The United States Navy Memorial Stories of Service Program is honored to announce the November 2022 story of the month has been selected to recognize the service of United States Navy Veteran, Senior Chief Petty Officer Cornelius Stripling. The United States Navy Memorial Stories of Service Program was privileged to interview Senior Chief Petty Officer Cornelius Stripling at the VP-68 Alumni Association Reunion in the Fall of 2021. 

Senior Chief Cornelius Stripling was born in Jacksonville Florida and grew up a short distance from 3 naval stations. He shared, “In 6th grade, they took us on a field trip to see the Hurricane Hunters squadron at NAS Jacksonville, they took us on one of their aircraft and I was hooked... in 6th grade we went to Naval Station Mayport. We toured a destroyer. I told a classmate I decided to join the Navy.” He officially joined in 1971 and attended Naval Training Center Orlando. The experience would prepare him for future assignments and life in the United States Navy. After successfully completing his basic training at Orlando, Stripling received orders to report directly to Naval Air Station Meridian for Fleet Prep School.

His interest in aviation was solidified and his schooling progressed. His next assignment was with Training Squadron 9. Stripling received invaluable lessons focused on all aspects of naval aviation. Training took place on land and also at sea aboard the USS Lexington which was being used to train new aviators and crews. His first impressions of the flight deck were eye-opening. He shared,  “it is extremely noisy and extremely dangerous. Airplanes are taxiing around and equipment is moving around.” The flight deck of an aircraft carrier is one of the most dangerous locations to work and Stripling shared vivid details of his experiences and preparing for his future assignments at sea.  

Based on merit and successfully exceeding all requirements, Stripling was assigned to Sea Control Squadron 32. VS 32 was flying the new Lockeed S-3 Viking’s which specialized in antisubmarine warfare. The squadron received training flying off of the newly commissioned aircraft carrier, the USS Nimitz. The squadron was ordered to the USS John. F. Kennedy which participated in a North Atlantic cruise. This was Striplings first deployment overseas and he spoke fondly about experiences visiting England, Scotland, Germany, and France. Following the North Atlantic cruise, the USS John F. Kennedy returned home and prepared for a new deployment to the Mediterranean Sea. He shared, "We would do war games with other task groups. On our last one, the night the wargames started; at 12:05 someone jumped overboard...they stopped the whole game and turned on all of the lights...one of the opposing forces submarines followed us and the next morning we had one engine and one catapult.” The sailor was eventually found and rescued by a destroyer from the task group. Stripling also recalled experiences observing the Soviet Navy, “We use to have visits from Russian (bombers) Bears all the time. They couldn’t fly across us but were always there. When they would show up, we would launch F-14 fighters and they would fly formations with them. It was the Cold War; it was a big game."  

As his Naval career progressed, Stripling was assigned to shore duty and continued working on aircraft that specialized in antisubmarine warfare. While testing new equipment on the aircraft carrier, the USS America, he observed aviation history. The first takeoffs and landings of the F-18 Hornet took place from the deck of an aircraft carrier. Stripling witnessed flight trials of the newest fighter jet and marveled at its capabilities. His final squadron was VP 68 which was assigned to antisubmarine missions flying the P-3 Orion. He shared, "the thing about reserve squadrons is, some of the guys did their job for 20 or 30 years. We were over in the Azores and different squadrons were tracking a Soviet submarine. As time went on, the submarine was lost. When it was VP 68's turn, we found the submarine hiding under a tanker. The only reason this happened was because a guy had been doing this for over 20 years." 

He spoke with great pride about the different ships and stations of his over 25 years of Naval Service but focused on the moment that will remain with him forever.  His proudest moment was becoming a Navy Chief. Stripling spoke with great admiration about the pinning ceremony and the camaraderie of the Chief community. He shared, “It was a good learning experience, my whole Naval career of 25 years, I wouldn’t change a thing. My parents were there when I graduated from bootcamp, and my father was able to attend my retirement ceremony. He was sitting there in the front row, and he knew all the stuff I had been through for 25 years, he had tears in his eyes. It was a great feeling.”   Senior Chief Petty Stripling shared invaluable reflections of his service during the Cold War. Future generations will greatly benefit from his words and life lessons. 

The United States Navy Memorial honors United States Navy Veteran, Senior Chief Petty Officer Cornelius Stripling, 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 VP-68 Alumni Association Collection on the Navy Memorial Stories of Service page.