Jim Lusk
(Webmaster's Note: Jim Lusk passed away in 1999 after a courageous battle with cancer)
Lt Jim Lusk (r) with his wife Dorie at a JSPC Christmas Party in '63; and in recent life study paintings (original oils by artist Dorie Lusk)
In June 1952 I enlisted in the US Navy after four years at University of Texas. After boot camp I went through CT "R" branch school at Imperial Beach and from there went to Adak for a year. I returned to DC for a short R/T Training course that resulted in being sent to Russian Language School at Anacostia. I was then in and out of DC on direct support missions with the Second Fleet and with NSGD Antarctica. The powers that be in NSA tried like crazy to get me assigned to them but I managed to outfox them and get orders to Bremerhaven. After 7 months the NSA bunch prevailed at had me ordered back to their cubby hole. Upon arrival I was informed that I had been selected for OCS under the Holloway Seaman to Admiral program. Never set foot in NSA.
After OCS I was assigned to the USS Valley Forge and from there to the USS Providence in the Weapons Department. Talk about a boring life. I did qualify as OOD underway on both the carrier and the cruiser, which was fun but not enough to yearn for the SecGru life. I was lucky to be selected for change to SecGru officer and went to DirNavSecGruLant for a year as the HFDF officer. Managed to get married and was immediately sent to sea again as OIC of NSGD Second Fleet. After two years I was ordered to Okinawa for duty with JSPC2. Seems the officer detailer thought I was a Chinese linguist rather than Russian.
Everyone knows the story of J2. Met lots of great sailors and officers. From Oki I went to Hq NSG at Sec Sta in the Current OPs section. In 1968 I left DC, again, and went to Karamursel, Turkey as XO and then CO, It was then back to Disneyland East at Ft. Meade, where I served on the Director's staff as the Navy rep in charge of rewriting all the Musso Techins documents.
The officer detailer needed a billet I held at NSA so he managed to get me a tour in Naples, Italy as the Asst Chief of Staff with ComStrikeForSouth, a NATO billet. What a tour. No work, no decisions, and plenty of partying. That was a great three years. I was then ordered back to NSA but I put up a fight and won. I was ordered to Regional Active Duty Cryptologic Officer for Reserve Regions 9-11. I preferred to be called the TURKEY farmer. Actually working with the SecGru reserve program was one of my best tours. Was surprised to find Dave Doyle as one of my officers from the Houston area.
In 1982 I hung it up after 30 years and 20 days and retired. I went to work for the State of Texas as an investigator and a year later was appointed Executive Director of a State agency. I was known then as the Porno King of Texas. I regulated all the peep shows and adult book stores. I then retired for good and am now living the simple life of old age. I am very active in the literacy program and have become a trainer as well as tutor in the English as a Second Language program. I also conduct GED classes two nights a week for those on probation.
Nice to be back with a group similar to the ones Iknew in Okinawa. I became active immediately in the Naval Cryptologic Veterans Association after retirement and was President in 86-87 after hosting the reunion in San Antonio. If you haven't joined you are missing a lot. I have made all reunions except San Francisco and Hawaii. The one in Crystal City in September should be our biggest. We had over 1,000 there several years ago.
(Webmaster's Note: Jim Lusk passed away in 1999 after a courageous battle with cancer)