Navy man's assignments were stepping stones for a major command

In Ray Alcorn's own words, entering the U.S. Navy was a fluke.

"I was a senior in college at Penn State and was driving home at Christmas time when I heard an ad on the radio for people interested in joining the Navy to fly to Philly to take their test," said Alcorn.

"Well, I was thinking I hadn't been on a plane in a while, so I went just to get the free ride. I did take the test once I got there. I passed all the exams, with the exception of the eye exam. They said if I did certain exercises it would strengthen my eyes.

"But after a while, I forgot about the exercises and even joining. Then, I was getting close to the end of my senior year in college and I started looking for a job.

"The first question I was asked was, 'Did I have my military service out of the way?' I didn't, and because it was an active draft time I couldn't get a job without having served."

Alcorn brushed up on his eye exercises and retook the test to enter the Navy. He passed again. The Navy completed Alcorn's background check as he graduated from Penn State.

He then got a call from the Navy, asking if he still wanted to join. He enlisted Oct. 18, 1961, and reported to Pensacola, Fla., on Nov. 4 for training in naval aviation.

After having served 20 years he was promoted to captain, giving him three years more service.

"I figured even at 23 years I still loved what I was doing. And as long as I loved it, I would continue to do it."

Alcorn's career would span 30 years with the Navy - mostly because he liked the idea of flying.

Alcorn did a three-year tour of the Pentagon as part of his career, playing an important role in the decisions made by the Pentagon to expand operations at Fallon Naval Air Station.

After his three-year duty, he became chief of staff at Corpus Christi, Texas, Naval Air Training Command.

"It was my first major shore command," said Alcorn.

"The position had its ups and downs. Like when there's an accident, you're the first person called. When you're logging 500,000 hours (of flight time) a year, there's going to be accidents. That was a bit depressing.

"But I also found it very rewarding, seeing young men and women reach their goal of getting their wings. With any tour, there's good and bad."

All of Alcorn's assignments were stepping stones for a major command. After leaving Texas, he became commander of Fallon NAS. The programs he was a pivotal part of while at the Pentagon became the programs he would implement while in command.

"Buildup of Fallon became a major priority. We were implementing lessons we learned from the Vietnam War. We needed a better training facility and curriculum for our fleet pilots than we had in the past.

"It was great to be able to implement those programs I was initially involved with. All flight training done at Fallon is weapons training. Pilots are taught how to go out and fly against the enemy."

Alcorn enjoyed the closeness and camaraderie that developed in the Navy family.

"Nearly everyone, everyday, is putting their life on the line for their fellow man. When you have this in common, a real close bond develops. That was part of what I admired and enjoyed also about the Navy."

Does he have any regrets? "No." Even his seven-plus years as a prisoner of war in Vietnam, enduring torture and isolation, doesn't make him second-guess his career choice.

"If I were in the same position, even knowing what I would face, the decision would probably be the same one."

Alcorn believes patriotism and support of the military goes in cycles. When there are threats to the United States, support is high. When there seems to be a reduced threat, people quickly forget.

"And they don't want to spend tax dollars to keep a robust military. Today, my concern is - do we have the force we need? In the last 10 years, our military has been cut by 40 percent, while our deployments have increased 300 percent.

"We're not only wearing out our hardware but our people. We've had a hit-and-miss foreign policy. And you have to think, where would we be today if we had lost World War II. Realistically, we virtually owe everything we've got to that generation's efforts."

With Veterans Day Saturday, Alcorn has been asked to make two speeches and presentations at Veterans cemeteries in Northern Nevada.

"Most years I've been asked to do some kind of presentation some place. Otherwise, I like to go to the VA Hospital and just sit and visit with some of the vets who are there being treated. They're a great group of people. Many of them will never leave - alive."

Enlisted U.S. Navy Oct. 28, 1961

Reported to Pensacola, Fla., Nov. 4, 1961

Earned Wings June 1962, commissioned to active duty

Served during Vietnam War

Prisoner of war 1965-1973 in North Vietnam

Assigned to various squadrons aboard numerous ships 1973-82

Pentagon three-year duty 1982-85

Chief of staff Corpus Christi, Texas Naval Air Training Command 1985-87

Commanding officer Fallon NAS 1987-89

Dean of students at Naval War College, Newport, Rhode Island, 1989-92 (retired)

Appointed by Gov. Kenny Guinn to head Nevada Commission for Veterans Affairs June 1999-September 2000 (retired)