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"Our first experience...we couldn’t land because the base was under attack, you could see through the windows, the fires and explosions...It was a real welcome to Vietnam."

-Radioman First Class James Cena, USN

The United States Navy Memorial Stories of Service Program is honored to announce the January 2021 story of the month has been selected to recognize the service of United States Navy Veteran, Radioman First Class James Cena. The United States Navy Memorial Stories of Service Program was privileged to interview Radioman First Class James Cena of the Tin Can Sailors Association of New Jersey DESRON 2 - Phoenix Squadron in the Spring of 2019.

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Radioman First Class James Cena was 17 when he aspired to join the Navy. After speaking with his parents and gaining their approval to sign the release, he recalled, "A lot of people told me the Navy was the way to go." Cena entered Great Lakes for Basic Training and was assigned to company 358 in 1958. He met Americans from across the country and learned the value of teamwork.

Upon successfully completing Communications School, he sent to the fleet aboard the USS Borie DD 704, a World War Two Destroyer which was undergoing the Fleet Rehabilitation and Modernization program. Once the modernization and shakedown cruise had been completed, the USS Borie, sailed for the Mediterranean. He participated in different roles aboard ship and recalled encountering Soviet destroyers and cruisers throughout the Mediterranean Sea.

From the USS Borie, he was sent to Advanced Teletype School and NCS Asmara located in Ethiopia, working in Naval communications. After two years in Ethiopia he volunteered for service in Vietnam. He remembered the flight to Vietnam as if it were yesterday,  "Our first experience...we couldn’t land because the base was under attack, you could see through the windows, the fires and explosions...It was a real welcome to Vietnam." He was assigned to communications but volunteered for the Brown Water Navy and served on PBRs. His unique service illustrates the multitude of service experiences individuals could have as a sailor in the United States Navy.

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Part One Summary of Service in the United States Navy from 1958 to 1977

Part Three Reporting to his first ship the Fleet Tug USS Catawba ATA 210

Part Five Jobs on the Borie & Serving as the Host Ship for Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson

Part Seven Life on the USS Borie DD 704 & the Loss of President Kennedy

Part Nine Memories of Advanced Teletype School and NCS Asmara

Part Eleven Operation Market Time and Operation Game Warden

Part Thirteen Service Memories of the USS Amphion AR 13

Part Two Deciding to Join the Navy & Boot Camp at Great Lakes in 1958

Part Four Communications School in Norfolk & Reporting to the USS Borie

Part Six Memories of the Cuban Missile Crisis & Soviet Submarines

Part Eight Encountering the Soviet Navy While on the USS Borie DD 704

Part Ten Reporting to Vietnam & the Brown Water Navy on PBRs

Part Twelve Two Weeks on the USS New Jersey & Battleship Memories

Part Fourteen Service on Crew 9 and 1 on with Fleet Air Reconnaissance

The United States Navy Memorial honors United States Navy Veteran, Radioman First Class James Cena, 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.

To view this interview please visit the Tin Can Sailors Association of New Jersey DESRON 2 - Phoenix Squadron Collection on the Navy Memorial Stories of Service page.