The United States Navy Memorial Stories of Service Program is honored to announce the September 2020 story of the month has been selected to recognize the service of United States Navy Veteran, Lieutenant Thomas Gramins. The United States Navy Memorial Stories of Service Program was privileged to interview Lieutenant Thomas Gramins at the USS William R. Rush DD 714 reunion being held at Harrisburg Pennsylvania in the Fall of 2019.

Lieutenant Thomas Gramins entered into the NROTC program as a freshman at Marquette University. He shared, "freshmen year was orientation and naval history, sophomore year was gunnery, junior year was engineering, and senior year was operations...it was intense." He was a business administration major and enjoyed the rigor of the program which would lead him on the path of becoming a distinguished Supply Corps Officer.

While in college, he spent one summer on the USS Wisconsin BB 64 with 900 Midshipmen. He was assigned to the Engineering Division and enjoyed battleship life. Another summer he spent time on the USS Rich DD 820 and found the smaller ship equally enjoyable and memorable. Upon graduation, Lieutenant Gramins was ordered to Navy Supply Corps School in Athens Georgia. He shared, "we had to learn the whole supply routine, disbursing, supply management, food service, ship store, management." He felt the overall management approach was impactful to his success at sea.

The USS William R. Rush would become his home upon successfully completing Navy Supply School. Three days after arriving to his new home, the Rush departed for a six-month Mediterranean deployment. He visited a number of ports representing the flag throughout the Mediterranean region during the Cold War. After returning home from the Mediterranean Sea, the USS William R. Rush was preparing for a new deployment and refresher training. When the Cuban Missile Crisis erupted, he recalled, "On Saturday we were ordered to get everyone back to the ship and were sent to plane guard for the USS Enterprise. We left with as many people as we could get...we spent our time during the Cuban Missile Crisis with the nuclear deterrent force with the Enterprise.”

Following his time on the USS William R. Rush, Lieutenant Gramins continued to serve in the Navy Reserves at different stations and capacities. He served in Public Affairs and electronic specialty companies until retiring in 1986.

The United States Navy Memorial honors United States Navy Veteran, Lieutenant Thomas Gramins, 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 USS William R. Rush DD 714 Collection on the Navy Memorial Stories of Service page.