It all started in June of 2002, in the small town of Selma, California. Jon was a year away from being done with high school.. and he wanted to go somewhere. anywhere. One day, he and a buddy were talking about what they were gonna do..and the military came up. Jon said, "Let's join the navy!" Tim said "no way. youre a wussy. you'll never do it.." The next day Jon was at the recruiter's office getting information.. After a long year of paperwork and physical preparation, Jon was ready to go! He was terrified.. but he did it.
June of 2003.. Boot camp was 9 weeks of pseudo-hell. It wasnt that hard physically, but it messed with his head. He sleepwalked, and went the gamut of loving the navy to hating it, all in that short span of time.
His next assignment was Naval Submarine School, Naval Submarine Base, New London, Connecticut. It was a LONG way from home..and he didn't have anyone but himself. He spent long nights writing to his girlfriend and talking to her on the phone.. He studied diligently and graduated with honors. On to the next school.. The school of his rating, Submarine Sonar Technician.
As his studies began in the Winter just after the new year of 2004.. He became depressed. He didn't wanna do it anymore. His studies were failing him.. and he dropped to the bottom of his class. His instructors were so worried that they sent him to see the doctors about his depression. Soon after that, he made a turnaround, flew back, and married his girlfriend.
June of 2004, He graduated as the class valedictorian, having turned his academics around for a full recovery. Soon after graduating, he reported for duty aboard the submarine USS Springfield (SSN 761). Springfield had a rough time ahead of her, and was headed into the shipyard for a 9 month Depot Modernization Period. Young Seaman Reynolds was along for the ride! Months passed.... Meanwhile, Seaman Reynolds studied hard still, and was awarded the rank of Petty Officer Third Class. Soon after, STS3 Reynolds was sent on several trips to sea with other vessels.. to include USS San Juan (SSN 751), USS Annapolis (SSN 760), and USS Alexandria (SSN 757).
During one of his rides, he recieved an email from his young bride.. They were pregnant! STS3 was excited beyond belief.. he was in a trance for what seemed like 10 minutes.. yet the weeks flew by, and 9 months later, his beautiful daughter, Kennedy, was born, in September of 05.
After a year in the shipyard, the 9 month DMP wasn't going so well. The ship looked to be stuck for a while. Again, months passed.. Petty Officer Reynolds soon earned his Submarine Warfare qualification pin, known in the sub community as his "Fish" or "Dolphins". This is a highly esteemed tradition among submariners, and STS3 Reynolds was very proud. Finally, 20 months into the 9 month upkeep, Springfield was ready for sea, and so was Petty Officer Reynolds!
Over the course of the next month, they conducted many many sea trial operations.. After a time, Springfield was certified to go to sea! Returning to the Submarine base where she is homeported in Connecticut, He worked diligently with the crew to prepare the ship for her upcoming deployment in September of 2006. Again, his studies were noted, and he was awarded the rank of Petty Officer Second Class. having attained the rank of STS2(SS) in the short time of 3 years was unheard of, and he was beyond proud.. he was jubilant. Shortly before the deployment, He was diagnosed with stomach ulcers and removed from duty aboard USS Springfield for further evaluation.
The outlook was not good. Reynolds was sick.. and it didn't look like he was going to get better. The doctors told him he had Crohn's Disease.. And it was only a matter of time before he was involuntarily discharged from the navy. Reynolds reluctantly accepted this and began his daily regimen of NUMEROUS medications, doomed for the rest of his life to have this debilitating illness that could potentially kill him, untreated. He sat down one day at google and shortly after the new year, found the website Aquariacentral.com.
After his diagnosis, Reynolds was temporarily assigned to Submarine Development Squadron Twelve on the New London Submarine Base, for a Limited Duty assignment and further evaluation. during this time.. things were dire at home. His relationship with his wife had deteriorated beyond belief. They were soon separated, and after the new year of 2008, were divorced.
in March of 2008. Time came for a re-evaluation.. The doctors had been wrong! STS2 did indeed have stomach ulcers.. but they were nothing like the doctors had first imagined. To his delight, he was cleared! His physical and medical outlook was higher than ever, and he was no longer in the mindset that he would be forever plagued by the disease! After that, STS2 remained assigned to his command at COMSUBDEVRON TWELVE. A few more months passed, and the end of May 2008 came about.. The end of his 5 years of service were finally here! What a long journey............
......... I'M FINALLY DONE! :grinyes: :headbang2:
erv::clap::y220e::hi::thud: 
:thm::cool-1::mwave::dance2::nilly:
June of 2003.. Boot camp was 9 weeks of pseudo-hell. It wasnt that hard physically, but it messed with his head. He sleepwalked, and went the gamut of loving the navy to hating it, all in that short span of time.
His next assignment was Naval Submarine School, Naval Submarine Base, New London, Connecticut. It was a LONG way from home..and he didn't have anyone but himself. He spent long nights writing to his girlfriend and talking to her on the phone.. He studied diligently and graduated with honors. On to the next school.. The school of his rating, Submarine Sonar Technician.
As his studies began in the Winter just after the new year of 2004.. He became depressed. He didn't wanna do it anymore. His studies were failing him.. and he dropped to the bottom of his class. His instructors were so worried that they sent him to see the doctors about his depression. Soon after that, he made a turnaround, flew back, and married his girlfriend.
June of 2004, He graduated as the class valedictorian, having turned his academics around for a full recovery. Soon after graduating, he reported for duty aboard the submarine USS Springfield (SSN 761). Springfield had a rough time ahead of her, and was headed into the shipyard for a 9 month Depot Modernization Period. Young Seaman Reynolds was along for the ride! Months passed.... Meanwhile, Seaman Reynolds studied hard still, and was awarded the rank of Petty Officer Third Class. Soon after, STS3 Reynolds was sent on several trips to sea with other vessels.. to include USS San Juan (SSN 751), USS Annapolis (SSN 760), and USS Alexandria (SSN 757).
During one of his rides, he recieved an email from his young bride.. They were pregnant! STS3 was excited beyond belief.. he was in a trance for what seemed like 10 minutes.. yet the weeks flew by, and 9 months later, his beautiful daughter, Kennedy, was born, in September of 05.
After a year in the shipyard, the 9 month DMP wasn't going so well. The ship looked to be stuck for a while. Again, months passed.. Petty Officer Reynolds soon earned his Submarine Warfare qualification pin, known in the sub community as his "Fish" or "Dolphins". This is a highly esteemed tradition among submariners, and STS3 Reynolds was very proud. Finally, 20 months into the 9 month upkeep, Springfield was ready for sea, and so was Petty Officer Reynolds!
Over the course of the next month, they conducted many many sea trial operations.. After a time, Springfield was certified to go to sea! Returning to the Submarine base where she is homeported in Connecticut, He worked diligently with the crew to prepare the ship for her upcoming deployment in September of 2006. Again, his studies were noted, and he was awarded the rank of Petty Officer Second Class. having attained the rank of STS2(SS) in the short time of 3 years was unheard of, and he was beyond proud.. he was jubilant. Shortly before the deployment, He was diagnosed with stomach ulcers and removed from duty aboard USS Springfield for further evaluation.
The outlook was not good. Reynolds was sick.. and it didn't look like he was going to get better. The doctors told him he had Crohn's Disease.. And it was only a matter of time before he was involuntarily discharged from the navy. Reynolds reluctantly accepted this and began his daily regimen of NUMEROUS medications, doomed for the rest of his life to have this debilitating illness that could potentially kill him, untreated. He sat down one day at google and shortly after the new year, found the website Aquariacentral.com.
After his diagnosis, Reynolds was temporarily assigned to Submarine Development Squadron Twelve on the New London Submarine Base, for a Limited Duty assignment and further evaluation. during this time.. things were dire at home. His relationship with his wife had deteriorated beyond belief. They were soon separated, and after the new year of 2008, were divorced.
in March of 2008. Time came for a re-evaluation.. The doctors had been wrong! STS2 did indeed have stomach ulcers.. but they were nothing like the doctors had first imagined. To his delight, he was cleared! His physical and medical outlook was higher than ever, and he was no longer in the mindset that he would be forever plagued by the disease! After that, STS2 remained assigned to his command at COMSUBDEVRON TWELVE. A few more months passed, and the end of May 2008 came about.. The end of his 5 years of service were finally here! What a long journey............
......... I'M FINALLY DONE! :grinyes: :headbang2:
erv::clap::y220e::hi::thud: :thm::cool-1::mwave::dance2::nilly:
