Honoring our veterans

The Top of Iowa Quilt Club honors David Barry Switzer for his service to our country. David was 18 when he joined the Navy, living in Elgin, Ill., the summer of August 1962.
He started naval training at Great Lakes Station, west of Chicago, Ill. David was Petty Officer 3rd Class (PR3). From there, he had a long road ahead, as he continued to Patuxent River Naval Air Station, where he worked as Chief’s Mess, waiting for school.
David was then sent to Lakehurst, N.J., for air crew survival school, to become an equipment man. He also attended parachute rigger school to learn how to pack a parachute. At the end of school, they each had to jump with the chute they had packed themselves. No static line was used.
After school, David went on, joining the attack squadron 112 at NAS Lemoore in Lemoore, Calif. He then continued on to San Diego, Calif., to board the USS Kitty Hawk CVA-G3. He flew on the VA 112, A4 SkyHawk single set jet aircraft (lke the plane Sen. John McCain flew).
David had many ports of call along the tour he served. He went to Hawaii, Japan, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Okinawa, and then back to Lemoore NAS. Later, he was sent to Fallon, Nevada, which was considered “Top Gun” school for practicing bombing runs.
David was then sent on to Norfolk, Va., for the USS Forresta CVA-59 to serve as Master At Arms. Another track of port calls soon followed, as he was off to Greece, France, Spain (Palma), Italy, Malta, and Lebanon, before returning once more to NAS Lemoore, Calif., where he was honorably discharged in Sept. 1966, after four years around the world.
David has lived many years now in Joice.
The Top of Iowa Quilt Club meets the third Monday of each month at Salem Lutheran Church, Lake Mills, to make quilts in appreciation and honor of our local veterans. Anyone wishing to join is welcome.

Lake Mills Graphic

204 N. Mill Street
Lake Mills, IA 50450

Office Number: (641) 592-4222
Fax Number: (641) 592-6397

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