Camden High School Alumni
California, California (CA)
Recent Members
| Brad Fregger | 1958 |
| Candy Elsner | 1961 |
| Ed Fernandez | 1975 |
| Holley Davies | 1973 |
| Ray B | 1962 |
| Shirley L. Smith Shirley L. Goecker | 1962 |
| Thomas Thomas Von Pinnon | 1975 |
| Tim O'connell | 1970 |
Military Alumni
Honoring Our Heroes
This area is dedicated to our alumni that have served or are serving in our armed forces!
Lost Class Rings
Have you lost your Camden High School class ring? Have you found someone's class ring? Visit our Cougars lost class ring page to search for your class ring or post information about a found ring.
Honored Military Alumni
Charles M. Lund
Class of 1962
Navy, 4 Years
When I turned 18 Mom took me to sign up for the selective service. (think what is was called) remember all the recruiters giving us their speal in the Gym. Already knew I wanted the Navy. June I talked to the recruiter to sign up, and asked if I could wait till after the County Fair? Sure kid, sign here. I was in the FFA . Sept showed up, next thing I was in Oakland getting check over head to toe with the other naked jay birds. Then off to San Diego for Boot Camp. Graduated dec 7, 62. then 7 month of Radioman "A" School. Then was assigned to a WWII Destroyer DD-729 U.S.S. Lyman K. Swenson. Flew me to SF, then up to Travis, then to Anchorage Alaska, and then over to Atsugi AB in Japan, and finally down to Yokosuka. In a transit till they located the Ship, then flew to Subic Bay, Philippines, when I got on the ship in Oct. then back to Yokosuka where Our Home Port was.The 2 Des division were sent back to the states in June after 3 years, but took a detour to Guam, Port Morsbe, Sidney and Brisbane, AZ. 5 days in ea port. then Pango Pango, Midway Island, Pear Harbor and finally San Diego our new Home Port in Sept. Jan 65 up the coast to Bremerton Ship Yards for a major over haul in Wa. Jan 8 as we were sailing in, I turned 21. 4 months later back to SD to play war games. Later in the year back to Pearl Harbor, Guam and out in the south China Sea spending time with the Air Craft Carriers. get detached from that on to something else.
Kitty Hawk and Independence were the 2 we were with most of the time.
On Naval Gun Fire support lobbing in the 5"38 ammo. Run out, meet up with an Ammo Ship and all hands turning to to get rearmed, took several hours. held 3K rounds. Was to Hong Kong 3 times longest 21 days.
Back in may of 64, went up the river into Saigon, was at General Quarters, Mine sweeper ahead of us. Spent 5 days there i guess to shop the bad guys our Big Guns. Viet Nam Scuba Diver put a charge on an old WWII Air Craft carrier U.S.N.S Card, and sunk it, was just low in the rear end.
headed back down the river, get out at Sea and the Sonar was flooded, hit something in the river and sliced the Hull. headed to Subic bay to a Floating Dry Dock, lifted the ship out of the water, worked all night, got patched up and 24 hours back at it.
After our 6 mo tour in West Pack shooting bad guys we came back to the States, via Guam, Pearl Harbor and San Diego. then in Sept walked down pier 5, took one last look at the ship and I was gettin out. Ended up as a RM-3. Petty officer 3rd class.
We were part of the Tonkin Gulf Yacht Club. Crossed the Equater and am now a Shell back, if ya haven`t, your just a bunch of Polly Wog`s...LOL
IN 65 in the South China Sea we we went through a Typhoon, that was a rough 3 days, guys on the Bridge said we did take a 51 degree roll. That is about where you don`t come back up. The Carrier Independence was going down to where she was going into the waves and coming over the Flight Deck, and taking some huge rolls.
Santa Cruz Board walk has no rides that compare.
Every few days we had to take on fuel from the Carrier or fleet oiler when they came out. Some days were smooth as a Mill Pond, and others rougher than heck.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kh2edY_BH2E
These ships are called Tin Cans, and I always say I was part of "McHale`s Navy". LOL
Class of 1962
Navy, 4 Years
When I turned 18 Mom took me to sign up for the selective service. (think what is was called) remember all the recruiters giving us their speal in the Gym. Already knew I wanted the Navy. June I talked to the recruiter to sign up, and asked if I could wait till after the County Fair? Sure kid, sign here. I was in the FFA . Sept showed up, next thing I was in Oakland getting check over head to toe with the other naked jay birds. Then off to San Diego for Boot Camp. Graduated dec 7, 62. then 7 month of Radioman "A" School. Then was assigned to a WWII Destroyer DD-729 U.S.S. Lyman K. Swenson. Flew me to SF, then up to Travis, then to Anchorage Alaska, and then over to Atsugi AB in Japan, and finally down to Yokosuka. In a transit till they located the Ship, then flew to Subic Bay, Philippines, when I got on the ship in Oct. then back to Yokosuka where Our Home Port was.The 2 Des division were sent back to the states in June after 3 years, but took a detour to Guam, Port Morsbe, Sidney and Brisbane, AZ. 5 days in ea port. then Pango Pango, Midway Island, Pear Harbor and finally San Diego our new Home Port in Sept. Jan 65 up the coast to Bremerton Ship Yards for a major over haul in Wa. Jan 8 as we were sailing in, I turned 21. 4 months later back to SD to play war games. Later in the year back to Pearl Harbor, Guam and out in the south China Sea spending time with the Air Craft Carriers. get detached from that on to something else.
Kitty Hawk and Independence were the 2 we were with most of the time.
On Naval Gun Fire support lobbing in the 5"38 ammo. Run out, meet up with an Ammo Ship and all hands turning to to get rearmed, took several hours. held 3K rounds. Was to Hong Kong 3 times longest 21 days.
Back in may of 64, went up the river into Saigon, was at General Quarters, Mine sweeper ahead of us. Spent 5 days there i guess to shop the bad guys our Big Guns. Viet Nam Scuba Diver put a charge on an old WWII Air Craft carrier U.S.N.S Card, and sunk it, was just low in the rear end.
headed back down the river, get out at Sea and the Sonar was flooded, hit something in the river and sliced the Hull. headed to Subic bay to a Floating Dry Dock, lifted the ship out of the water, worked all night, got patched up and 24 hours back at it.
After our 6 mo tour in West Pack shooting bad guys we came back to the States, via Guam, Pearl Harbor and San Diego. then in Sept walked down pier 5, took one last look at the ship and I was gettin out. Ended up as a RM-3. Petty officer 3rd class.
We were part of the Tonkin Gulf Yacht Club. Crossed the Equater and am now a Shell back, if ya haven`t, your just a bunch of Polly Wog`s...LOL
IN 65 in the South China Sea we we went through a Typhoon, that was a rough 3 days, guys on the Bridge said we did take a 51 degree roll. That is about where you don`t come back up. The Carrier Independence was going down to where she was going into the waves and coming over the Flight Deck, and taking some huge rolls.
Santa Cruz Board walk has no rides that compare.
Every few days we had to take on fuel from the Carrier or fleet oiler when they came out. Some days were smooth as a Mill Pond, and others rougher than heck.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kh2edY_BH2E
These ships are called Tin Cans, and I always say I was part of "McHale`s Navy". LOL
Larry James Stratton
Class of 1973
Air Force, 6 Years
Crew Chief C-131, NKC-135 and C-5a Galaxy at Travis AFB CA. Left service as an NCO (Sgt). Retired with the USPS 2011
Class of 1973
Air Force, 6 Years
Crew Chief C-131, NKC-135 and C-5a Galaxy at Travis AFB CA. Left service as an NCO (Sgt). Retired with the USPS 2011
Alumni Stories
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School News
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Our Camden High School military alumni are some of the most outstanding people we know and this page recognizes them and everything they have done! Not everyone gets to come home for the holidays and we want our Camden High School Military to know that they are loved and appreciated. All of us in California are proud of our military alumni and want to thank them for risking their lives to protect our country!