Frank Styles, U.S.N.

I wish he could see....

2011-11-27T21:31:00.000-08:00

When ever I see the U.S. Navy release footage of new ships I often wonder what my father would have to say about these space age looking vessels. I'm sure his heart would swell with pride and a little envy that he wasn't serving on board one.

Although I have no military service to boast about in my life, I did inherit a love for the technology and an appreciation for those who serve. Frank was buried at sea, so I hope perhaps he may get a glimpse of the 21st century USN.

Hotel Annapolis

2010-11-11T12:19:00.000-08:00

My father was assigned to hotel Management in Saigon during his two tours, '64-66. From what I remember him speaking of the hotel, it was not by any means posh. The hotel was used by sailors coming into and leaving the country. I don't remember the specifics of his stories, but here is a brief link to a site with "Hotel Annapolis"

Hotel Annapolis

If any former sailor out there has any information they would like to share about a stay at one of these hotels, please feel free to contact me. The purpose of this blog is to record and share a few of the infinite pieces of history from the Vietnam era veterans.

Saigon Street Scenes

2010-11-11T12:01:00.001-08:00

Frank was a Southern boy...

2010-10-13T21:39:00.000-07:00

Frank hated New Jersey. When my folks separated in the early 70's he moved back to his hometown of Burnsville NC. I've just moved down to New Orleans about six months ago. I already feel more comfortable here than back up north. I guess I understand now why Frank never liked it. There is a different attitude down here in the South. I don't know if he gets the Internet in the after life, if so this one's for you Dad.

Knew your Dad‏

2010-08-28T19:35:00.000-07:00

I was surprised by this e mail subject line. Don kindly scanned and forwarded these photos of my father taken in 1965. This is the first time I had ever seen these photos. Thank you Don.

Served with MN2 Frank Styles at MOMAUPAC, Long Beach, CA, for 2-yrs. On some weekends, Frank would fly to NJ to be with his family. Also, did 6-month TDY with him to Subic Bay, PI. Got some pictures of him in Subic.

Group Photo

2010-08-28T19:13:00.001-07:00

Standing L to R:

MN2 Frank Styles, MN2 Dwenger, MNCM Jim Powers, MNSN Mueller,

MN3 (unknown) Squatting L to R:

MNSN Privette, MNSN "Beats," MN1 Don Jones

Making "P"-Mines

2010-08-28T19:13:00.000-07:00

Courtesy of Don Jones - Association of Minemen (AOM) newsletter.

One day at Long Beach we were told to "manufacture" ten inert "P"-Mines (contact-fired) for planting by the YFU. They were called "P"-Mines in honor of CDR Plank (USN Retired), whose name appeared on the Distribution List of the now-defunct Mk 59 Mine's OP. Since I didn't attend the COI taught by CDR Plank at Long Beach, I had a lot to learn about the mine-design once used by then LT Plank in support of Chiang Kai-shek's KMT forces on Mainland China. Those must have been exciting days for the young LT, who recalled that one day the thatch roof of his TNT filling plant caught fire. We could tell that some of the wooden "P"-Mine tool kits we had at Long Beach had been in a fire. One of the never-seen-before tools was called a "kluge." That may have been the device used to drill a hole into the TNT charge in order to accommodate the boosters on the end of the long Mk 8 Demolition Initiator (DI). Another tool we used was the "bung-extractor/wrench."

MN 2 Frank Styles's crew mixed the concrete and quickly manufactured the concrete anchors, counter-weights, & ballast blocks. The 55-gallon oil drums (mine cases) were carefully selected & partially-filled with 100-lbs of concrete vice the TNT main charge. I liked the Mk 8 DI used as the contact firing device, however, I did not trust the color-coded chemical pencils used for delay arming (DA). I was concerned about the large plus or minus factors on the DA-settings. I think we used a 30-minute DA, with a 5 to 8 minute +/- factor.

The Mk 8 DI was fired by a 1-g blow to the awash mine case or by a mercury switch if the mine case inverted in cases where the mooring cable between the mine case & counter-weight was cut or broke. Flashlight batteries (C-cell size) were used to fire the detonator. Getting the desired 0.5 to 0.75-inch case clearance on the water's surface was frustrating but doable at pier-side.

We were excited when we went out on the YFU to plant the "P-Mines. When the skipper assured us that we were minutes away from launch, I activated the chemical pencils on the ten mines by twisting the knob & breaking the vial of acid inside the DI which started eating away at the spring-loaded wire. Then the unthinkable happened. We were off-course & out-of-position. Styles was the time-keeper & he kept loudly reminding everyone, including the skipper, that we were fast approaching the point at which the Mk 8 DI's could start arming. I believe the skipper took the initiative to "screw the course-correction" and told us to launch the mines. During post-analysis, we discovered all of the detonators had been fired by the time the mines were recovered, however, we didn't know when they had fired. Some could have fired during the launch & mooring phase. At any rate, it was a unique experience for all concerned & I owed many heart-felt thanks for its success to Frank Styles, who also answered to the nickname "Saigon Sam."

Don Jones, MNCM, USN Retired

Job Accomplished‏

2010-08-28T19:11:00.001-07:00

MNC Wead standing & wiping the sweat off after the marlin was safely aboard. I'm standing on the right running an 8-mm movie camera that caught most of the action. Frank is sitting to the right of the flagstaff. Minutes later, MNC Wead fell & broke his leg when the boat hit a wave awkwardly.

1965 Cubi Point, Philippines.

2010-08-28T19:11:00.000-07:00

Frank Styles & Mineman buddy with 300-lb Pacific Blue Marlin caught on a
deep-sea fishing trip out of NAS, Cubi Point, Philippines.

The Calm

2010-08-28T19:10:00.000-07:00

This photo was probably made before all the excitement broke out when the "big one" was hooked by MNC Wead. It took over 2-hours to land the giant fish.

Frank's Favorite

2010-04-30T10:01:00.000-07:00

N.W.S. Earle

2010-03-31T14:22:00.000-07:00

Naval Weapons Station Earle is probably why I am here. My Mother was hired there during WW2. She was recently widowed when her first husband was killed in the Battle of the Buldge. To support herself my mother took a job in the personnel department. She met her second husband there, he was a sailor. By him she had two boys (my half brothers) and again widowed when he died suddenly of a stroke. In the early 1960's she met my father who was stationed there and they soon married.

In early 2001, I was working for a sign company in NJ who had a contract to install and service signage on the Naval base. The work took several months to complete. After September 11, 2001 access to the base was highly restricted and difficult to obtain. In order to continue the work my employer had to jump through hoops in order to get his employees access onto the base. All employees had to produce birth certificates for security clearances. I commented to my employer that was ironic, since odds were I was conceived on the back roads of Earle.

http://frankstylesusn.blogspot.com/

I always think of him

2010-03-31T13:59:00.000-07:00

I always think of Frank when I see this classic old recruitment poster. The stance of the sailor, how he wears his hat and his build. I remember my mother commenting on this poster years ago, saying it looked like him.

I never considered joining the service. However growing up in our household the Navy was there as well. I remember as a child going on and off of bases. Lakehurst, Naval Weapons Station Earl, McGuire A.F.B. and many hours in the lobby of V.A. Hospitals. I consider it heritage.

Navy Buddies

2010-03-31T13:22:00.000-07:00

Frank often spoke of his buddies from the Navy. He didn't have any real family to speak of. The United States Navy was it. I can't remember his friend's names, perhaps a few are still around. Most of Frank's stories involved drinking and fighting. My Dad was 5'11" and never weighted more than 170 pounds in his life. I kind of doubt he won as many fights as he claimed.

However, born in the country and was a tough farmboy who grew up in an abusive home. I knew a man filled with rage and anger, I'm sure when he got drunk and let loose it probally got ugly.

Hotel Annapolis

2009-07-11T18:00:00.000-07:00

While serving in Vietnam, Frank's duty was not sweeping mines but "Hotel Management" It sound like easy duty, however it wasn't. One of his tasks was to fill out reports of all suicides at his hotels. My mother spoke of a Thanksgiving dinner when Frank was home on leave. He abruptly exited the kitchen during the carving of the Turkey. He had flashed back to a suicide he had to clean up on in one of his hotels. The man had used a knife. Frank also was responsible for going thru the deceased's personal belongings to make sure "nothing inappropriate" went back to the next of kin. Often it was photos from combat, once it was ears.

Frank and the Paperazzi

2009-06-21T13:08:00.001-07:00

Note on the back "I was going to work and a kid yelled at me. So I gave him the finger and he snapped it. I knew he had a camera is why I didn't look back."

2009-06-21T04:21:00.000-07:00

Frank is easy to pick out of group shots. The skinniest with his hat cocked defiently.

This is minesweeper USS ROBIN AMS 53

2009-06-21T03:57:00.000-07:00

In doing this blog I've found myself researching Navy minesweepers. There's a lot of on line groups. I'm learning about the differant classes of ships and how they operate. I did not realize they were wooden vessals, to avoid setting off magnetic mines. The saying "Wodden ships, Iron men" applies to the minemen. Very cool stuff, I'm proud of my father's service. He served on the USS Robin AMS 53 and USS Crossbill AMS 45. Perhaps I'll contact a few groups to make certian of my facts.

Frank's Top Ten List Of Favorite Sayings

2009-06-20T03:58:00.000-07:00

1. Why wish for a loaf of bread, when you can wish for the store.

2. Better be nice to me, I might be your father.

3. You can get used to hanging if you hang long enough.

4. (speaking of a heavy woman) If someone told her to haul ass, she'd have to make two trips.

5. (speaking of a small woman) Big woman, small pussy, small woman, ALL pussy.

6. If I hit you, it might not knock you out. But it sure the hell will make you walk funny.

7. We'll both have to go to hospital, me to get my foot out of your ass.

I'll finish the list as I remember them.

Damn the torpedoes

2009-06-20T03:39:00.000-07:00

Shortly after joining the Navy, Frank was hanging out in an ordinance room with a buddy bullshitting. Frank discovered one of those generator-plunger thingies that is used in the field to detonate explosives. Having a flash bulb in his pocket, he wondered if it produced enough current to light the flash. It was the old school glass kind with a steel wool looking filament. The resulting pop was so loud it caused an officer to come running into the munitions room. Loud pops and bangs get the military nervous for some reason.
The officer discovered two very surprised looking sailors sitting on a stock of torpedoes. After grilling them as to whose idea it was, Frank confessed. The officer put Frank up for munitions duty that started his career as a MINEMAN. Evidently the officer was impressed by him unwittingly figuring out on his own how to improvise a detonator. Or so the story goes...

Rebel without a lunch

2009-06-20T03:10:00.000-07:00

This is the earliest photo I have of Frank. His eyes seem to be filled with rage and pain. Stories from his childhood spoke like a narrative for a Johny Cash song. When he was in his teens (late 1940's) he was a poor farm boy from western North Carolina. He told about how his daily lunch from home was a hard biscut soaked in gravy. It was so greasy it soaked thu the paper bag. Being tired of daily teasing by his classmates he took to hiding it under a bridge on the walk to school. Frank would scoff it down on his return walk in the afternoon.
Evidently one of the school staff noticed he wasn't eating at lunch time. He confided his situation to her, and soon she started bringing him in a small lunch daily. From her own pantry. Frank spoke often of her kind act, perhaps it was one of very few kind acts he ever experianced as a youth. I don't know her name, she's long past I am sure. I want to thank her in this post.

Don't tell mom....

2009-06-19T12:20:00.000-07:00

He had a woman he loved in Saigon,
I got a picture of him in her arms now

I guess dad was what one might call a womanizer. Considering he was abanoned by his mother who was abandoned by another womanizer (my grandfather) it all kind of makes sense in a very painfull way.
When I scanned this photo I found a note on the back in his handwriting that made me chuckle: "This is a photo at my going away party. Please save for me as the wife wouldn't understand. F."

Viet Nam

2009-06-19T11:59:00.000-07:00

Note on the back of photo: This is an Asian Honey Bear cub, weight-app 8lbs

I was born in October of '63. My father volunteered for Viet Nam in '64. I remember when my daughter was born I couldn't wait to get home to her. I don't know why Frank chose to get as far away as he could. I believe he just didn't know how to handle the responsability of being a parent. He had no frame of referance for being a father. He never had one, no one wanted to be his. I don't hate him for this.

See the world...

2009-06-19T11:32:00.000-07:00

Here again he looks like a poster child for the US Navy. Frank was very proud of his service. I always remember him wearing his Navy denims long after retirement. The long sleaves rolled up enough to show his Hong Kong tatoos. I got my love of drawing from Frank. When he was home on leave I would sit on his lap while he would draw a ship in the back of a paper bag. There at the kitchen table he would sit drinking his Pabst Blue Ribbon, eating radishes and teaching me how to draw. Yep, he often gave me a a couple of swigs of beer durring the lesson.

The lessons usually ended with he and mom having a blow out fight over something.

A rough start

2009-06-19T11:18:00.000-07:00

Frank was born out of wedlock durring the depression. His real father was married to another woman, so his uncle took the claim of fathering him. At the age of 5 Frank's mother abandoned him. Only once did Frank speak of standing in the middle of a country dirt road crying as his mother walked away. She left him in the custody of a local woman who took in unwanted boys to work on her farm. Frank said he could not remember a day going by that he wasn't beaten in some way or another.

Looks like a Navy recruitment poster

2009-06-19T11:01:00.000-07:00

I guess this is my favorite photo of him. I think it was taken in the early 1950's. Frank looks content, almost happy. The US Navy was his life and family. To escape an extremely abusive home life he joined the Navy when he was about 17 years old. Frank was born in 1932 in the town of Burnsville N.C. Ironicly, one of his step-sons would join the US Air Force when he was 17 to escape an abusive home.