Earl "Bob" Skaggs

Earl "Bob" Skaggs, born on July 29, 1932, served in the United States Navy for a total of 8 years total; 4 reserve, 4 active.

Rank/ position: Electrician and Petty Officer Second Class.

Stationed/ deployed: San Diego, CA (bootcamp). Went to military electrician school in Norfolk, VA and then was shipped out to sea.

3rd Ship: USS SAN MARCOS

When asked what inspired him to join the military, Bob mentioned Uncle Sam encouraged him because he was going to be drafted. Bob said that his uncle was in World War ll.

His role or job during his service was electrician mostly but he did a little bit of everything. He mentioned that the main job was to keep the boats running and make beach landings.

When asked if he remembered his first day of service or boot camp and what it was like, he said he was examined in Oklahoma City and then put on a train to San Diego where the petty officers were harsh until the young soldiers' processing time ended at 3:00 AM, only for them to be woken up at 5:00 AM to get going again. "It was not a very nice time," Bob said. He said he spent 11 weeks at boot camp and then a total of 14 weeks in electrician school to then go into ship work. "Practice practice practice," Bob said, referring to beach landings mainly.

He talked about how the Air Force was a part of the beach landings as well. "They had to have some pretty good heads to be diving at the ground like that just to whip back up."

Bob served during the time of things happening between America and North Korea. He talked about how the Navy gathered up a number of Marines along with many ships, which is something that Bob believes was a scary tactic. He said that they spent four days in Okinawa, Japan and then those gathered dispersed. During his time in the Navy, he traveled to Okinawa, Japan, Italy, the Mediterranean Sea and islands, Pacific, Atlantic, Caribbean Sea, North folk, VA and San Diego CA.

Bob talked about how, depending on your school test scores, they go down the line allowing the highest scoring soldiers to choose their ships. He mentioned how he did not score too well and by the time the list got down to him, he chose a 'garbage scowl.' He mentioned how the bigger ships had more strict rules and procedures whereas the ship that he had chose was not so much like that.

Bob said that he was proud to have served and if he had to go again he would. "I have so many quilts from being in the service. There are many at the schools around here. Look at these two on my wall here," he motioned to the two large quilts hanging behind him by his bed. "I am so proud of these."

Bob said there was always a 'clown' in the mix and shared with us that while in Italy, with much of the German conflict, there was a boy that had jumped up and said to take his picture in the middle of the chaos. Bob shared that that was a funny or memorable moment for him.

Those who stood out most in his memory while serving include: Charlie Reese from Germany; a young 18 year old boy named Arthur; a very good General; and Virgil Lockwood, a good friend. "It was like family. They say don't get too well acquainted with friends because you don't know what will happen to them."

Bob mentioned leaving his father and the farm was the most challenging part of his service because farming conditions were improving. He said he remembers leaving his family and knowing they were crying. He talked about how he originally wanted to become a veterinarian and that he learned a lot from a local veterinarian in Tahlequah; Mike Sheets. He learned how to get along with people in the military and that still guides him today.

Words of advice or encouragement for today's service members: "Just do what you want to do. I learned a lot during my time and the service, just know if war breaks out they will get you first."