American Legion Beaufort Post 207 brings you Beaufort’s Jay Kinsey, 64, who joined the United States Navy in Memphis in 1985 sometime after earning a BS in Secondary Education from Southeast Missouri State. After Boot Camp in Orlando, Fla., and Fire Controlman (control everything from radars, fire control systems and computer systems to the Navy’s most advanced missile systems) school in Great Lakes, Ill., he was assigned to USS Radford (DD-968). He deployed all the way around South America. He then served as an instructor at Mare Island, Calif., before joining the pre-commissioning crew of USS John C. Stennis (CVN-74).
Once placed in service the Stennis sailed around the world eastward through the Mediterranean, the Suez Canal, the Persian Gulf, Bahrein, Australia including Tasmania, and Hawaii before reaching her home port of San Diego. He then served as an instructor in Dam Neck, Va., and when 9-11 happened he was sent to USS Teddy Roosevelt (CVN-71), which was operating in the Indian Ocean, followed by stops in Slovenia, Crete, France and Span while returning home. He retired in 2005 as a Chief Petty Officer. Since then he’s taught electronics, 4th and 5th grade boys, and worked in distribution for Perdue.
Compiled by John Chubb, American Legion Post 207. For Veteran Of The Week nominations, contact jechubb1@gmail.com.
