AL Nolf left his Tustin, Michigan home just 15 days after HS graduation to serve in the US Navy. Although other family members had previously served in the armed forces, AL was the first to serve in the Navy, and the first to choose the military as a career.
After basic training ( "Boot Camp" ) at NTC Great Lakes, IL., he was ordered to "Sea Duty" on a Destroyer: the USS Allen M. Sumner DD692.
Although he had only just returned to the United States, his new "Home", got under way almost immediately for two months of operations in the Caribbean sea. A brief return to home port to re-arm. re-fuel, and replenish followed, then she was underway again. The Cruiser's 7 month deployment included port visits in the Mediterranean sea, then she sailed on through the Sea of Crete and into the Aegean sea. It was while there, that his Country called again. AL had volunteered, and was accepted, for highly specialized warfare training. He detached from the USS Albany while the ship was at anchorage in Kavala, Greece, and flew back the US to attend training.
Back of Terra Firma, he traded in his "Bell bottom trousers" and white "Dixie cup" hat for the "Jungle Greens" and combat boots of the special ops forces. Weeks of intensely demanding physical and mental conditioning followed. AL quickly mastered some new skills: Booby-traps & mines, Survival, Jungle Warfare, Counter Insurgency and Weapons (among others), took his place with the team, and boarded a plane bound for his first assignment "Ashore" in "I"-Corps, Viet Nam. Headquartered in Da Nang, the unit conducted ops over a large area South of the DMZ. (Chu Lai, Quy Nhon, Pleiku, Na Trang and others ) His second "In-Country" assignment took him to "IV-Corps" and the Riverine Forces based in the Southern city of Nha Be. AL Nolf proved to be a Fierce, and Resourceful warrior. He was given a "battlefield promotion" to E5, a number of medals, including two awards the Gallantry Cross for his actions.
In 1970, Al was transferred to the USS Tutuila ARG-4, which served as a repair platform for river boats in the Long Tau river. Still wearing "jungle green" His Training and in-country experience served him well, and he was relied upon to recommend, plan, enable, and execute many and varied missions during his tour of duty there. ( Long Binh, Vung Tau, Cat Lo, Anh Thoi Dong Tam and the "Rubber Plantations" )
Petty Officer Nolf returned to "The States" and served the remainder of his enlistment obligation onboard the USS Piedmont AD-17, a destroyer tender, in Longbeach, California, where he was Honorably discharged.
AL lived and worked in Los Angeles for awhile, where he met and married his wife before re-entered the Navy in 1973. While attached to InShore-UnderSea Special-Warfare Unit One, he accepted a reduction in rank in order to "Change Course" and pursue a career in the field of Navy Supply/Logistics.
Almost immediately, Orders arrived, he was to meet the Aircraft Carrier: USS Coral Sea (CVA-43) at San Francisco. He had just enough time to move his wife to the Ship's Homeport, Alameda, Ca., before the Carrier deployed for the first of two cruises to the Western Pacific. The first deployment included off-shore support of the forces in Viet nam, the evacuation of Saigon, ( "Operation Mayaguez", "Frequent Wind", "Eagle Pull" as well as port visits to countries in the Pacific, the South China Sea, the Philippine sea, the Sea of Japan, and the Tonkin gulf. The second "cruise" included Crossing the Equator, a trip through the Tasmanian sea, around Australia, and return through the Indian Ocean. By the end of the second deployment on the Air Craft Carrier, AL had added 15 more countries to the list of places visited, and been advanced, once again, to E-5.
Stateside "Shore Duty" followed: 2 years at NAS Fallon, Nevada. In addition to his Supply duties, SK2 Nolf organized, trained and led a Command precision rifle-spinning drill team & Honor Guard which performed in parades and ceremonies around Northern Nevada. His Unit was well known for it's Silent, 40-count, rifle spinning, precision close order drill cadences with fixed bayonets, which Al personally designed, coriagraphed and led. It wasn't long before his "weapons abiity" was recognized, and he was assigned to teach the small arms (Pistol) course to Navy Pilots. Other accomplishments included: shooting as Captain of the pistol team, and his establishing and leading a special Funeral Detail which conducted grave-side ceremonies for deceased military veterans in surrounding communities.
All too soon, it was time to return to Sea duty. Al was sent to Midway Island, where he was assigned to work in the Comptroller's office. He was advanced to Petty Officer First Class ( E-6 ) before transferring to another ship.
New Orders arrived, and SK1 Nolf flew from Midway Island to the Philippines to join the Fast Frigate: USS Gray FF-1054, as the Ship's Senior Master-at-Arms. Upon completion of her scheduled deployment, the Frigate returned to her homeport: 32nd Street, San Diego, Ca. During the months that followed the USS Gray operated up and down the West coast, attending such events as the Captain Cook Bi-Centennial in Vancouver, BC., the Rose Festival in Oregon, the Seattle Sea Fair and conducting "Readiness" and Combat training operations in the Eastern Pacific. In the Fall of 1978, the ship sailed to Seattle for an extensive yard period. Petty Officer Nolf's mettle was to be seriously tested during that period, because a shipboard Arson fire engulfed the living quarters on the barge IX503. Acting in the capacity of Chief Master-At-Arms he was tasked with investigation, arrest and preparation of evidence against the perpetrator. Because Al was also the SK1, he also functioned as Claims Officer, personally investigating and processing the hundreds of personal property claims which resulted from the fire.
SK1 Nolf qualified for the newly established "Enlisted Surface Warfare pin in the Fall of 1979. He detached from the ship soon afterward to attended 8 weeks of "Independent Duty" school in San Diego. He completed the course with a 99.54 GPA and reported to NavComSta Harold E. Holt, Exmouth, Western Australia for duty, just after the first of the year. He was advanced to Chief Petty Officer (E7), and remained in Australia for nearly 3 years before returning to the United States.
Chief Nolf had served at sea, or overseas, continuously for more than 5 years, and was eligible for "Shore Duty" once more. He transferred to San Antonio, Texas, where he served as the Logistics Support Officer (LSO) for the Navy Recruiting District Headquarters. AL's professionalism, leadership, and accountabilty did not go un-noticed. Following an in-depth audit of his records and procedures, during which the District HQ received an unprecedented "Zero Discrepancies" Chief Nolf was asked to join, and accepted orders to, the Inspector General's Staff. He moved to Orlando, Florida in 1985, where he not only traveled the entire United States as an Auditor/Trainer and Inspector for the O.I.G., but during his "Off" time, was instrumental in establishing a new LSO training school. He was advanced to Senior Chief (E8) in 1987, and retired with honors as the Lead Logistics Auditor for the Inspector General's staff in September 1989.
A look back, would likely surprise most people who know him. Senior Chief Nolf had served onboard 6 Warships, 3 Overseas Stations, and 3 Stateside Duty stations. He had visited 37 countries and islands around the world, had served in Combat, had been awarded some 32 medals, including 2 awards of the Gallantry Cross for his service. Senior Chief Nolf had written, or streamlined nearly every instruction/directive and procedure which govern the Government Supply chain.
"Senior Chief Nolf's dedication, professionalism, and leadership stand as a shining example, and are in the Highest Traditions of United States Naval Service."
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