LOVETT-JIMMY

JIMMY LOVETT

SENIOR CHIEF YEOMAN U.S. NAVY

Senior Chief Yeoman Jimmy Lovett, son of Mrs. Reba and the late Ira Lovett, Strong, Arkansas, attended Gardner Elementary School, Strong, Arkansas, and graduated from Townsend Park High School, Pine Bluff, Arkansas in 1959. He attended the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (Formerly Ark. A.M.&N.) for one year prior to enlisting in the Navy Reserve on 10 August 1960. Upon completion of boot camp in San Diego, California, Senior Chief Lovett served aboard USS PIEDMOND (AD-17) from November 1960 to May 1964. Senior Chief Lovett’s first tour of shore duty was at the Ballistic Missile Submarine Training Center, Charleston, South Carolina from June 1964 to October 1965. Following his shore tour he attended advanced Yeoman school in Bainbridge, Maryland and was assigned to the Flag Allowance, Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii from January 1966 to January 1968. Following his tour at CINCPACFLT, Senior Chief Lovett volunteered for duty in Vietnam. After completion of Survival, Escape, Resistance and Evasion (SERE) training at Whidbey Island, Washington, he served with U.S. Naval Support Activity, Saigon from March 1968 to June 1970. Senior Chief Lovett was reassigned to the Chief, Naval Advisory Group, U.S. Military Assistance Command, Vietnam, Advisory Team 143 in Danang from June 1970 to July 1971. During his tour as an advisor to the Vietnamese Navy he was meritoriously promoted to Chief Petty Officer. From August 1971 to August 1975 he was assigned to Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron 135, Alameda, CA Staff, Commander Patrol Wings Pacific, Moffett Field, California. From September 1975 to March 1981, Senior chief Lovett served as Ship’s Secretary and Assistant Personnel Officer aboard USS EDWON (DD-946), USS FORT FISHER (LSD-40) and USS BARBEY (FF-1088). From May 1981 to February 1985 he served with Fleet Tactical Deception Group, Pacific in Coronado, California. During his tour with FLTACDEPAC he was promoted to Senior Chief Petty Officer. From March 1985 to July 1986, Senior Chief Lovett served as Administrative Department Head at the Shore Intermediate Maintenance Activity, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. He attended the Senior Enlisted Academy in Newport, Rhode Island, August to October 1986 and reported to Navy Management Systems Support Office Detachment Pacific in November 1986. Additionally, Senior Chief Lovett was twice selected for special assignment and participated in the Senior Minority Assistance to Recruiting (SEMINAR) Program at Navy Recruiting District, Little Rock, Arkansas (June ’77 and November ’86). Senior Chief Lovett’s awards include Navy Commendation Medal with Combat ‘V’ and gold star, the Navy Achievement Medal with gold star, Navy Unit Commendation, Battle “E” Ribbon, seven Good Conduct Medals, National Defense Service Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with two silver stars, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon with bronze star, Overseas Service Ribbon, Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Unit Citation, Republic of Vietnam Civil Actions Unit Citation and Republic of Vietnam Campaign Ribbon. Senior Chief Lovett is married to the former Doris Jones of Jacksonville, Florida (a former Navy Petty Officer). They have a daughter, Pamela, a senior at San Diego State University and a son, Jimmy, Jr., a student at Southwestern Junior College. He and his wife will reside in Spring Valley, California upon his retirement.