Pete Azzole's On-line Library

My compliments to the CRYPTOLOG staff and contributors on the Winter Harbor special issue. It brought back many afterthoughts. When I exited the Maine Interstate, I recall how the winding, hilly trip eastbound on US-1/182 toward Winter Harbor kept me alert. I couldn’t help but wonder what a challenge these sinuous, climbing, diving, narrow, crowned roads would be in the winter. My brand new Chevy II made its maiden voyage down the short, quaint and quiet Main Street in Winter Harbor one sunny noon, in April 1963. There’s a lot of wonderful memories from that three-year tour. Shortly after arrival, I was advanced to CTR1 and just before I transferred to the Azores, I was treated to the mystical ritual of the CPO initiation. In-between those events there were many interesting memories, assignments and people. My first Division Officer there was John Bareilles, who right off the bat ordered me to take the USAFI College GED test. I wasn’t into the spirit of it and took it without studying a great deal, but I passed it. I don’t know the value it had in the various selection boards my service record went through, but 30 years later, it was worth 32 credits of general education at Florida Atlantic University and saved me a year of study toward my Bachelor’s degree. It didn't make John happy when I requested a transfer from his Division, but reading ‘automatic-Morse undulator tapes’ and hand-feeding midrat sandwiches to the Acadia National Park raccoon population didn’t compare to the new technology being installed at the new Wullenweber site. I had just spent a year in D/F at Cape Chiniak, AK and missed it badly. My next Division Officer (HFDF Division) was Jim Hargrove. He taught me some hard but valuable lessons about transitioning to a senior enlisted leadership role in the demanding environment of AN/FRD-10 and AN/FRA-54 operations. He taught me the value of accountability (being and holding) and delegation which served me all my life. Enough of all that. There are certain visions of duty in Winter Harbor which come to me that I know WH alumni will appreciate. Such as (no particular order): …peeking out the door of our windowless operations building to check on snowfall half way through the watch and finding that all the cars in the parking lot had disappeared. This is followed by implementing plans for doing a double-shift and breaking out the C-rations… …hearing the snow plow come through the housing development and swearing under your breath, knowing that the pile of ice and snow blocking your driveway is, or will soon be, at least eight feet high… …summer - short but sweet - including water skiing, and beach picnics at Tunk Lake; trout and bass fishing at Lily Pond; lobster/clam picnics at the main base… …commissary/BX runs to Bangor Air Force Base… …the occasional escape of a ram from the sheep farm adjacent the housing areas with the attendant cries of pure fear and glee of the kids being chased by the curious, odorous and sometimes cantankerous animal… …the breathtaking view from atop Schoodic Mountain, near Bar Harbor, the easternmost point of the United States… …the iron-rich amber tap water which terrorized white uniforms… …the interesting banter among the locals at the town barber shop and Hilltop Diner, e.g., "…my tv hasn’t been worth a damn since they turned on that big radah…" (the Wullenweber) and "…ayayunh, no deer yet, but got off a couple good sound shots yestahday though…" (shots made in the direction of rustling leaves) …the Chief’s initiation: a dawn to dusk metamorphosis; uniform of the day was a diaper; activities/duties included shining shoes, taking abuse, being refused palatable food, wearing food and condiments, performing feats of skill not previously imagined, the list goes on <grin>… …the personnel inspection which was interrupted by the grim announcement of the death of President Kennedy… In 1981, as a sandcrab working for HRB-Singer, I had the opportunity to return to Winter Harbor to assist in a Classic Wizard software upgrade. The most surprising thing was the small amount of change in Winter Harbor and immediate environs since 1966. I am particularly saddened at the planned passage of Winter Harbor from the roles of active sites. Most of the sites where I have served are gone, or soon will be. I realize that this is the result of progress. There are many times when I yearn to still be involved with the Naval Security Group, up to my eye balls in the current arcane technologies. But, my new career in healthcare administration, involving cancer treatment technology, has its just rewards.