The United States Navy Memorial Stories of Service Program is honored to announce the September 2025 story of the month has been selected to recognize the service of United States Navy Veteran, Storekeeper 3rd Class Terry Kraemer. The United States Navy Memorial Stories of Service Program is privileged to honor the service memories of SK3 Terry Kraemer thanks to HT2 Charles Atkins. The Following reflections were presented by USS Hector AR-7 Historian, HT2 Charles Atkins.

Terry Kraemer started life with his family in Vancouver, British Columbia until 1957, when his family moved to Santa Clara, California. His father was a general laborer, and his mother was a nurse. He has a brother and a sister. He went to the local schools and graduated from High School in 1968. He worked as a stock boy for a local jewelry store, as well as running a paper route dropping newspapers off for young route handlers to deliver door to door. In addition, he sold shoes at a shoe store next door to the jewelry store.  

After high school, he entered a police science program at a local college, with a desire to go into law enforcement. After a year, he saw that he was prime for the draft; his grades were slipping due to the extra work schedule. He learned from a neighbor that the US Navy could provide an opportunity for him to gain his US Citizenship. Terry also had no desire to be in combat, and he figured being on a ship would be good duty while obtaining his goals. 

It was August 1970, that Terry found himself in boot camp at the Navy recruit training center San Diego, California. He thought it quite a rude awakening when he heard all the yelling going on. He thought to himself, “what on earth, I think I’ve made a mistake”.

After boot camp, he was sent to commissary school right there at the San Diego base. He learned how to cook there and then was told to attend survival training at Coronado Naval station. He soon learned he had orders to go to Vietnam. 

While at Coronado, he learned how to use various weapons including the .50 caliber machine gun. He also was given training in jungle survival and how to live off the land. Then they let him have a 30 day leave to go home. While at home, they asked if he would like to extend leave and he took another 30 days, putting off the inevitable Vietnam assignment as long as possible. 

When time was up, he went to Travis Air Force base and a flight to Saigon with a short stop in Hawaii. A soon as he was off the plane in Saigon, he was shuttled to a dispersing center. It was a hotel called Annapolis. His first night in Vietnam, he found himself doing the midnight to 0400 watch on the roof of the hotel. He got a short indoctrination from the off going sentry and he stood with an M-16 rifle. He heard some movement and went to investigate. Shining his light in an alley way, he observed rats “as big as cats”, going through the hotel garbage. 

After 4 days, Terry got his orders to go to a small base called Dong Tam. He was assigned to Barracks Barge 30, which was a temporary berthing and feeding barge, for mostly navy personnel. 

NOTE: My own research shows that this was an Army base created to work with the Vietnamese. Dong Tam means “United Hearts and minds”. It was located on the Song River in the Mekong River Delta system 

Terry’s assignment was to cook, clean, setup and break down for transient personnel feeding. His General Quarters station was as a team (of three) member to man a 50-caliber machine gun on the fantail. GQ was sounded about every other day or night (mostly) with many times being mortared by the Viet Cong from across the river. He and his team members took turns manning/ firing the weapon and rotating as ammo man/ support. 

Terry recalls having to take a truck to another place for supplies. The truck broke down on the way back and he sent his partner for help. All he had was a 45 pistol. As it was getting dark, he saw the VC coming through the jungle to make a raid on his truck. 

He got down a bank and readied for a fire fight, when the partner and help arrived to get them back to the Dong Tam base, just in time. 

Another time, Terry was invited by another Canadian friend to ride with him on one of the Sea Wolf Helicopters. He thought he was going to be able to see the area from the air and get some photos. He had no idea that this photo op excursion was going to turn into a full on combat situation. The Sea Wolf helicopter was called to investigate some enemy action. They got shot at by a VC gun boat and the Sea Wolf returning rocket fire eliminating the threat. 

One of his worst memories is being in his berthing compartment and one of the returning servicemen committing suicide, with his M16, in front of him and others. He felt bad for these guys who had to go out in the bush every day and not see many return to the barge. Because of this, he did not get to close with anyone. 

1972, and Terry’s one-year tour was up and he flew from Saigon to Travis air base, then onto Long Beach and the USS Hector. He was glad to be out of Viet Nam and assigned to sea duty. When he checked aboard, he was told that Hector was finishing her dry dock and soon to return to Viet Nam. Terry wanted off the ship right away, but soon found, that was not to be. He was assigned to work at the main enlisted mess decks. His job was to be “Jack of the Dust”, which was basically supplying stores for the cooks. He said this was really good duty and that is where he met Romeo Cruz as a partner. He also had a striker working for him by the name of Jay Young. He says that he liked Jay and he was a very hard worker. He made several trips to Vietnam with Hector. He was extended a month on Hector for the “needs of the service”. He enjoyed his time on Hector and maintains a friendship with retired Navy Chief Romeo Cruz to this day. 

16 February 1974, Long Beach, California was his last day and he returned home. He had been awarded the National Defense Service, Vietnam service, Meritorious Unit Commendation, Good Conduct and Vietnam Campaign medals. 

After returning to Santa Clara, California he got a job with Pacific Gas and Electric as a meter reader. He worked his way up into management with his last duty being in Loss Prevention and Security working with local police departments on theft and fraud cases. After 23 years, he retired and went to become a purchasing manager with a local school district. He is now, retired and is happy being involved with family and friends. Of his service experience, Terry says, “He grew up fast”.

  The United States Navy Memorial honors United States Navy Veteran, SK3 Terry Kraemer 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