Confessions of a Cold War Squid

Retroactive fieldnotes of an amateur anthropologist in the service of the United States Naval Security Group A Memoir - Volume One

By: R. L. Scifres CTOCS (NAC) USN (Retired)

Narrated by: Virtual Voice

This is the first volume of the memoir of Rick L. Scifres, relating his early life and the first half of a twenty-year Naval career during the Cold War. The author was born in Texas, raised in New Mexico, and eventually reached maturity while serving in the U. S. Navy. He attained the rank of Senior Chief Petty Officer before retiring as a CTOCS (NAC). He specialized in the field of Cryptologic Technician (Communications) and was qualified as a Naval Aircrewman. This volume chronicles part of his childhood and the first eleven and a half years of his career serving with the Naval Security Group. During that time he served in Guam, the Republic of the Philippines, California and on the staff of Commander, Seventh Fleet, aboard the USS Blue Ridge (LCC19), homeported in Yokosuka, Japan.
After retiring from the Navy, he taught social and behavioral sciences at Eastern New Mexico University – Roswell, retiring as an emeritus instructor.

Nostalgic and funny listen for the Navy CT

The Story made me laugh many times. Enjoyed the sea stories and family upbringing. Would have lost interest through excessive minute detail of various memories and constant repetitive mention of the possibility that memories are not completely accurate if I had been reading and not listening to this book. Disappointing ending. It just stops in the middle of a story. Even if there is another volume, which there does not currently appear to be, some acknowledged conclusion for the reader would be great.

Deja Vu et plus!

I thoroughly enjoyed the ramble down memory lane which my wife often declares “closed” when I start down it with my shipmates. Many parallel memories with my own service were recovered as the author wove the various stories that reattached my fragmented and damaged brain cells. I travelled back to Skaggs Island, Guam, Gordon Street in Olongapo, etc. I loved the interesting and well structured asides and set ups for upcoming deeper dives. I do attest that this is authentic US Navy vernacular, which is salty and slightly scatological. Waiting with bated breath for the next volume.