JACCARD-KENNETH

I joined the USNR the Summer between my Junior and Senior Year in High School. I wanted to go Regular Navy but my wise father told me I needed to first get my High School Diploma as he felt it was important for me to more better succeed in life. He was Right. After Graduation in June of 1962, I decided to move my Active Duty Date from August up to June, so I could go Active with a Shipmate I met at that Naval Reserve Unit in Pasadena, California. 

We both were assigned to the Aircraft Carrier USS Hancock CVA-19, which was still in WestPac, so we were transferred up to NAS, Alameda, California, where we waited in Transit until the Ship returned from overseas. We went aboard in August of 1962. 

My Shipmate was Steven Moncur (now Passon via adoption), who was sent to the Deck Division (1st Division), and I was sent to X-Division (Admin), where I eventually was sent to the Captain's Office to work exclusively for the Captain. I served as a YN (Yeoman, hopeful, not a Striker)  because I was not rated as a "Striker yet", and worked at various desks in that office. I was eventually promoted from SA to SN, then Petty Officer 3rd Class (YN3).

I enjoyed this Billet and the exciting time aboard one of the Historic WWII Aircraft Carriers that was eventually upgraded and refitted to an Attack Aircraft Carrier in 1956 as the first Hancock Class, and lived up to her Record, even during the Vietnam War, where our Crew worked many many hours on duty, and the ship, also on Station at both Dixie and Yankee Stations in the Tonkin Gulf of Vietnam.

This time in my young life (I was 19 when I came aboard) will remain the Highlight of my Life and I have 4 Memorial Website to this Ship! I will like to add the URL to these sites if allowed: 
www.usshancockcv19.com, www.usshancockassociation.org, www.richkirschsfightinghannah.com, www.herschpahlbooks.com and several websites for Shipmates from other commands. www.navybosn.org, http://ussjaccard.usshancockcv19.com, http://ussindianapolis.usshancockcv19.com, http://krennpapers.usshancockcv19.com. 

May God Bless all of those who go down to the Sea in Ships, who willingly serve our Nation in the Sea Services. I also ask God to bless all those who have served in all our Military Branches in Wartime and Peacetime; and most especially, those who valiantly lost their lives in the performance of their Duty. May they Rest in Eternal Peace.

Kenneth W. 'Jake' Jaccard, 
Winchester, TN, U.S.A.