Tim Barker

Segment Synopsis: Born in 1956, Barker grew up in South Webster a small town outside of rural Portsmouth, OH. His brother joined the Navy after college and Barker saw it as a way to get out and see the world. Originally interested in the Marines he was swayed to join the Navy by a recruiter.

Keywords: Portsmouth (Ohio); Recruiting and enlistment; United States. Marine Corps; United States. Navy

Subjects: Childhood; Enlisting in the Navy; Family's history of military service

Segment Synopsis: In 1974 barker left for boot camp at Naval Training Center Orlando. He primarily remembers it being hot and the anxiety of something new when you have spent your whole life in a small town. He describes his basic training, his electronics training at Naval Station Great Lakes, and communications school in San Diego.

Keywords: Basic training; Electronics; Hancock (Aircraft carrier : 1944-1976); Naval Station Great Lakes (Ill.); Naval Training Center Orlando (Fla.); Naval Training Center San Diego (Calif.); Orlando (Fla.); Vietnam War, 1961-1975; Vietnam War, 1961-1975--Protest movements

Subjects: Advanced training; Boot camp; Feeling about the Vietnam War

Segment Synopsis: Barker learned he would be part of the crew of the USS Hancock an aircraft carrier from World War II. His first impression was of the ships size and how maze-like the interior was. He discusses what living on a ship in tight quarters is like, the typical work day, and exploring California.

Keywords: Alameda Naval Air Station (Calif.); Hancock (Aircraft carrier : 1944-1976); Hawaii; San Francisco (Calif.)

Subjects: Father's service; Living in California; Living on an aircraft carrier; The USS Hancock

Segment Synopsis: The USS Hancock's "home away from home" was Subic Bay Naval Station in the Philippines. Barker describes the poverty, music, and clubs of Olongapo, the city outside the base. He also discusses other places he visited in the Philippines such as Baguio City and Corregidor Island.

Keywords: Baguio (Philippines); Corregidor Island (Philippines); Hawaii; Marriage; Olongapo (Philippines); Subic Bay Naval Station (Philippines)

Subjects: The Philippines

Segment Synopsis: Barker talks about the Marines onboard the USS Hancock and their responsibilities. He also discusses the sights and sounds of being on ship, Navy pilots, and watching aircraft launches. In April of 1975 the aircraft were swapped out for Marine helicopters in preparation for the evacuation of Vietnam.

Keywords: Aircraft carriers--Flight decks; Lieutenant William Davison "Harley"; Marines; Pilots; United States. Navy. Attack Squadron 164; Vietnam

Subjects: Aircraft carriers--Aircraft launching and recovery equipment; Marines on ship; Pilots; Sights and sounds on-ship

Segment Synopsis: Barker talks about how information was distributed on ship and how he found out about their mission to evacuate South Vietnam. He mentions Operation Eagle Pull as the evacuation of Saigon. Eagle Pull was actually for the Cambodian evacuation. Operation Frequent Wind was the Saigon evacuation, but the USS Hancock was involved in both evacuations. Barker says that between 2,300 to 2,500 people were housed on the hangar decks until they were off-loaded in the Philippines.

Keywords: Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam); Operation Eagle Pull, 1975; Operation Frequent Wind, 1975; Phnom Penh (Cambodia); South China Sea; UH-1 (Helicopter); Vietnam War, 1961-1975

Subjects: Evacuating South Vietnam; News and information on ship

Segment Synopsis: Barker tells the story of meeting a man much later who had been evacuated from Vietnam on the USS Hancock. When this man was 7 years old his aunt took his family of five to the United States Embassy and they made it aboard the USS Hancock and eventually settled in Wooster, Ohio. Barker reflects on the unexpected results of military service.

Keywords: David Vu; Fort Chaffee (Ark.); Hancock (Aircraft carrier : 1944-1976); Nationwide Insurance Enterprise; Refugees; Wadsworth (Ohio); Wooster (Ohio)

Subjects: Meeting a Vietnamese refugee who was evacuated on the USS Hancock

Segment Synopsis: In October of 1975 Barker returns to California on the last voyage of the USS Hancock. He remembers a welcome home banner hanging from one of the San Francisco bay bridges. He discusses going for more training in San Diego, being stationed at RAF Machrihanish a NATO base on west coast of Scotland, and touring Europe,

Keywords: Alameda (Calif.); Hancock (Aircraft carrier : 1944-1976); Hawaii; Machrihanish (Scotland); Machrihanish Golf Club; Naval Station Treasure Island (San Francisco, Calif.); Naval Training Center San Diego (Calif.); Philippines; Scotch whiskey

Subjects: Last voyage of the USS Hancock; NATO base Scotland

Segment Synopsis: Barker discusses why he chose to leave the Navy and what he did afterwards. He describes the people he looked up to while he was serving and how they inspired him to come back and get an education. He talks about how the experience he got in the Navy opened him up to new possibilities. He discusses the importance of understanding the sacrifices those who serve make.

Keywords: Ohio State University; Petty officers; Portsmouth (Ohio); Shawnee State Community College

Subjects: Navy traditions; Reflecting on service; Returning home