P.O.D.

SSN 680 Plan of the Day

Former Bates Shipmate Serving in Afganistan

Dave Gordon, former Sonar Tech aboard the USS WILLIAM H. BATES (SSN 680) (78-81) is currently serving in Afghanistan with the U.S. Army in a support role (we hope). They call it the NArmy...go figure! He went to training in South Carolina at an Army base, spent some time in Kuwait, and now is in Kabul (as of Sept. 6-7). He even had dinner at the U.S. Embassy the other night! I'm not sure where exactly he is stationed.

Dave has been active in the Naval Reserves off and on over the last 20+ years, During that time he evolved from a ST to a MC (Mass Communications Specialist), and even made Chief in 2008!! In recent years, he has stretched his annual two-week deployment to a month or more each time, traveling with and documenting/reporting the exploits of Navy and other military forces around the world as part of his new rate.

His reserve duties are closely tied to his civilian career.  He has a Masters of Broadcast Arts degree and has worked in various broadcasting, reporting, journalist and production/directing jobs in Michigan, New Jersey, Ohio, Indiana and Washington state. He won an Emmy for a commercial spot he produced in his present hometown of Olympia, WA. Currently he is a producer at TV Tacoma, the municipal cable station run by the city of Tacoma, WA.  Gordie sure has come a long way!

I wanted all former Bates sailors to be aware that one of our buddies is still serving, and is now in the middle of a real hot zone! I believe he is in some type of media capacity, but his pictures on his Facebook page show him holding a weapon instead of a camera. I thought it might be nice if we showed Gordie some support. He is having difficulty with email, but posts when he can on Facebook. I also just got his mailing address from his wife. Remember how great it was to get mail from home? Maybe some of you could drop him an inappropriate postcard. Put it in an envelope though, no dirty pictures in a Muslim country!

 

MCC(SS) Dave Gordon

CSTC-A Public Affairs Office

APO AE 09356

 

Anyway, lift a beer, give a toast, say a prayer...whatever works for you. He's still doing his part to keep it right for the rest of us.

 

Mike Jack (Yak)

FTG2(SS) 79-82

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