A bit of veteran’s history

By Richard L. Graves Sr.

Richard F. Preston of Milo and a member of Joseph P. Chaisson American Legion Post 41 shares some memories of his 20 years of military service in the U.S. Navy.

His basic training started in Orlando, Fla. specializing in the submarine service as a helmsman. Being selected for submarine service is an accomplishment in itself. After basic and specialized training Preston was assigned to the USS Salmon SS 573 in the Philippines, part of the West PAC and when it was decommissioned he was assigned to the USS Gudeon AG SS-567 where he worked as a sonar tech, continually learning and qualifying for promotion.

Eventually Preston was assigned shore duty and attended schooling in sonar electronics and he qualified as an instructor/supervisor and then was assigned to the USS Baltimore SSN 704 out of Norfolk, Va. This was a nuclear submarine in which he served for five years travelling all over the north Atlantic, its history of travel and assignment still remains classified today.

The next two assignments before retirement was as an instructor in advanced electronics and the last sea duty was on the USS McKee AS 37 — a maintenance ship. In October 1996 Preston retired and went to Chandler, Ariz. with Intel computer chips. Some four years ago he moved to Milo and purchased a home. Preston is now a person who volunteers for numerous non-profit organizations in the community.