Cohagan, Richard

EM3 RICHARD T. COHAGAN – 12 July 1955 to 1956

I Richard T. Cohagan “Coke” was born 6 December 1928, at Columbus, Ohio. Currently I have gray hair and blue eyes. I enlistedin the U. S. Navy at Columbus, Ohio, on 7 February 1946, and went to boot camp at Camp Perry, Virginia.

I was F1c. My first duty was aboard USS NORRIS (DD 856), Forward Engine Room from 1946-47. I was called back in the Navy 4 October 1950, and went aboard USS BROWN (DD 546) as FN in the After Engine Room until 15 Jan 1951.

After completing EM Class ‘A” School and Movie Operator School in June 1955, on 12 July 1955 I went aboard USS FRANK E. EVANS (DD 754), E Division with EM3 Stan Smythe in charge. I made an electrical change to the vent system in the electronics room next to the Engineering compartment. I made an Exhaust System from the Blower System. When the ET’s propped open the door, the air was drawn through the compartment to help cool that space off some. (Seemed to work..) I left FRANK E. EVANS 17 August 1956. I was told, “my system” was still that way 2 June 1969.

After leaving Frank E. I went aboard USS BRADFORD (DD 546) from August 1956 through February 1957. I made EM2. Next was USS ALAMAKEE (YTB 410) until 1959 when I went to EM “B” School. I was now EM1. It was 16 December 1959, and I went aboard USS PURDY DD 734). Next stop was Instructor Duty at Great Lakes EM “A” and EM “B” schools, from September 1960 to October 1963. I made EMC and went aboard USS PLUCK (MSO 464) from November 1963 to April 1967. In May 1967 my duty was FLEET TRAINING GROUP San Diego, California. By March 1968 I was promoted to EMCS and then transferred to USS SCHOFIELD (DEG 3) from April 68 to January 1970, then to USS ISLE ROYALE (AD 29), which decommissioned January 1971. My last duty station was COMCRUDESGRU, LONG BEACH, CALIFORNIA from 25 January 1971, to 8 July 1971, when after 23 years I retired, EMCS.

“Coke” currently resides at P O Box 223 Duluth, GA, 30096-0004 with his wife Earnestine W. Cohagan. You can reach them at rtrdemcs@aol.com or 770- 623-9022. He stays at home doing “T” Shirts and “GOLF” shirts for Navy shipmates with an embroidering machine.