New Yorker Greg Blake served as a Quarter Master aboard the USS LOS ANGELES (SSN 688) from early 1979 through early 1982. He joined the Los Angeles in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii on 24 February, 1979 after having spent time on duty at Naval Air Station, Key West, Florida.
A Golden Dragon and Golden Shellback, Greg crossed the equator and the international dateline several times while participating in Western Pacific and Indian Ocean Deployments from 1979 through 1982. Greg qualitified for submarines while aboard the LOS ANGELES and he is authorized to wear Navy Meritorous Unit Citation second award, Navy "E" Award, Good Conduct Medal, Navy Expeditionary Medal - Second Award, Navy Sea Service Deployments ribbon - Fourth Award.
Greg enjoyed port visits to Japan and Australia and definately remembered the visit from Admiral Rickover. He fondly recalls the many Donkey Burgers he scarfed down during the twelve days the boat spent on Diego Garcia awaiting parts to fix failed sonar and data processing systems.
Greg departed from the LA as QM2/SS on 27 January 1982 to attend advanced training prior to joining the USS OMAHA (SSN-692) in Bremerton, Maine. He left the Navy
after ten years in 1988.
Greg was a Merchant Marine prior to entering the Navy. He had already made cruises to the Western Pacific and to the Philippine Islands by the time the LOS ANGELES made it's first trip there. Greg met and courted his wife, Remy in Manilla during one of these trips. He continued his courtship during the LA's trips to the Philippines and eventually made arrangements for Remy to join him in Pearl
Harbor, Hawaii where they were married. They now live in Jacksonville, Florida where Remy works for the Department of Agriculture and Greg is a Marine Transportation Specialist for the Special Projects offfice of the Military Sealift Command, Washington, DC. They have two children: a boy, Emmanual; and a girl nicknamed Lot-Lot.
