HixNews is pleased to welcome our latest contributing editor:
Walt Schmidt Veteran Services Officer (Class of 1965)
TOBay's Veteran Services Division
"Let No Veteran Ever Stand Alone!"
WorkDayTime: 516.733.8414 & 24/7 Voice Mail
Anytime: 24/7 Voice Mail 516.799.8300
Website: http://www.waltsdorsai.net/
Weekly Column: http://experts.longisland.com/veterans
Hicksville Grad Returns To His Roots.
In 1950, Ray and Vi Schmidt bought their first home. It was on Montana Street, mid-way between what would become Mid-Island Plaza and what was already the Press Wireless antenna field; right next to the south-west corner of Fairway Farms. Little did their son then know that some 55 years later he would find himself working at the Hicksville Community Center (between West Carl and West Cherry Streets) as the Town of Oyster Bay's Veteran Service Officer and head of its Veterans Services Division. And that he would also have the pleasure of seeing and exchanging information once again, with Mr. Richard Evers - his eighth-grade social studies teacher.
Well, I did and I do.
As the old military recruiting slogan goes "It's not a Job it's a calling." Tucked away in the Hicksville Community Center you'll find the Veteran Service Division of the Town of Oyster Bay. And most weekdays, between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m., you'll find me at my desk trying to resolve, to help, to cajole, my fellow veterans with issues of theirs. The formal hours of the Division are between 9 a.m. and 4:45 p.m. But as another old expression goes, "You can't teach an old dog new tricks." The majority of my working life was spent with 10 or 12 hour work-days, and not always at something I enjoy. I'm not going to change that now.
I am a Navy Veteran. After Great Lakes Boot-Camp, I spent two-plus months in a Navy A-School learning the manly art of electronic communications. During that time, at Norfolk, VA, and for reasons in which lie a tale for another day, I volunteered for Vietnam or Viet Nam as it is know outside the English-speaking world. At that time, around August '67, the Navy had its Vietnam bound personnel attend a three-week SERE School (Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape) located in Little Creek, VA. For those of you who might recognize the location, yes, we were several barracks down the grinder from the Navy's UDT/SEAL school.
After that (and another story for another day), it was off to beautiful down-town Vinh Long, Mekong Delta, IV-Corps, Vietnam and a stay at the NSA Vinh Long (Naval Support Activity Vinh Long) 4-Star facilities. There, I had the privilege to work at the river-side Vietnamese RAG (River Assault Group) Base as a Navy Brown Water Mekong Delta River Rat.
Over the next three tours, October '67 to December '69, and going from E-3 to E-5 (RM2 - Radioman Petty Officer Second Class) I had the opportunity to experience, as either part of NSA Vinh Long or RivRon 57 (River Squadron 57): the USS Garrett County, LST-786; TET I; the YR-9; the APL-46; the YRBM 20, known as the "Delta Hilton;" TET II; and, Provincial Reconnaissance Units (PRUs), Navy Intelligence Liaison Officer (NILO) Vinh Long, SEAL Team One / Two, Various PBR (Patrol Boat River) River Divisions, the Seawolves of HAL-3 (UH-1B helicopters - the Cobras came later), and, one night accidentally shot the arse off a wild pig, with my trusty M-79 grenade launcher - my weapon of choice. Something I did not live down for quite a while.
For you WWII Merchant Marines or their next of kin, a heads up. On July 18, 2007 there was signed into New York State law a bill that authorizes payment of a war bonus of $250. For more information contact your New York State Assemblyman or State Senator.
Hicksville Trivia
From the early to mid-60s, at Mid-Island Plaza and located just east and just west of Gertz, were two pretzel carts from which you could buy a pretzel for 10 cents; three for a quarter. One of the regular pretzel vendors named Mike Hatgis was a 1965 graduate of Hicksville High School and later became a martial arts expert with a DoJo located on Broadway just north of Mid-Island Plaza. One of the other regular pretzel vendors wore glasses, also was a 1965 graduate of Hicksville High School, and became an accountant. Guess who? I wonder where Mike is now.
Till next month be well... and remember, "Let No Veteran Ever Stand Alone!"
