I was fortunate to have worked with Bobby at the Visual Support Center, NAS Oceana for approximatelly six months. I was the TARPS (Tactical Airborne Reconnisance Pod Sytem) Work Center Supervisor, responsible for supporting the F-14 Tomcat squadrons with the processing of their aerial film; maintining the EH-38's with the NEC 8133.
Over a period of some time, once I had a chance to know Bobby and what he was about; I affectonately tagged him with a nickname of "Biggin". This was due in part
to his physical stature in comparison to my own, but later it was more of a reflection of his character. To me, Bobby was a perfectionist and could always be counted on to always do the "right-thing". I can hear him now "I understand that, but it has to be done right!"
A few years later, I ran into Bobby along the waterfront a couple. At the time we both were First Class Petty Officers, he on the Roosevelt and I on the Truman. We took care of each other a couple times with material needs like chemistry, paper etc.
I reported to COMCAM in August of 06, I met up with Bobby again. I departed for deployment in September and return in March of this year. A few days before Bobby was preparing to detach from the Command in April, he stopped me and asked a question "Chief, do you miss TARPS?" he added "I miss it some times"
I reminded him of the IG Certification for the 38's, when he got upset that his machine missed the mean line by .02 when we were allowed up to a tolerance of.07. Always the perfectionist. Additionally, when he got bored, he would take things apart just so he could put them back together again. We laughed.
Yes "Biggin", somtimes I miss TARPS, but now I am always going to miss you.