“Do It Right The First Time”: A Navy Veteran Discusses Guided Missile Cruiser Service Off Vietnam And Four Decades In Emergency Management

Ron McCabe was born in February 1947 in Overland Park, Kansas. His father worked for Swift & Company producing industrial fasteners, and his mother was a stay-at-home mom who later worked at a grade school. During World War II, his father flew Corsairs in the Pacific for the Navy and Marine Corps. As a boy, Ron enjoyed playing baseball and studying history in school. He graduated from high school in 1965, joined the Navy in 1966, and was serving on active duty in 1967. Following basic training at the Great Lakes training facility he joined the crew of DLG 29, USS Jouett. Following sea trials, he participated in a West-Pac cruise, spending over eight months off the coast of Vietnam. On the way to Vietnam, he participated in a “shellback” ceremony. He recalls the ship’s boats and helicopter being used to rescue downed pilots, and his ship shooting down four MiGs. During the Tet Offensive, Ron remembers being on “Condition 3” watch. He describes his living conditions aboard ship, surviving a typhoon, and enjoying watching the stars at night, noting how peaceful it could be afloat. He recalls, “I loved being at sea.” While stationed off Vietnam, he visited Da Nang and took liberty in Hong Kong. Returning to San Diego, USS Jouett underwent repairs. After leaving the Navy in 1969, he returned to Park College in Missouri and took a federal job in Emergency Management. In 1978, President Carter consolidated various agencies into FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) and after 9-11, FEMA became part of the Department of Homeland Security. Ron recalls “lots of tornado preparedness” in his part of the country. Ron then describes his 37 years of managing emergency preparation in the government, including hurricanes and other natural disasters. Over the years he has seen improvements in communications and notes that better executive orders have improved FEMA’s capabilities. He also recalls his experience on September 11, 2001. At the end of the interview, he discusses his service in the Navy, noting that it developed the principles he lives by and that it “was an extension” of his dad. Finally, he reflects on his federal service, stating it was interesting and different.