U.S. NAVY
Robert Field
Just as World War II was ending, Robert Field of Ellsworth was in basic training, having begun what would be a 26-year career in the Navy. Field, a Burlington, Vt., native, graduated high school one day and entered the Navy the next, he said. He went to basic training in Sampson, N.Y., in 1945, at age 18. The job market was one reason Field had joined the service.
“With all the returning veterans, things didn’t look too good for finding a job,” Field said.
Field was first stationed at Skaggs Island, Calif., then Receife, Brazil and Bainbridge Island, Wash. Next, Field was assigned to what would be his favorite station, the Winter Harbor Naval Security Group.
“When I was here in ’48, I fell in love with the place and said this is where I want to retire and I did,” Field said.
While stationed in Winter Harbor, Field met Maxine Crowley, a Corea girl, whom he married. They will celebrate their 58th wedding anniversary in August. Field could not share much information with The American about his security duties, because much of his work was and still is classified.
But Field did say he worked quite a bit in “radio direction finding,” which meant he determined the location of ships at sea as well as lost vessels and aircraft. The Naval Security Group monitored different radio transmissions, which were in code most of the time, Field said.
“I was very satisfied with the career,” Field said. “I never regretted it a bit.”
Field traveled extensively in the Pacific and Europe. He said Maxine liked the Navy life and she traveled with him. Turkey proved to be one of the most difficult countries for the pair. Field served in Karamurasel, Turkey, from 1957 to 1959.
The Navy did not yet have a base there so the couple had to “live on the economy,” Field said. Since there was no base, the Fields had to rent a house. The culture was quite different.
“You had to go their way,” Field said. “You didn’t have your way.”
The family lived in an Istanbul suburb mainly full of doctors and lawyers. Field said he was the only neighborhood resident with a car. Everyone else walked. Food could only be kept for a day at first until the family bought a refrigerator. There was no refrigeration in the stores, he said.
Field retired in 1971 from Fort Meade, Md., after attaining the rank of master chief. Field’s medals included a Good Conduct Medal with seven awards, a World War II Victory Medal, National Defense Service Medal and a Navy Unit Commendation with Clarinet Bullseye. After Field retired, the family moved to Maine.
In 1973, Field began working for the Maine State Liquor Commission as a clerk and assistant manager at the Ellsworth Liquor Store. He retired from that job in 1988.
Today, Field stays busy maintaining his house on Spencer Street and a camp on Toddy Pond in East Orland.
“There’s always something to do, even in bad weather,” Field said. “I can do 15 minutes work in four hours,” he said laughing.
The Fields have five children, 12 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Two sons and a grandson have had Navy careers. But two granddaughters have branched out, currently serving in the Air Force and Army National Guard.
—By Jennifer Osborn
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