Ruben Minor

Segment Synopsis: Ruben Minor born in Frankfurt Germany in 1969 while his father was serving in the United States Army. He discusses his family, his connection to Ohio, and why he chose to join the Navy.

Keywords: Birmingham (Ala.); Families; Frankfurt am Main (Germany); New Orleans (La.); Tradition; United States Navy

Subjects: Family; Ohio Connection; Tradition of Military Service

Segment Synopsis: Minor discusses what he expected from his service. His basic training was a shocking experiences but he found himself enjoying a leadership role. He also describes his basic training at Naval Base San Diego and enjoying his role as a leader.

Keywords: Basic training; Leadership; Naval Training Center San Diego (Calif.); Recruiting and enlistment; Stencil work

Subjects: Basic Training; Enlistment; Expectation of Service

Segment Synopsis: Minor describes his Naval specialty and why it's so important on a ship. He shares an example of his work when during a power outage his Senior Chief tested their problem solving skills.

Keywords: Communications; Electronic technicians; Information technology

Subjects: Examples of work; Naval Specialty; Radioman

Segment Synopsis: Minor discusses his first expedition, what their mission was, the Marines onboard, and a description of his office. He also talks about what it was like living on a ship at sea, the sights and sounds of an active ship, and how the ship refueled at sea.

Keywords: Amphibious assault ships; Marines; Pearl Harbor (Hawaii); USS Duluth

Subjects: Mission; Ship Life; USS Duluth (LPD-6); Working with Marines

Segment Synopsis: Minor describes his daily routine and work as a radioman. He also explains the importance of General Quarters and ship maintenance.

Keywords: Communications; Emergency drills; General quarters

Subjects: Daily Routine; General Quarters; Radioman Work

Segment Synopsis: Minor discusses how serving in close quarters builds relationships He explains the hierarchy of bunk levels, and hazing through "blanket parties."

Keywords: Bunk beds; Greene, Derrick; Hazing; Hierarchy; Painesville (Ohio)

Subjects: Bunk Hierarchy; Hazing; Relationships

Segment Synopsis: Minor explains what he did during his R&R, and what others sailors did while off-ship.

Keywords: Australia; Darling Harbor; Okinawa; Three Sisters; accident; disease; drinking; food; host a sailor; kidnapping

Subjects: Misbehavior; R&R

Segment Synopsis: Minor explains how a relief mission to the Philippines turns into a dangerous situation.

Keywords: Cebu City (Philippines); Death squads; Moro National Liberation Front; Typhoons

Subjects: Philippines relief

Segment Synopsis: January 17, 1991 Minor's ship was sent to the Indian Ocean to provide training support during Desert Storm. He talks about what people would do on ship to blow off steam, and a talent show he organized.

Keywords: Indian Ocean; Persian Gulf War, 1991; Recreation; South China Sea; Talent shows; Thailand

Subjects: Desert Storm; Recreation on Ship; Talent Show

Segment Synopsis: From March 1992 to June 1, 1994 Minor was on shore duty at Naval Auxiliary Air Station Miramar. He was there during the Tailhook scandal and while the Navy's TopGun Academy was still at that location. He talks about what he enjoyed about being back on shore and why he did not reenlist.

Keywords: Miramar; Naval Auxiliary Air Station (NAAS) Miramar(Calif.); San Diego (Calif.); Tailhook Scandal, 1991-1993; United States. Navy. Strike Fighter Tactics Instructor program

Subjects: Naval Auxiliary Air Station Miramar; Tailhook

Segment Synopsis: Minor discuss some times when he encountered racism during his service. Incidences included trying to achieve surface warfare specialization and getting shore leave in Okinawa, Japan. Minor talks about what he learned from these situations.

Keywords: Chaplain; Growth; Liberty; Okinawa-shi (Japan); Racism; Resilience

Subjects: Enlisted surface warfare specialist; Racism; Shore leave in Okinawa

Segment Synopsis: In 2003 Minor attends graduate school at Ohio Dominican University and receives his MBA. Then on March 11, 2009 Minor receives a Navy Commission. He talks about how the Navy Reserves supported his growth and encouraged his leadership. He also discusses joining the "Dark Side", what it was like to be an officer, and how he was able to leverage his civilian experiences.

Keywords: Civilian; Cooking for military personnel; Leadership; Marriage; Master of business administration degree; Officer; Ohio Dominican University

Subjects: Graduate School; Leadership; Officer's Commission

Segment Synopsis: Minor chose not to reenlist in order to be available to his family. He discusses 9/11 and its impact on his service and giving back to the Navy and community.

Keywords: Children; Death; Logistics; Nationwide Insurance Enterprise; September 11 Terrorist Attacks, 2001; Social service; Travel; United States. Navy. Supply Corps

Subjects: 9/11; Leaving the Military

Segment Synopsis: Minor discusses the values he learned in the military, what he thinks civilians should know about those who serve, and what he would change about Navy service.

Keywords: Conflict Management; Deployment (Strategy); Japan; Kaiser Permanente; Leadership; Post-traumatic stress disorder; Posttraumatic growth; Sacrifice; Teams in the workplace

Subjects: Adjusting to civilian life; Effective Leadership; What we should know about those who serve; What would you change about the Navy

Segment Synopsis: Minor describes his line-crossing ceremony the "Shellback Initiation." During this ceremony junior Navy personnel, "Pollywogs," have to go through various steps such as: crawling through trash, kissing the bellies of the "Royal Babies," eating green eggs, and being smeared with molasses; before becoming "Shellbacks." There is also a cross-dressing contest the night before to determine the "Wog Queen." The custom varies with time and area of service.

Keywords: Australia; Green eggs; Hazing; Pollywog; Royal babies; Traditions; Wog queen

Subjects: Line-crossing ceremony

Segment Synopsis: Minor discusses how families dealt with service people being gone and clarified what the Chaplain may have said to get their shore-leave returned.

Keywords: Chaplain; Children; Deployment (Strategy); Ship captains

Subjects: Dealing with Deployments; Discussion with the Chaplain

Segment Synopsis: Minor discusses homosexuality in the Navy, the Navy's zero-tolerance policy on drugs, and tattoos.

Keywords: Alcohol; Drugs; Homosexuality; Tattoos (Body markings); Toleration

Subjects: Drugs; Homosexuality; Tattoos (Body markings)