Seaman Jeffrey Alexander
U.S. Navy – Photographer
Naval Air Station
Sigonella, Italy
February 1970 – August 1972
U.S. Navy – Photographer
Naval Air Station
Sigonella, Italy
February 1970 – August 1972
Jeffrey Alexander was born May 14th, 1951 and grew up with his sister in Westbury, New York. Jeff graduated from W. Tresper Clarke High School in 1969. His father was a conductor for the Long Island Railroad. He was also an amateur photographer and had a darkroom in the house.
Jeff had a very low draft number, and it was very likely he would be drafted into the Army. Rather than join the Army he enlisted in the Navy so he “could see the world”. He took advantage of a program that allowed you to serve two years rather than four if he extended his service by six months, for a grand total of two and a half years.
In February of 1970, Jeff was scheduled to head to boot camp at the Naval Air Station Great Lakes, just outside of Chicago. That sounded too cold, so he selected to attend boot camp in Orlando, Florida. Although boot camp was hard Jeff recalled, “but I made it through it”. Jeff had selected photography as his third choice for his military occupation and that is what the Navy Assigned him. He spent the next five months in Pensacola, Florida at his Advanced Individual Training (AIT) in Photography.
After completing his AIT in photography Jeff was ready to see the world with the Navy. However, the Navy had other plans for him. Jeff was stationed at Naval Air Station Sigonella in Sigonella, Italy. The base is approximately 75 miles north of the southernmost tip of Sicily. Jeff recalled that Sigonella was a key base for Middle East conflicts. He also learned that a Naval Air Station didn’t necessarily mean a view of the ocean. The closest ocean was the Ionian Sea, a 15-minute drive. Jeff spent the remainder of his tour in Sigonella. “Better than going to Vietnam, 100%”.
Jeff started out in the darkroom and eventually moved on to covering military events which were primarily ceremonial. “The first few months they put all of the new photographers in the darkroom and after a while when they felt comfortable, they would send you out on assignments covering ceremonies……”. During this era photographs were mainly shot in black and white. The equipment Jeff used was mostly Nikon and Leica.
After six months Jeff was able to live off base among the local Italians. Jeff and a few other sailors rented an apartment in the town of Catania. Jeff learned enough Italian to get by. “I spoke a little bit of Italian, mostly curse words.” Jeff also learned the fine art of bartering with the local Italians. “Being a photographer, I traded photos for liquor or cigarettes”. Then Jeff would trade the liquor for a homemade meal with a local Italian family. When he wasn’t on duty Jeff was able to do some sightseeing. Sigonella was at the base of Mt. Etna and Jeff was able to get some good aerial shots of Mt. Etna. He was also able to tour the ruins in Siracusa and visit Rome and Naples on leave.
When it came time to re-enlist Jeff thought about it long and hard. He was 21 years old with no commitments or a steady girlfriend and he concluded this was his time to see the world.
“I came very close to rejoining for an additional four years, but I changed my mind at the last minute.” For the next three months Jeff toured Europe. He started in Rome, then on to Florence, Austria, Germany, the Scandinavian countries, Amsterdam, Belgium, France and he ended with three weeks in Scotland and England. Jeff used the Euro rail pass to travel throughout Europe and he stretched his money by hitchhiking and staying in Youth Hostels. “Believe it or not, some of them were castles. They were beautiful. I was pleasantly surprised because I thought they would be dumps.”
Jeff returned home and started his career as a photographer but most of the work was shooting weddings and Bar Mitzvahs on the weekend. Jeff was looking to make additional money, and he went to see a headhunter who ended up asking Jeff to work with him as a recruiter. Jeff continued to work weekends as a photographer but eventually phased out as his other income increased.
After learning the ropes of recruiting, Jeff went out on his own. He opened an office in Bethpage, NY. In 1972 Jeff’s friend who he worked with at Orbach’s, a local department store of the era, arranged a double date and introduced Jeff to Randi Burg. Jeff and Randi hit it off and four years later on May 30th they tied the knot. Randi and Jeff are going on 49 years of marriage, and they have three sons and six grandchildren.
After 9/11 Jeff found the recruiting industry was changing. He also had a number of people who went into competition with him after they learned the ropes working with him. He decided he would retire.
Jeff felt he got great training from the Navy, particularly in darkroom and film developing skills which were critical back in that time period before digital technology. “I had a great position as a photographer. Better than some of my friends.”
Thank you, Jeff, for sacrificing two and a half years of your life to record military history. You mentioned there are still parts of the world you would like to see. If you do, be sure to bring your camera.
Jeff had a very low draft number, and it was very likely he would be drafted into the Army. Rather than join the Army he enlisted in the Navy so he “could see the world”. He took advantage of a program that allowed you to serve two years rather than four if he extended his service by six months, for a grand total of two and a half years.
In February of 1970, Jeff was scheduled to head to boot camp at the Naval Air Station Great Lakes, just outside of Chicago. That sounded too cold, so he selected to attend boot camp in Orlando, Florida. Although boot camp was hard Jeff recalled, “but I made it through it”. Jeff had selected photography as his third choice for his military occupation and that is what the Navy Assigned him. He spent the next five months in Pensacola, Florida at his Advanced Individual Training (AIT) in Photography.
After completing his AIT in photography Jeff was ready to see the world with the Navy. However, the Navy had other plans for him. Jeff was stationed at Naval Air Station Sigonella in Sigonella, Italy. The base is approximately 75 miles north of the southernmost tip of Sicily. Jeff recalled that Sigonella was a key base for Middle East conflicts. He also learned that a Naval Air Station didn’t necessarily mean a view of the ocean. The closest ocean was the Ionian Sea, a 15-minute drive. Jeff spent the remainder of his tour in Sigonella. “Better than going to Vietnam, 100%”.
Jeff started out in the darkroom and eventually moved on to covering military events which were primarily ceremonial. “The first few months they put all of the new photographers in the darkroom and after a while when they felt comfortable, they would send you out on assignments covering ceremonies……”. During this era photographs were mainly shot in black and white. The equipment Jeff used was mostly Nikon and Leica.
After six months Jeff was able to live off base among the local Italians. Jeff and a few other sailors rented an apartment in the town of Catania. Jeff learned enough Italian to get by. “I spoke a little bit of Italian, mostly curse words.” Jeff also learned the fine art of bartering with the local Italians. “Being a photographer, I traded photos for liquor or cigarettes”. Then Jeff would trade the liquor for a homemade meal with a local Italian family. When he wasn’t on duty Jeff was able to do some sightseeing. Sigonella was at the base of Mt. Etna and Jeff was able to get some good aerial shots of Mt. Etna. He was also able to tour the ruins in Siracusa and visit Rome and Naples on leave.
When it came time to re-enlist Jeff thought about it long and hard. He was 21 years old with no commitments or a steady girlfriend and he concluded this was his time to see the world.
“I came very close to rejoining for an additional four years, but I changed my mind at the last minute.” For the next three months Jeff toured Europe. He started in Rome, then on to Florence, Austria, Germany, the Scandinavian countries, Amsterdam, Belgium, France and he ended with three weeks in Scotland and England. Jeff used the Euro rail pass to travel throughout Europe and he stretched his money by hitchhiking and staying in Youth Hostels. “Believe it or not, some of them were castles. They were beautiful. I was pleasantly surprised because I thought they would be dumps.”
Jeff returned home and started his career as a photographer but most of the work was shooting weddings and Bar Mitzvahs on the weekend. Jeff was looking to make additional money, and he went to see a headhunter who ended up asking Jeff to work with him as a recruiter. Jeff continued to work weekends as a photographer but eventually phased out as his other income increased.
After learning the ropes of recruiting, Jeff went out on his own. He opened an office in Bethpage, NY. In 1972 Jeff’s friend who he worked with at Orbach’s, a local department store of the era, arranged a double date and introduced Jeff to Randi Burg. Jeff and Randi hit it off and four years later on May 30th they tied the knot. Randi and Jeff are going on 49 years of marriage, and they have three sons and six grandchildren.
After 9/11 Jeff found the recruiting industry was changing. He also had a number of people who went into competition with him after they learned the ropes working with him. He decided he would retire.
Jeff felt he got great training from the Navy, particularly in darkroom and film developing skills which were critical back in that time period before digital technology. “I had a great position as a photographer. Better than some of my friends.”
Thank you, Jeff, for sacrificing two and a half years of your life to record military history. You mentioned there are still parts of the world you would like to see. If you do, be sure to bring your camera.