04/30/2026
Good Men Spend Eventful Years in Navy
by Avis V. Osland
Gary Gylten and Clay Halvorson, both 1978 graduates of Northwood High School, enlisted in the U.S. Navy's Buddy Program, hopeful they could spend four years together serving Uncle Sam. However, only a short time was shared in basic training and later on rare occasions when they were able to spend a few-days-pass together.
They enlisted in October '78 and when they completed their term, October 12, 1982, they wended their way home together from California.
Their first eight weeks were spent in basic training at San Diego, CA, in strenuous physical and mental exercises. Resolute discipline was a strong factor.
Clay talked about the buddy who had disobeyed and as a result endured a unique punishment. It consisted of a continuous run from ground level where an assortment of valuables had been dropped, picking up one piece and running up to second floor, locking it in a certain place; then returning to the ground for a second item, running to second floor, and continuing until all the articles had been retrieved and locked in security. The whole process took 45 minutes. “I never had to do that," Clay said with a smile.
Other training for each of them followed the basics. Clay spent another eight weeks at the
and another like span at Communications School where he studied the mechanics of the telephone, intercom, etc.
It was after the initial basic period that their paths took different turns. Gary was sent to Memphis, TN, where he attended Aviation Machinists School.
Later he was placed in a Squadron of 250 men at the Naval Air Station Lemoore in the San Juan Valley of California. He attended the Fire Plane School, later the Plane Captain School, and the Nuclear and Conventional Weapon School. Some of his training required a return for review, semi-annually.
Finally, after about eight months, the enlistees were assigned to ships---Clay to the
USS CV-43 Coral Sea and Gary to the USS Kitty Hawk CV-63. Both are aircraft carriers. Clay's work was primarily with communications and Gary's with aviation.
"My first assignment was in the alarm shop," said Clay, “because they always stick the younger guys there, and I was only 19." But with any new job, familiarity makes it easier, and for Clay there were continuous promotions.
Gary was named supervisor of the Line Division and had 40 men working under him. Their responsibility was the care of aircrafts which involved cleaning, refueling, and
mechanics as well as preport inspection prior to takeoff.
Some high schools, colleges and organizations have rigid initiations. So does the Navy.
Crossing of the Equator is a momentous event and one which a new sailor never forgets. The
ordeal involves two groups: the “Pollywogs" (those who have never crossed the Equator and the "Sheolbacks" The latter were the oldsters and did the initiating. Faces and hair of the Pollywogs were smeared with grease, mustard, talcum, etc. Each crawled wherever he went and must always bow low to a
Sheolback. Lastly, a very fat shipmate was selected whose stomach area was smeared with the same concoction used on the young seamen's faces. Each Pollywog had to bury his face against the smeared stomach and kiss it.
"Oh, every seaman goes through this as it is very traditional," both Gary and Clay agreed.
Each saw much of the world. They beheld poverty in its fullest, especially in the rural areas of the Phillippines. On the other hand they saw elegance and prosperity displayed in all its grandeur. They have countless pictures to attest to these viewings.
Among Gary's stuff he'd brought from home was a sweatshirt emblazoned with
NORTHWOOD. One day while wearing it, a fellow shipmate accosted him, “Hey, you from
Northwood? I mean Northwood, North Dakota?" “Yup!" Gary answered proudly. "So?"
"Well, I'm from Grand Forks," replied Duane Anderson, and immediately a bond of togetherness was experienced.
Clay talked about Christmases away from home. “I was lonesome quite a bit but then on ship we had a tree, a chaplain had special Christmas services and we always had a big, special dinner. Packages from home were sometimes greatly delayed and battered up, but real welcome."
To be continued…….
