The United States Navy Memorial Stories of Service Program is honored to announce the January 2025 story of the month has been selected to recognize the service of United States Navy Veteran, Master Chief Petty Officer, Robert Lea. The United States Navy Memorial Stories of Service Program was privileged to honor the service memories of Master Chief Lea thanks to HT2 Charles Atkins. The Following reflections of Master Chief Petty Officer, Robert Lea’s service was written by USS Hector AR-7 Historian, HT2 Charles Atkins.

"Bob Lea went to the recruiting station, which was in the local Post Office of Joplin Missouri. He stopped off at the first recruiting desk to come up and signed on in the Navy. This was in 1946, right after the war. He was sent to Kansas City for induction and medical exams. The navy then shipped him to San Diego, California for Boot camp.

After Boot camp he found himself with about “a dozen guys” on the way to Great Lakes and Basic Engineering School. He said that the California sun tan stood out pretty good when you are knee deep in snow at Great Lakes. He learned about tending boilers, working on turbines and preparing ships to get underway. When school was over after about three months, he was shipped out to Yerba Buena Island, San Francisco waiting for an assignment.

He was given duty on the USS Daniel A. Joy DE-585, a destroyer escort which was assigned to a naval reserve command in Stockton, California. His job was teaching the reservist in case they were activated. He did this assignment for 2 years until 1949.

Bob was transferred to the USS Uvalde AKA-88 home ported out of Oakland, California. He made third class petty officer and worked the fire room. While in need of repairs the Uvalde left for Long Beach and tied up next to the USS Hector. They thought that ship “sat on a mound of coffee grounds” and he thought that it might be good duty. He went aboard the Hector and found another sailor interested in swapping duty stations. So Bob found a new job in the after fire room of Hector. Shortly thereafter, Hector left for San Francisco for dry dock and overhaul.

Soon the Korean War broke out, Hector and Bob found their way on Westpac arriving in Yokosuka, Japan. They prepared for the invasion of Inchon, South Korea which took place September 15, 1950. There was a special detachment of Marines brought aboard and Hector pulled out. During the invasion, Hector got to fire her 5” guns in support of the invasion.

After the fighting went more inland, Bob found himself doing Shore Patrol duty on Wolmi-do Island. That detachment of Hector’s Marines had been guarding a store room full of beer on Hector. Invasion High Command was using Wolmi-do Island as a sort of R&R for combat weary troops to relax, have a steak and a few beers (from Hector of course). Bob and the SP’s were supposed to make sure the troops were not to get too drunk. He said he wasn’t about to argue with a combat marine, and an M-1 rifle about how many beers were being consumed! This Westpac tour lasted 14 months.

Bob stayed on Hector for 6 years. That is where he met Pete Pilgrim who worked the forward fire room. He went from BT3 to BT1 until 1955 and was transferred to the Naval Training Center, San Diego to “push boots”. That job lasted 3 years and he made the rank of Chief petty officer.

Bob was then transferred to the Fleet training group for the next 3 years. He would take various ships to sea holding battles for combat readiness.

Bob’s next assignment was back to sea duty and the USS Calvert APA-32. He was a training supervisor for the ship and held drills with the crew of the fire rooms. After making E-8, he was transferred back to the Naval Training Center to teach new company commanders how to “push boots”. BTCM Lea did this until he took a retirement from the active navy after 22 ½ years.

Bob stayed in San Diego for about 10 years and then moved back to Missouri to become, “a gentleman farmer”. He raised beef for market. He finally really retired to where he presently lives at Table Rock Lake in Shell Knob, Missouri. He is active in the local VFW 2203 and has made one reunion each for the Uvalde and Calvert. He prefers the Hector reunions and has been attending since his first one in Salt Lake City in 1994. He got reacquainted with Pete Pilgrim and both decided to host the 2002 reunion in Branson, Missouri, which was a record attendance. Bob started the Association website and Pete Pilgrim the Hector Herald. Bob provided support for the association and is involved as one of the Executive Board members for our Association.”

Upon the completion of the United States Navy Memorial’s National Chiefs Mess, a call was made out to Veterans, reunion associations and more, seeking donation’s of artifacts which honor, celebrate, and recognize the history of Navy Chiefs.

The USS Hector Association learned of this request and answered the call. The USS Hector’s foundry was known to have been able to make anything. One item that was made was an ash tray for use within the Chief’s Mess aboard the USS Hector.

Robert Lea had acquired the item after leaving the ship and thanks to the coordination of USS Hector AR-7 Historian, HT2 Charles Atkins and Lea family, the artifact is now proudly displayed at the United States Navy Memorial in Washington D.C.

The United States Navy Memorial honors United States Navy Veteran, Master Chief Petty Officer Robert Lea, featured within this series titled, Tales from the Navy Log, Story of the Month. Each month, this series honors a Veteran’s story recorded by the Stories of Service Program at the Navy Memorial. To learn more about this story and to explore the Navy Memorial archive, visit the Navy Memorial Stories of Service site at https://www.navymemorial.org/stories-of-service