31st Veteran of the Quarter, Sam Hastings, US Navy
May 7, 2018
Sam R. Hastings enlisted in the United States Navy upon graduation from high school in 1965. He reported to “Great Lakes Naval Training Center” on January 7, 1966, and graduated on March 28, 1966, receiving orders to Aviation Storekeeper School at “Naval Air Training Command” in Memphis, Tennessee. He trained there from April 2, 1966 to August 12, 1966.
After training in Memphis, Tennessee, Hastings received orders to report to the USS Enterprise (CVAN-65) based in Alameda, CA, and reported to serve on August 31, 1966. He made three cruises to Vietnam and was discharged on October 10, 1969.
In January of 1968, the USS Enterprise had just left Sadebo, Japan when North Korea captured the USS Pueblo. Enterprise was the first to reach Korean waters and remained there for about three weeks.
On the way back to Vietnam on January 14, 1969, the Enterprise was having drills approximately 70 miles off the coast of Hawaii when a fire broke out on the flight deck. 27 were killed and 314 injured. The ship and crew returned to Pearl Harbor for repairs and 60 days later, continued on to Vietnam.
On April 14, 1969, North Korea showed their force and shot down an EC-121 spy plane. Once again, Enterprise along with USS Ticonderoga, USS Ranger, and USS Hornet, along with all escorts, headed north to Korean waters. This effort was called Task Force 71, the largest Task Force assembled since the Korean War with approximately 21 ships in all.
During service, Hastings received the National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Navy Unit Commendation Ribbon, and Korean Defence Medal.
After discharge, Hastings worked for Lincoln Industrial in St. Louis, Missouri a total of 41 years. Once retired, he moved to Branson West with his wife, Lily. Hastings is a member of the Branson VVA913 and a member of the Kimberling City Methodist Church. He has two children, 4 stepchildren, and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
THE PROUD. THE STRONG. THE LOYAL. OUR VETERANS!