Tom Herring
I was born in Thomaston, Georgia July 2, 1938. I graduated from High School and went to work in the local cotton mill. As this was not a good career option, I then joined the US Navy for four years in 1956 and went to radio school before going aboard a destroyer out of San Diego, CA. I had three tours in the Western Pacific and one three month period we were assigned to Eniwitok Atoll for the A bomb testing in 1957. I witnessed three explosions with one being an underwater blast. I left the Navy in 1960 and was recruited by the CIA in Aug of 61 began another school for over a year. I then proceeded to spend a total of 18 years overseas with a few years stateside between assignments. I spent a total of 37 years with the US Government and 33 years in the CIA retiring in 1994. I started out in the CIA as a radio operator, crypto operator and electronic technician and after 17 years I transferred to another office doing similar work. Obviously, I am unable to say what actual projects I did or where I have been except to say I have either visited or was assigned to 90 countries during my seven tours overseas. I learned passable Spanish and Portuguese but without practicing, lost most of the ability speak these languages. After retiring, I went back to school for approximately two years to learn computers and software. One tour after retirement was to accompany my new wife to London as a dependent spouse. I became a house husband doing the cleaning, cooking, shopping and burning the food when my spouse was late in coming home. My wife retired in 2000 and we moved to Sherrills Ford, North Carolina in 2001. My recreational activities are fly fishing, boating, and computer work. I became a Laryngectomee in 2004. I found the Western Piedmont Speak Easy Club on the internet after the doctor’s Nurse gave me the Web Whisperers web site info. I have just been elected Secretary of the WP-SE and have been trained in the Visitation program, visiting two recent laryngectomees. I derive a lot of pleasure in helping people and especially those who have just come out of surgery.