Greenfield Family History, Eaglesham Alberta

The Navy Years

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As a child I paddled my homemade boat around the dugout and dreamed of sailing across the world.

I never guessed that when the time came to leave that my next home would be on a destroyer.

Throughout the 10 years that I was employed by the federal government I indeed sailed across the world (Well, the Pacific anyway)

I was trained as a Radar Plotter and began as an Ordinary Seaman. When I left the Navy I was a Trade Group Three Radar Technician and a Master Seaman.
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I sailed on the St. Croix for over 7 years.
Many, many times to Anchorage, Alaska, San Diego, California and Hawaii.
We sailed as far as New Zealand and Australia and toured the Pacific Rim.
It was a great growing experience for a young man.
The St. Croix was 366 ft long and weighed 33,000 tons. It draws 13 ft of water and had twin 18,000 HP turbines to drive the ship at over 70 km per hour if needed. Cruise speed was 13 knots.
She had torpedoes, anti-submarine mortars and two radar controlled anti-aircraft guns, a 3" 70 and a 3"50.

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Here are our ships taking on fuel and provisioning at sea with HMCS Provider

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Here is the HMCS Yukon sailing on a foggy day. I stayed aboard this ship for one whole year in the Second Escort Squadron.

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HMCS Restigouche at sea (Same Class as the St. Croix)

I still think about those wonderful years at sea and all the exotic places we visited.
Where else in the world can a young man get paid to travel, have all his education paid for and even his clothing supplied.
On cold winter days in Northern Canada I settle in and watch sailing videos on YouTube.