Petty Officer 2nd Class Neil Gleicher
U.S. Navy – Quartermaster
U.S.S. Ticonderoga
Gulf of Tonkin, Vietnam
April 28, 1965 – April 3, 1967
U.S. Navy – Quartermaster
U.S.S. Ticonderoga
Gulf of Tonkin, Vietnam
April 28, 1965 – April 3, 1967
“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.”
Introduction
Neil Gleicher is a Petty Office 2nd class, a son, a brother, a husband, a father, a grandfather, a successful optician and boy from a Brooklyn neighborhood. Neil served his country and has a wonderful family, but life threw him a curveball. In recent years Neil was diagnosed with Early Lewi Body which affects cognition and mobility. The interview with Neil included Barbara, his wife of 58 years. She was kind enough to provide a treasure-trove of letters she saved written from Neil to his parent while he was in the Navy during the Vietnam War. These letters provide a window into who Neil Gleicher was at the ripe old age of 23. He was a loving son with plans to marry his sweetheart and missed her terribly while he was away at sea. He was an optician with dreams of having his own business. He had a great curiosity and took advantage of R&R to see the sights in southeast Asia. He was practical, ambitious and had a good wit. The following is his story which includes quotes from his many letters.
Growing up in Brooklyn
Neil Gleicher was born October 5th, 1942 in the Canarsie section of Brooklyn, NY. Neil was the oldest of three boys. Neils father was an optician, and his mother was a homemaker. When Neil was six years old he moved to Quentin Rd. in the Flatbush section of Brooklyn. Neil graduated from Madison High School in 1960.
Neil attended New York Tech and enrolled in the optical program to go on to become an optician. His father was an optician, and his uncle was an optometrist in the family business, Gleicher Optical in Manhattan, NY. Neil completed school in January 1964 and was studying for his New York State Opticians License which was to be given in June. The Vietnam War was ramping up and all healthy men over the age of 18 were eligible to be drafted. If you were in college your military obligation could be deferred. Since Neil had graduated, he was eligible to be drafted. Neil decided it would be better to enlist in the Navy Reserves which would allow him to take his exam. His wife Barbara recalled, “he studied very, very hard. He locked himself in his room.”
While at college Neil met Barbara Greenwald from Sheepshead Bay at his fraternity party. Barbara recalled, “I was in high school and on a Friday night I went to his college fraternity. I was 16 and he was 21. He was the dancing king of Mu Alpha Delta, the MAD Men, and that's exactly what that fraternity was like, the Mad Men.” Neil took Barbara’s number at the end of the night, but so did Neil’s fraternity brother, Bob. Bob called her first. Barbara and Bob dated but broke up after six months. Neil found out and seized the opportunity and “that was the beginning,” Barbara recalled. “We dated and then we got pinned (a fraternity pin), because that's what they did in those days.”
Entering the Navy
The Reserves called and Neil attended boot camp in Brooklyn, NY. He found boot camp very difficult. “I couldn’t even shine my shoelaces to their satisfaction”. After boot camp Neil returned to civilian life. Neil returned from boot camp but within few weeks he began active duty. Neil, a true Brooklyn Boy, had never been out of Brooklyn or on a plane and now he was flying to San Francisco.
Neil arrived in San Francisco in April 1965 and was assigned to the U.S.S. Ticonderoga. When Neil went to select his Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) the Navy saw he was a licensed optician. They told him he could be an optician on the ship, but he would have to extend his commitment from two to three years. Neil asked, “what if I don't become an optician on the ship?” He was told they would train him to do something else and he would have a two-year commitment. Neil elected for the short commitment, and he was trained as a Quartermaster. Quartermasters are enlisted personnel who stand watch as assistants to officers of the deck and the navigator; serve as helmsman and perform ship control, navigation and bridge watch duties.They perform these duties under the control of the ship's navigator. Neil completed his occupational training in San Francisco and was sent to Coronado in the San Diego area in California.
Neil and Barbra were planning to get married when Neil completed his active service. Neil decided to accelerate their timetable and called Barbara at 4 am (Brooklyn time) from Hong Kong on April 8th,1966 to say, “when I come in on leave, I’d like to get married”. Barbara recalled, “in those days, long distance was very expensive. He had $33 worth of quarters he kept dropping in the phone and I didn’t say yes. So, it was 45 minutes and $135 later, he reversed the charges, I said yes. I loved him. I was young and stupid, Barbara glibly said, but I married the nicest person I ever met and 58 years later he still is. My mother couldn't believe it”.
When the ship returned to port Neil went on leave, returned to Brooklyn and married Barbara on June 26th. The couple flew back to San Diego and rented an apartment. The newlyweds had about three months together before Neil headed out to sea. The food on the ship was quite good and Barbara remembered a night that Neil brought her lobster tails. When Neil deployed Barbara returned to Brooklyn to live with her parents. She worked as a designer in children’s wear. She worked and saved her money so the couple could rent an apartment when Neil left the Navy.
Life on the Ship
When the Ticonderoga departed San Diego for their tour in Vietnam they stopped in Hawaii and then Subic Bay in the Philippines. “The town of Olongapo which is immediately outside the base is really something to see. Little kids beg for coins to be thrown into the sewage canals where they dive and retrieve them……imagine the stench. This town is strictly a fleet town as its main and only attractions are drinks and females, the later having a 95% VD rate.”
“There are four duty sections in each Division….when I do have duty…I stand watches on the Quarter Deck…In port my watches are at the Quarter Deck, while underway they are on the Bridge. What I actually do is keep the log, answer the telephones (3) in such a manner as to answer all questions and to carry out all duties that I can handle without needing the OOD (Officer of the Deck) authority, chart the weather….”
“In regard to the question about changing to the optical group. To start off I like being in the Nav. Div.”
“Last night was my first experience as Helmsman. Steering a ship is a lot different from a car….you steer the ship by steering a compass course…the hardest part is that it takes the ship awhile to answer the rudder…I had 2 ½ hours on the Helm and the Officer in Charged marked me excellent…..”
“Yesterday my watch was in Aftersteering which is secondary steering in case the steering on the bridge isn’t working properly.”
Neil recalled when some of the pilots returned to the Ticonderoga and the landing gear wasn't working. He had a bird’s eye view from the bridge. The pilots attempted to land with the landing gear up and if they were successful, they would hook the arresting cable with the tail hook. Neil recalled one plane missing the arresting wire and going of the flight deck into the ocean. In that case the rescue helicopter was able to rescue the pilot.
“At first I didn’t like the food but now it’s either better or I’m getting used to it.”
”As far as getting to like the Navy I’d rather be home with all of you, but my job is so interesting with me being in the middle of everything and being in the know as to what’s happening all over makes the time pass quickly.”
“I have developed a liking for Tom Collins an after a few drinks I can almost forget the 388 days I have left (but not quite) in the Navy.”
“At present the ship is having Air Ops which entails landing and immediate launching of prop planes, we expect jets tonight so I guess I won’t get much sleep because the planes land about 2 feet above my compartment ceiling……”
“As of yet I haven’t’ found any Jewish men aboard so I ‘m sort of out of touch as far as holidays….”
“On the bridge the night is pitch black except for the faint illumination of the steering controls and radios.”
“The ship picked up its four destroyers that she uses to guard against planes, submarines and other ships.”
“Before I forget, let me thank you for the birthday card, out here every letter or card is really a lift.”
I expect to visit the Chaplain Monday to see just what sort of arrangements there are for Yom Kipper, if any.”
“Last week the ship went through ORI (Operational Readiness Inspection), this lasted from Monday thru Thursday. What this actually is, is a group of observers that came aboard in Pearl Harbor and spent four days simulating actual war conditions on the ship. This consisted of General Quarters in the middle of the night and refueling from tankers at dawn. It was mighty rough on all of us and nobody got than 2-4 hours of sleep ay one day.” October 18, 1965
“I took my advancement for Seaman test this morning; it was fairly difficult due to the fact that I never read the required work…….”
“…last week we went through the international date line and proceeded from Wednesday to Friday without ever seeing Thursday.”
“Yesterday we had an alert, and our planes escorted away a Russian jet that presumably was trying to get close enough to photograph the ship’s radar installation and planes…”.
“Because we are part of the. 7th Fleet we are authorized to grow beards…If I may say so it looks good on me.”
“The weather is extremely hot and humid but as long as it doesn’t get much worse it will be alright.”
“…it’s been overcast the last few days and the temperature is down to 86 degrees (luxuries)”.
“We have weights and I’ve started to workout pretty regularly so perhaps I’ll come home with a stomach that has a little muscle to it.”
“Next week we move to a position for making raids on North Vietnam. We should really start losing planes then as all the carriers operating in that area have been reporting heavy flak concentrations and heavy aircraft damage.”
“Yesterday we launched a large air strike in conjunction with the carriers Oriskany, Hornet and Bonne Richard. We succeeded in knocking out a very important bridge linking China with Vietnam. We were very fortunate in fact that we recovered all our planes while the Bonn Richard lost 2-3.”
“This afternoon we lost a plane and man when a jet carrying a nuclear weapon rolled off one of the elevators during a drill exercise – both were gone when the helo got to the spot.”
“I’ve been attending Sabbath services Friday so actually I am doing better than when I was home.”
Neil would often include the longitude and latitude locations of the ship to give his parents an idea where he was. December 18, 1965 the ship was located at 27N/130E
“…we once again set sail for the open seas where time just seems to pass so quickly.”
113N/109E. about 30 miles off South Vietnam
“I just received word the 12-hour xmas cease fire period has been extended indefinitely so, who knows, perhaps the end is near.” 25 December, 1965
“A few days ago we had Bob Hope and his tour aboard for a Christmas show…the show was really outstanding…the show will be shown on NBC Jan. 19th…”.
“…we are either around 17N/110E for strikes on South Vietnam or 17N/109E for strikes at North Vietnam.”
“Since my last letter I have been qualified in Aftersteering…which is an emergency steering system…”
“We are back up north again and commencing raids against North Vietnam, so I guess any hope for a speedy peace was lost with the first bomb being dropped”
Neil’s nickname for Barbara is Greeny. “…I really can’t complain about my mail…5 letters from little greeny (+ a valentine).”
“The reason we are always around the same positions is that while off Vietnam we are assigned a sector to operate from and must stay within that area so as not to interfere with the many carriers that are on operations around the same general area.”
“Things here are getting a little more difficult as being up North as we are, there is a lot more tension and work then when we were conducting raids off South Vietnam. One day ago we conducted one of the largest air strikes of the war together planes form the carriers Oriskany and Hornet we proceeded to launch attacks against one of the main bridges connecting Vietnam to China. We also struck at missile sites surrounding the bridge area. We were lucky enough to recover all of our aircraft, but I don’t think the Oriskany was.”
“The weather here has been extremely uncomfortable and it’s only a matter of time before the ship is forced to go on water hours due to the large use of the shower. A shower really helps to refresh you and cool you off but by the time you dry yourself off the bubbles of sweat are already forming so after a minute in the rack your sheet is just soaking wet.”
“This morning the Ticonderoga, Kitty Hawk and the Enterprise went way up north 183N/107E and launched one of our biggest strikes on North Vietnam yet, being that we were so far north we were at General Quarters most of the morning in the event that the VC would launch a counterattack which they never did.”
“…Enclosed is s copy of our Thanksgiving meal, the meal was really outstanding…”
“On our way to Subic the Captain went over the general announcing system to give all hands a well done for the job we did this cruise. After the well down he said a few words on behalf of the one enlisted man and six officers who met their maker during the cruise.”
It seems Neil was quite ambitious and creative in making an extra buck or two along the way. “He was the nice Jewish boy that didn't spend his money on women and booze, and some of the guys did. So, they needed money”, recalled Barbara. Neil, it seems, was a ‘Payday Lender’. He would lend $5 and get back $7 a week later or lend $20 and get back $30 the next payday. “I don’t need any money at present, in fact I have made money lending $5 for $7 for a week’s time. My latest loan was $20 for $30 to one of my division who went home on leave to attend his girls prom and wanted spending money.”
It wasn’t all work and no play. “We were having a picnic on the flight deck (steaks and all the trimmings). Now that the hardships of the cruise are over you can feel the happiness throughout the ship as even the captain was on the chow line dishing out streaks to the crew.”
“That ribbon I wear on my uniform is for service in Vietnam. We have been recommended for two more medals so I will probably end up with at least two medals by the time I come in – That’s me the war hero?!!”
Thinking of Home
“I’ve just finished reading the Kingsway Courier of July 17. Reading about back home really helps make my day.”...the paper really helps me keep up with the latest happenings in the neighborhood…”.
“I appreciate her (Barbara) much more than I ever did and I have made up my mind to make her mine forever as soon as I finish my active duty tour, so don’t make any plans for a room for me when I get out.”
“Barks Brown (the family dog) writes me that Alan is getting interested in the female sect. I guess now that he has friends with cars he will become another Don (Gleicher) Juan.”
“Believe it or not I attended services in Hong Kong with Howie Goodman and in a reform English-Chinese shool. It was really quite an experience.”
“I called Barbara and spoke to her for about half an hour. Between your time and Barbara’s, the telephone company must have made $20.”
“I'm afraid that my tales of Hong Kong just don't seem very important compared to the wedding.”
“I was wondering if there was anyway Daddy could teach Barabara to drive well enough for her to get her license…I never did quite finish the job.”
“My mail from you (all of you) has really been outstanding – please keep it up. Love, Neil.”
“I figure it’s about 123 days until we start for home.”
“In regard to the question you asked about the car the main reason you are not getting the economy you desire is because the car is set up for peak performance and because of that the economy side suffers.”
“Not only do I get enough to eat but if it’s possible I’d say they’re losing money on me.”
“Guess what - Boo Hoo! Still no cookies. (Are you sure you didn’t tell Aan to drive them over here – HA HA Only kidding, Al.”
“I’m happy to hear that all the preparations for the upcoming wedding are fitting into place. I don’t know about a Turkish playing band, but I guess I better start getting used to it.”
“In case Daddy still has any trouble with sweating feet we use a Mennan Foot Deodorant spray can out here and the results ae outstanding (list price $1.64).”
“I must say that your CARE package was much more than I hoped for and I appreciate all the goodies I now have.”
I am enclosing $1 for you to do me the favor of buying a 45 RPM record for me and give it Barbara. The name is ‘You’re the One’ by the Vogues.
“About the best buy on tires is to buy them (Goodyear tires) on Coney Island Ave. and around Ave. L when they feature a sale in the papers.”
“Happy Anniversary to both of you and many more joyous occasions in the coming years…I hope when Barbara and I are married 25 years we will be as happy as you two are.”
“I just realized by todays date (4/26/66) that in exactly 60 days little Greeny won’t be Greeny anymore.”
Return to Civilian Life
On April 3, 1967 Neil was honorably discharged from active duty but remained in the Navy Reserves. Neil returned to Barbara in Brooklyn and an apartment she had set up for them. He found a job as an optician, but Neil knew he wanted to own his own business. He spent the next five years working hard, learning the industry and saving money. Neil realized his dream of owning his own business and purchased Plaza Optical in Williamsburg in Brooklyn, NY. Barbara described the business as a small boutique business. “The other opticians called him the master optician because he could fix anything. He could address any glasses and make everybody see better. It's true!” When Neil retired, he had three generations of customers coming to his store.
Neil enjoyed being in the reserves and teaching the younger men. However, the demands of being an entrepreneur and running his own business began to conflict with the time requirements of the Reserves. He retired from the Reserves in March of 1970.
Neil and Barbara move to Roslyn, NY on Long Island where they lived for 43 years and raised a son and a daughter. When they moved to Long Island the commute to Brooklyn was tolerable but as the years went on it became longer and longer. In 2016 Neil sold the business and retired. In 2020 the couple moved to Florida to get away from the cold winters of the northeast. The couple has four granddaughters.
Today the couple has been happily married for 58 years and Neil remains upbeat despite his medical condition. “It could always be worse.”
Thank you, Neil, for all of those hot humid days in the Gulf of Tonkin. I’m sure those guys who borrowed money from you were happy to pay the vig! Thank you for the letters which gave us a window into the life of a great guy.
“Love Neil.”
Introduction
Neil Gleicher is a Petty Office 2nd class, a son, a brother, a husband, a father, a grandfather, a successful optician and boy from a Brooklyn neighborhood. Neil served his country and has a wonderful family, but life threw him a curveball. In recent years Neil was diagnosed with Early Lewi Body which affects cognition and mobility. The interview with Neil included Barbara, his wife of 58 years. She was kind enough to provide a treasure-trove of letters she saved written from Neil to his parent while he was in the Navy during the Vietnam War. These letters provide a window into who Neil Gleicher was at the ripe old age of 23. He was a loving son with plans to marry his sweetheart and missed her terribly while he was away at sea. He was an optician with dreams of having his own business. He had a great curiosity and took advantage of R&R to see the sights in southeast Asia. He was practical, ambitious and had a good wit. The following is his story which includes quotes from his many letters.
Growing up in Brooklyn
Neil Gleicher was born October 5th, 1942 in the Canarsie section of Brooklyn, NY. Neil was the oldest of three boys. Neils father was an optician, and his mother was a homemaker. When Neil was six years old he moved to Quentin Rd. in the Flatbush section of Brooklyn. Neil graduated from Madison High School in 1960.
Neil attended New York Tech and enrolled in the optical program to go on to become an optician. His father was an optician, and his uncle was an optometrist in the family business, Gleicher Optical in Manhattan, NY. Neil completed school in January 1964 and was studying for his New York State Opticians License which was to be given in June. The Vietnam War was ramping up and all healthy men over the age of 18 were eligible to be drafted. If you were in college your military obligation could be deferred. Since Neil had graduated, he was eligible to be drafted. Neil decided it would be better to enlist in the Navy Reserves which would allow him to take his exam. His wife Barbara recalled, “he studied very, very hard. He locked himself in his room.”
While at college Neil met Barbara Greenwald from Sheepshead Bay at his fraternity party. Barbara recalled, “I was in high school and on a Friday night I went to his college fraternity. I was 16 and he was 21. He was the dancing king of Mu Alpha Delta, the MAD Men, and that's exactly what that fraternity was like, the Mad Men.” Neil took Barbara’s number at the end of the night, but so did Neil’s fraternity brother, Bob. Bob called her first. Barbara and Bob dated but broke up after six months. Neil found out and seized the opportunity and “that was the beginning,” Barbara recalled. “We dated and then we got pinned (a fraternity pin), because that's what they did in those days.”
Entering the Navy
The Reserves called and Neil attended boot camp in Brooklyn, NY. He found boot camp very difficult. “I couldn’t even shine my shoelaces to their satisfaction”. After boot camp Neil returned to civilian life. Neil returned from boot camp but within few weeks he began active duty. Neil, a true Brooklyn Boy, had never been out of Brooklyn or on a plane and now he was flying to San Francisco.
Neil arrived in San Francisco in April 1965 and was assigned to the U.S.S. Ticonderoga. When Neil went to select his Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) the Navy saw he was a licensed optician. They told him he could be an optician on the ship, but he would have to extend his commitment from two to three years. Neil asked, “what if I don't become an optician on the ship?” He was told they would train him to do something else and he would have a two-year commitment. Neil elected for the short commitment, and he was trained as a Quartermaster. Quartermasters are enlisted personnel who stand watch as assistants to officers of the deck and the navigator; serve as helmsman and perform ship control, navigation and bridge watch duties.They perform these duties under the control of the ship's navigator. Neil completed his occupational training in San Francisco and was sent to Coronado in the San Diego area in California.
Neil and Barbra were planning to get married when Neil completed his active service. Neil decided to accelerate their timetable and called Barbara at 4 am (Brooklyn time) from Hong Kong on April 8th,1966 to say, “when I come in on leave, I’d like to get married”. Barbara recalled, “in those days, long distance was very expensive. He had $33 worth of quarters he kept dropping in the phone and I didn’t say yes. So, it was 45 minutes and $135 later, he reversed the charges, I said yes. I loved him. I was young and stupid, Barbara glibly said, but I married the nicest person I ever met and 58 years later he still is. My mother couldn't believe it”.
When the ship returned to port Neil went on leave, returned to Brooklyn and married Barbara on June 26th. The couple flew back to San Diego and rented an apartment. The newlyweds had about three months together before Neil headed out to sea. The food on the ship was quite good and Barbara remembered a night that Neil brought her lobster tails. When Neil deployed Barbara returned to Brooklyn to live with her parents. She worked as a designer in children’s wear. She worked and saved her money so the couple could rent an apartment when Neil left the Navy.
Life on the Ship
When the Ticonderoga departed San Diego for their tour in Vietnam they stopped in Hawaii and then Subic Bay in the Philippines. “The town of Olongapo which is immediately outside the base is really something to see. Little kids beg for coins to be thrown into the sewage canals where they dive and retrieve them……imagine the stench. This town is strictly a fleet town as its main and only attractions are drinks and females, the later having a 95% VD rate.”
“There are four duty sections in each Division….when I do have duty…I stand watches on the Quarter Deck…In port my watches are at the Quarter Deck, while underway they are on the Bridge. What I actually do is keep the log, answer the telephones (3) in such a manner as to answer all questions and to carry out all duties that I can handle without needing the OOD (Officer of the Deck) authority, chart the weather….”
“In regard to the question about changing to the optical group. To start off I like being in the Nav. Div.”
“Last night was my first experience as Helmsman. Steering a ship is a lot different from a car….you steer the ship by steering a compass course…the hardest part is that it takes the ship awhile to answer the rudder…I had 2 ½ hours on the Helm and the Officer in Charged marked me excellent…..”
“Yesterday my watch was in Aftersteering which is secondary steering in case the steering on the bridge isn’t working properly.”
Neil recalled when some of the pilots returned to the Ticonderoga and the landing gear wasn't working. He had a bird’s eye view from the bridge. The pilots attempted to land with the landing gear up and if they were successful, they would hook the arresting cable with the tail hook. Neil recalled one plane missing the arresting wire and going of the flight deck into the ocean. In that case the rescue helicopter was able to rescue the pilot.
“At first I didn’t like the food but now it’s either better or I’m getting used to it.”
”As far as getting to like the Navy I’d rather be home with all of you, but my job is so interesting with me being in the middle of everything and being in the know as to what’s happening all over makes the time pass quickly.”
“I have developed a liking for Tom Collins an after a few drinks I can almost forget the 388 days I have left (but not quite) in the Navy.”
“At present the ship is having Air Ops which entails landing and immediate launching of prop planes, we expect jets tonight so I guess I won’t get much sleep because the planes land about 2 feet above my compartment ceiling……”
“As of yet I haven’t’ found any Jewish men aboard so I ‘m sort of out of touch as far as holidays….”
“On the bridge the night is pitch black except for the faint illumination of the steering controls and radios.”
“The ship picked up its four destroyers that she uses to guard against planes, submarines and other ships.”
“Before I forget, let me thank you for the birthday card, out here every letter or card is really a lift.”
I expect to visit the Chaplain Monday to see just what sort of arrangements there are for Yom Kipper, if any.”
“Last week the ship went through ORI (Operational Readiness Inspection), this lasted from Monday thru Thursday. What this actually is, is a group of observers that came aboard in Pearl Harbor and spent four days simulating actual war conditions on the ship. This consisted of General Quarters in the middle of the night and refueling from tankers at dawn. It was mighty rough on all of us and nobody got than 2-4 hours of sleep ay one day.” October 18, 1965
“I took my advancement for Seaman test this morning; it was fairly difficult due to the fact that I never read the required work…….”
“…last week we went through the international date line and proceeded from Wednesday to Friday without ever seeing Thursday.”
“Yesterday we had an alert, and our planes escorted away a Russian jet that presumably was trying to get close enough to photograph the ship’s radar installation and planes…”.
“Because we are part of the. 7th Fleet we are authorized to grow beards…If I may say so it looks good on me.”
“The weather is extremely hot and humid but as long as it doesn’t get much worse it will be alright.”
“…it’s been overcast the last few days and the temperature is down to 86 degrees (luxuries)”.
“We have weights and I’ve started to workout pretty regularly so perhaps I’ll come home with a stomach that has a little muscle to it.”
“Next week we move to a position for making raids on North Vietnam. We should really start losing planes then as all the carriers operating in that area have been reporting heavy flak concentrations and heavy aircraft damage.”
“Yesterday we launched a large air strike in conjunction with the carriers Oriskany, Hornet and Bonne Richard. We succeeded in knocking out a very important bridge linking China with Vietnam. We were very fortunate in fact that we recovered all our planes while the Bonn Richard lost 2-3.”
“This afternoon we lost a plane and man when a jet carrying a nuclear weapon rolled off one of the elevators during a drill exercise – both were gone when the helo got to the spot.”
“I’ve been attending Sabbath services Friday so actually I am doing better than when I was home.”
Neil would often include the longitude and latitude locations of the ship to give his parents an idea where he was. December 18, 1965 the ship was located at 27N/130E
“…we once again set sail for the open seas where time just seems to pass so quickly.”
113N/109E. about 30 miles off South Vietnam
“I just received word the 12-hour xmas cease fire period has been extended indefinitely so, who knows, perhaps the end is near.” 25 December, 1965
“A few days ago we had Bob Hope and his tour aboard for a Christmas show…the show was really outstanding…the show will be shown on NBC Jan. 19th…”.
“…we are either around 17N/110E for strikes on South Vietnam or 17N/109E for strikes at North Vietnam.”
“Since my last letter I have been qualified in Aftersteering…which is an emergency steering system…”
“We are back up north again and commencing raids against North Vietnam, so I guess any hope for a speedy peace was lost with the first bomb being dropped”
Neil’s nickname for Barbara is Greeny. “…I really can’t complain about my mail…5 letters from little greeny (+ a valentine).”
“The reason we are always around the same positions is that while off Vietnam we are assigned a sector to operate from and must stay within that area so as not to interfere with the many carriers that are on operations around the same general area.”
“Things here are getting a little more difficult as being up North as we are, there is a lot more tension and work then when we were conducting raids off South Vietnam. One day ago we conducted one of the largest air strikes of the war together planes form the carriers Oriskany and Hornet we proceeded to launch attacks against one of the main bridges connecting Vietnam to China. We also struck at missile sites surrounding the bridge area. We were lucky enough to recover all of our aircraft, but I don’t think the Oriskany was.”
“The weather here has been extremely uncomfortable and it’s only a matter of time before the ship is forced to go on water hours due to the large use of the shower. A shower really helps to refresh you and cool you off but by the time you dry yourself off the bubbles of sweat are already forming so after a minute in the rack your sheet is just soaking wet.”
“This morning the Ticonderoga, Kitty Hawk and the Enterprise went way up north 183N/107E and launched one of our biggest strikes on North Vietnam yet, being that we were so far north we were at General Quarters most of the morning in the event that the VC would launch a counterattack which they never did.”
“…Enclosed is s copy of our Thanksgiving meal, the meal was really outstanding…”
“On our way to Subic the Captain went over the general announcing system to give all hands a well done for the job we did this cruise. After the well down he said a few words on behalf of the one enlisted man and six officers who met their maker during the cruise.”
It seems Neil was quite ambitious and creative in making an extra buck or two along the way. “He was the nice Jewish boy that didn't spend his money on women and booze, and some of the guys did. So, they needed money”, recalled Barbara. Neil, it seems, was a ‘Payday Lender’. He would lend $5 and get back $7 a week later or lend $20 and get back $30 the next payday. “I don’t need any money at present, in fact I have made money lending $5 for $7 for a week’s time. My latest loan was $20 for $30 to one of my division who went home on leave to attend his girls prom and wanted spending money.”
It wasn’t all work and no play. “We were having a picnic on the flight deck (steaks and all the trimmings). Now that the hardships of the cruise are over you can feel the happiness throughout the ship as even the captain was on the chow line dishing out streaks to the crew.”
“That ribbon I wear on my uniform is for service in Vietnam. We have been recommended for two more medals so I will probably end up with at least two medals by the time I come in – That’s me the war hero?!!”
Thinking of Home
“I’ve just finished reading the Kingsway Courier of July 17. Reading about back home really helps make my day.”...the paper really helps me keep up with the latest happenings in the neighborhood…”.
“I appreciate her (Barbara) much more than I ever did and I have made up my mind to make her mine forever as soon as I finish my active duty tour, so don’t make any plans for a room for me when I get out.”
“Barks Brown (the family dog) writes me that Alan is getting interested in the female sect. I guess now that he has friends with cars he will become another Don (Gleicher) Juan.”
“Believe it or not I attended services in Hong Kong with Howie Goodman and in a reform English-Chinese shool. It was really quite an experience.”
“I called Barbara and spoke to her for about half an hour. Between your time and Barbara’s, the telephone company must have made $20.”
“I'm afraid that my tales of Hong Kong just don't seem very important compared to the wedding.”
“I was wondering if there was anyway Daddy could teach Barabara to drive well enough for her to get her license…I never did quite finish the job.”
“My mail from you (all of you) has really been outstanding – please keep it up. Love, Neil.”
“I figure it’s about 123 days until we start for home.”
“In regard to the question you asked about the car the main reason you are not getting the economy you desire is because the car is set up for peak performance and because of that the economy side suffers.”
“Not only do I get enough to eat but if it’s possible I’d say they’re losing money on me.”
“Guess what - Boo Hoo! Still no cookies. (Are you sure you didn’t tell Aan to drive them over here – HA HA Only kidding, Al.”
“I’m happy to hear that all the preparations for the upcoming wedding are fitting into place. I don’t know about a Turkish playing band, but I guess I better start getting used to it.”
“In case Daddy still has any trouble with sweating feet we use a Mennan Foot Deodorant spray can out here and the results ae outstanding (list price $1.64).”
“I must say that your CARE package was much more than I hoped for and I appreciate all the goodies I now have.”
I am enclosing $1 for you to do me the favor of buying a 45 RPM record for me and give it Barbara. The name is ‘You’re the One’ by the Vogues.
“About the best buy on tires is to buy them (Goodyear tires) on Coney Island Ave. and around Ave. L when they feature a sale in the papers.”
“Happy Anniversary to both of you and many more joyous occasions in the coming years…I hope when Barbara and I are married 25 years we will be as happy as you two are.”
“I just realized by todays date (4/26/66) that in exactly 60 days little Greeny won’t be Greeny anymore.”
Return to Civilian Life
On April 3, 1967 Neil was honorably discharged from active duty but remained in the Navy Reserves. Neil returned to Barbara in Brooklyn and an apartment she had set up for them. He found a job as an optician, but Neil knew he wanted to own his own business. He spent the next five years working hard, learning the industry and saving money. Neil realized his dream of owning his own business and purchased Plaza Optical in Williamsburg in Brooklyn, NY. Barbara described the business as a small boutique business. “The other opticians called him the master optician because he could fix anything. He could address any glasses and make everybody see better. It's true!” When Neil retired, he had three generations of customers coming to his store.
Neil enjoyed being in the reserves and teaching the younger men. However, the demands of being an entrepreneur and running his own business began to conflict with the time requirements of the Reserves. He retired from the Reserves in March of 1970.
Neil and Barbara move to Roslyn, NY on Long Island where they lived for 43 years and raised a son and a daughter. When they moved to Long Island the commute to Brooklyn was tolerable but as the years went on it became longer and longer. In 2016 Neil sold the business and retired. In 2020 the couple moved to Florida to get away from the cold winters of the northeast. The couple has four granddaughters.
Today the couple has been happily married for 58 years and Neil remains upbeat despite his medical condition. “It could always be worse.”
Thank you, Neil, for all of those hot humid days in the Gulf of Tonkin. I’m sure those guys who borrowed money from you were happy to pay the vig! Thank you for the letters which gave us a window into the life of a great guy.
“Love Neil.”