Bremerhaven Photos - CTR2 Jerry Argo

My Story - Jerry "Giles" Argo
I joined the Navy in March 1954 and completed boot camp in San Diego, California. Radio aptitude tests were given in camp and fortunately, for me, I qualified for assignment to CT school at Imperial Beach. Many of the boots failed the test on purpose. "I don't want to be a radioman." I started school June 1954 and graduated as a CT January 1955. My first duty station was Cape Chiniak, Kodiak Alaska. I arrived in February 1955 to more snow on the ground than I had ever seen. I left under the same conditions February 1956. It took no time after or during boot camp, to lose your first name and acquire a nick name. My boot camp CO gave me "Tex" because of my drawl. I did not like it, as OKIES do not like to be called Tex. While at Cape Chiniak, J. M. Jerome thought I was too fidgety so "Fid" became the next one. However, while in school, Jack Bair tagged me with "Giles" while trying the sound of Argyles (as in socks). I liked it and thankfully, it stuck, as the guys started using it again after reporting to Bremerhaven.

My Story - Jerry "Giles" Argo

I joined the Navy in March 1954 and completed boot camp in San Diego, California. Radio aptitude tests were given in camp and fortunately, for me, I qualified for assignment to CT school at Imperial Beach. Many of the boots failed the test on purpose. "I don't want to be a radioman."
I started school June 1954 and graduated as a CT January 1955. My first duty station was Cape Chiniak, Kodiak Alaska. I arrived in February 1955 to more snow on the ground than I had ever seen. I left under the same conditions February 1956.

It took no time after or during boot camp, to lose your first name and acquire a nick name. My boot camp CO gave me "Tex" because of my drawl. I did not like it, as OKIES do not like to be called Tex. While at Cape Chiniak, J. M. Jerome thought I was too fidgety so "Fid" became the next one. However, while in school, Jack Bair tagged me with "Giles" while trying the sound of Argyles (as in socks). I liked it and thankfully, it stuck, as the guys started using it again after reporting to Bremerhaven.

I arrived in Bremerhaven May 1956 and was reunited with my good friends Jack Bair and Robert Martin. We went to CT school together. They were assigned Adak for their first duty. Training at a RadSta did not prepare me very well for copying ditti's but I adjusted quickly. I gained two new friends after they arrived in June of 1956. They reported directly from CT school at Imperial Beach unlike most guys who had to pay their dues at some remote location first.
CTR2 Jerry "Giles" Argo · CTR2 Jack Bair	CTR2 Robert "Marty" Martin · Jerry Argo
James "Stubber" Wright. Notice the door handle over his right shoulder; "Going back to the land of the round door knob" was repeated often in conversations about home.	James Wright. This photo should give a good clue to how James got his nickname.
Jerry Argo	Robert "Dimp" D'Imperio · Robert Martin