Rick Granlund

Married to the same great gal for 51 years as of April 2016.. Living in Sunny Virginia Beach for the past 39 years ('78 - 2016, almost a native by now).
I really didn't know what to do with my life after graduating from SVHS. So I joined the Navy in July '61. After Boot camp and Naval Data Systems Computer School at Dam Neck, Virginia I was transferred to Submarine New Construction to build Nuclear Missile Submarines. I loved every second of my time in the Submarines Service. I got to build and go on war patrol on two Nuclear Powered Ballistic Missile submarines. The USS Sam Rayburn, SSB(N)635 at Newport News Shipyard, Newport News, Virginia and the last of 'The 41 for Freedom'...the USS Will Rogers SSB(N)659 at Electric Boat, Groton (New London) Conneticut. A four year stint in Bermuda was great too!
After various duty stations and a 23 year career, I retired as a Lieutenant Commander having held all enlisted rates E1 - E8, Seaman Recruit to Senior Chief Electronics Technician ( I proctored the Master Chief exam, therefor was ineligible) and Warrant Officer W-1, Chief Warrant Officer W-2, W-3, W-4 AND I was promoted to Lieutenant Junior Grade (LTjg), Lieutenant (LT) and, finally to Lieutenant Comander (LCDR) as a Limited Duty Officer (LDO). My career spanned Seaman Recruit (E1) through Lieutenant Commander (04) and everything inbetween. You just can't ask for any better!
The last Commodore I worked for in Submarine Squadron 8, Norfolk, Virginia was an ass and more interested in making Admiral and concequently wouldn't give the the necessary funding to support my 28 subs....so I quit...retired that is. (He did make Admiral)
Again...loved every minute of it. When I retired (in '84), I retired...period. I have been retired (and been paid a small but adequate retirement retainer) for much longer than when I was on active duty in the Navy. Life is good. Life is very good.

One night, as I was Junior at SVHS and a careless, reckless teen, I was the only guy with a car and took a few friends to a party. Unknown to me, some people, as a prank, put some personal belongings from the hosts house into the trunk of my car. the girl's parents (hosts) called police and I was arrested for second degree larceny. I was actually stopped, late in the evening, while driving. It was a 'hands up, put 'em on the car' type of stop, guns and all. I spent the weekend in Rockland County jail before being released on bail.
Ater a grand jury hearing, a 'no indictment' was returned and I was exhonerated. However....
because of the embarrassment I cut the last 2 months of school. When I returned as a Senior, I had to make up the credits by taking extra classes....and beg to be allowed to take the Mid Term Regents Exams for the classes I had missed in my junior year. Without taking these exams...I would not have graduated. Thanks goodness the Regents were easy enough for me to pass with only studying (not having the benefit of attending classes) , and finally, be allowed to graduate ...on time with the rest of our class.
It was a turning point in my life and it worked out that it scared me into the Navy and a great career ensued.