I went on board the Laning TAD around November 1952 . We cruised to Newport, RI to a tender for a few weeks, then went back to Little Creek, then operated along the coast from Labrador to the Caribbean.

We participated in Operation PHIBEX II, which was the largest amphibious operation since D-Day. We were assigned the duty of escorting a disabled ship back to Norfolk, and it turned out to be the Chilton (Not knowing I would later be aboard her). She had a turbine casualty during the operation. We returned to Little Creek and I resumed my duties with the base personnel office.

I was assigned to the Chilton in July or August 1953, while she was in dry dock at the Philadelphia Navy Yards. We left Philadelphia and returned to Norfolk, then left for a shakedown cruise to Guantanamo Bay and Gonalves. We returned to Norfolk and participated in amphibious landings around Winslow Beach, NC and Virginia.

I left the Chilton in January 1954 and went to the Norfolk Naval Base to be processed for separation from active duty. I was released on April 4, 1954.