FOITCLANT) to take a course of study I believe was called BITS (maybe Basic Intelligence Training “Something”?).
I don’t know if there was an equivalent school on the West Coast. I’m pretty sure the two other members of OCS 6903 with the Intel designator were at the same school. I was also near the ship to which I had been ordered to report, following Intelligence and then Combat Information Center (CIC) training for nine weeks.
At some point at OCS, I had received orders to the USS Biddle (DLG-34). I saw that its home port was Norfolk and I naively thought I might be going on a deployment to the Mediterranean. The expected Navy etiquette was for an officer to send a note to the Executive Officer of the ship to which he had been ordered, conveying that he had orders and otherwise announcing his impending arrival. I remember being at home in Springfield when I received a note from the XO, welcoming me to the ship, giving me some logistical information, and pointing out we would be leaving in May on a WESTPAC deployment. Arrivederci, Med!
I remember very little of the courses February-May. I do remember doing something quite stupid, however. After several months at OCS, I didn’t want to live in Navy housing any longer. Instead of using the BOQ (Bachelor Officers Quarters), I rented a room in an inexpensive motel in Norfolk. While the motel might have been “inexpensive,” the BOQ would have been free. I was also isolated from other officers, something I now regret.
I also made a couple of weekend trips back to Boston. It had a hold on me. I remember flying on Agony Airlines, the moniker given to Allegheny Airlines at the time. On one particular trip, we approached Boston in a snowstorm. Visibility appeared to be nil. After what seemed like many changes in course and in elevation, we touched down and the passengers gave the crew a rousing round of applause.