Robert A. Gerle RMCM(SS) COB 1973 - 1975

RMCM(SS) Robert A. Gerle, Sr. (Bob) enlisted in the U.S. Navy in October, 1955 at the age of 17, completing Boot Camp and subsequent Radioman "A" School at Bainbridge, Maryland. His first tour of Sea Duty was with Amphibious Forces Pacific (PhibPac); his first ship the USS WANTUCK (APD 125), home port San Diego. Master Chief Gerle's first WestPac was aboard USS POLK COUNTY (LST 1084). Landing Ship Tanks were often referred to as "Long Slow Targets." During that deployment, in August, 1957, Polk County received the dubious nickname of "160 knot Polk" by ComSeventhFleet for surviving Typhoon Agnes with winds to 160 knots and 60-foot seas. Bob completed his first enlistment as a Second Class Radioman (RM2) aboard USS COOK (APD 130) and hitch-hiked across the U.S. back to the East Coast, where he returned to his home of record on Long Island, New York. Bob soon found small town life stifling, so he re-enlisted and was assigned to the USS ROY O. HALE (DER 336), a WWII Class DE converted with an Air Search Radar, home ported in Newport, Rhode Island. The DERs were part of the Atlantic seaward extension of the old Defense Early Warning (DEW) Line, an array of radar stations across northern Canada. They patrolled between Newfoundland and the Azores, providing the Commander in Chief, Atlantic Fleet (CinCLantFlt), via Morse Code, contact reports on any inbound aircraft that could be a potential threat by the Soviet Union. Anyone who has gone to sea in the North Atlantic in the winter knows where the term "Arduous Sea Duty" came from. In December, 1960, Bob then went to Shore Duty at the Naval Air Station (NAS) Quonset Point, Rhode Island, as an RM1 for a two year tour, then to Radioman "B" School, Bainbridge, Maryland, for just under a year, then Sub School, New London, where he advanced to RMC(A), the (A) being Acting Appointment in those days. Bob's first submarine was new construction / Pre-commissioning of the USS JAMES MADISON (SSBN 627) GOLD, at Newport News, Virginia. He qualified on 17 May, 1965, during his first of six patrols. James Madison was forward deployed out of Rota, Spain, with Charleston, South Carolina the home port. Bob departed for shore duty at the U.S. Naval Communications Station, Yokosuka, Japan, as an RMCS(SS) in the fall of 1967. During that tour, as the Operations Chief, Bob was responsible for communications with the USS PUEBLO (AGER 2) and was one of the first to become aware of the attack on her and subsequent capture by North Korea. After completing three years of overseas shore duty, Bob attended Instructor School at San Diego (really a boondoggle just to get him back to CONUS for leave before reporting to USS SARGO (SSN 583) at Pearl Harbor). Bob did report to Sargo in November, 1970. A probable "Submarine First" occurred when Bob and DP2 Carla Kehres, USN, attached to CinCPacFlt, were married topside onboard Sargo while anchored in Lahaina Rhodes, Maui, on 14 August 1971. While returning from an extended WestPac deployment Bob suffered a collapsed lung, with subsequent open chest surgery upon arrival Pearl Harbor, then recuperation leave and assignment to ComSubPac Communications Center. The Submarine Medical Manual at that time, based on outdated medical doctrine, dictated Medical Disqualification from Submarines for such surgery. Not wanting to go back to sea on surface craft, Bob embarked on an extensive reconditioning program, passed all the pulmonary and physical exams the doctors at Tripler Army Hospital could throw at him and with more current medical information, endorsed by the surgeons at Tripler and with the help and recommendation of the ComSubPac Force Medical Officer, CAPT James, Bob was Medically Re-Qualified for Submarine duty. For what its worth that was probably another "Submarine First." During his second tour on Sargo Bob held assignments as Communications Division Officer and Chief of the Boat. He was also advanced to E-9, then selected for Warrant Officer and departed Sargo in April, 1975. With a six-week-old baby son, Bob and Carla made the transition from sunny Hawaii to blustery Holy Loch, Scotland, where Bob reported for duty to the submarine tender USS CANOPUS (AS 34), as the Communications Officer. Canopus made her way to Spain, via an overhaul in Charleston, S.C., refresher training in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba (GTMO) and on to Rota. Nearing the end of this three-year tour on Canopus, and as a CWO-2, Bob determined it was time to seek a second career in the civilian sector. For pay purposes, Bob reverted back to E-9 and transferred to the Fleet Reserve in 1978. Carla having family in Colorado, Bob and Carla settled down in the Denver area, with Carla going to work for United Airlines in data communications / computer operations and Bob for Motorola Communications & Electronics in the management of communications systems installation and maintenance. Both enjoyed their new careers climbing the corporate ladder, with Bob leaving Motorola years later as manager of a multi-state $21 Million per year P&L operation and Carla soon retiring (May, 2002) from her position as a General Manager, Global Enterprise Networks, Quantitude Corp. Residing in Littleton Colorado, they have four adult children and five grandchildren.

A personal note from Bob: "For obvious reasons, Sargo will always have a special place in the hearts of Carla and me. She had a long and successful career, and survived some tough situations...from the many SPEC-OPS she completed, in not-to-friendly waters, to her Polar operations and to the tragic loss of MM3(SS) James Smallwood in the After Torpedo Room Oxygen fire. She has had a steady stream of the finest Officers and toughest crews in the Fleet, but I must admit, after the Decommissioning Ceremony at Pier Sierra 1, Pearl Harbor, with Sargo to be towed back to the West Coast for scrapping, there were few dry eyes as we watched the Fleet Tug back away from the pier, with the once proud lady lashed tightly to the tugs side, heeled over, as if to say in resignation, 'OK, you win, I've done my job, I'm tired...you can take me home now.' "As the Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard so aptly put it: 'Aloha Pumehana Mau...Goodbye From the Depths of My Heart.'"

USS COOK (APD 130)		USS JAMES MADISON (SSBN 627)		USS SARGO (SSN 583)	USS CANOPUS (AS 34)