Jim Jewell served for twenty-two years in the Navy. In the Navy, he served on ten ships. In his two shore tours, he was a NROTC Instructor at Texas A&M and the Director of Leadership and Management Training for the West Coast and Pacific Rim, as well as lead facilitator for the Command Excellence Seminar for Senior Officers.
He also has been a sportswriter and editor, a news correspondent, a weekly newspaper columnist, a director of safety, business development manager, organizational development consultant, disk jockey, Mister Mom, and grave digger.
He currently writes posts on his own website, www.jimjewell.com. In addition to his book about being executive officer on one of the first Navy ships with women as part of the ship’s complement, Steel Decks and Glass Ceilings, he previously published a book of poetry, A Pocket of Resistance: Selected Poems.
He is married and lives in California. He has two daughters and a grandson.
Thanks for your wonderful sea stories. I can totally relate as I spent 22 years in my Navy uniform, first in Supply and then as a Broadcast Journalist. As a seaman deuce I was sent to the galley for fifty feet of ‘chow line’. In the early ’60s, I was on a cruiser out of Norfolk, then on to WestPac on tin cans, gators and a carrier or two. The stories are endless. Thank you for bringing some of the greatest growing-up experiences to life. Now, as a genealogist, I’m always searching the past to find the future. Simply amazing.
Morning……Your memories of Hair Cuts, brought back memories of this for me. The most vivid in the first Army. This was in 1951, I stood in line with about 250 new recruits at Fort Ord, in a damp fog. Good thing it didn’t take very long as there were 8 barbers and it took about 1 minute to get in the chair and have the drape put on. Then about 45 seconds for total hair removal and $2.00 removed from the wallet. Then for next 7 months the same every Friday afternoon, 2 barbers set up shop in the mess hall and every man in the company got to sit in one of their chairs. There we learned about “Inflation”, as the price went up to $2.50. Really didn’t have a problem getting the haircut as the Company Commander was first and the First Sgt. was second in line and if you didn’t show up, Sargent would give you your hair cut…using a straight razor and very little water. He said the water was for washing the blood off so he could see what he was doing. Since then except for a short period of time in the mid 1970’s, it has been either a “Buzz Cut” or a “Flat Top.” Now in my 80″s, the Buzz wins…so easy to live with. Thanks Jim……your cousin First Sgt. Bob
Just a quick note for now..2 yrs home ported in Sasebo 67-69 as xo on msc 289. I was single and shared a house in town with other guys. Spent lots of time in Butterfly and Town Club. Going out of town for a few days but hope we can communicate in more detail later. I will tell you about Sanae. Bob Ewing..Carmichael, Ca. (Sacramento County). e mail is ewing916@yahoo.com
Hello Jim- I was looking for some good pix of the Luce at sea and stumbled across this- I dont know if you remember me but I certainly remember you- many times we relieved each other as OOD on the Luce-
I have a few sea stories myself from my 18 months aboard this great ship-
Block island turn just in time- Navigator woken up at 0230
Fire at sea during the hurricane- McMican was my JOOD
Dont eject the misfired Terrier- Weps was LCDR Brown
I am not sure what months you were aboard.
Great seeing your face again!
Hi Jim.. I’m emily Evertson Colquitt. I’m Bill and David Cooks cousin and Nell Cooks niece. I recently read a book by Carla Negger called Nights Landing. It was a good book and I enjoyed it a lot. In it, she mentions middle Tn and the Cumberland River and a couple names Jim and Estelle Jewel. Any relationship? Just curious.
Also, I believe I met your wife many years ago. She was friends with Vicki Hand. Does she happen to k ow where Vicki is these days. Again, just curious.
Hi Jim,
It’s 1:30 am on November 18, 2020 — what would have been my grandfather’s 110th birthday. So it was a delight when I couldn’t sleep to locate your column through google that came up. I am Major Paul Wooten’s only grandchild, and I actually helped my grandmother Lillian edit and organize No Longer Hangs the Fluted Shade when I was a college student. While never truly a poet myself, I followed in my grandfather’s writing field for over a decade before becoming a marriage and family therapist in my mid-30s. So many memories of Papa Paul flood through my brain: listening to him playing Ragtime on his beautiful square grand piano that was once in the main house at Castle Heights and is now in my dining room, smelling the smoke of his pipe, playing board games at their house on the lake, reading books in his john boat while he fished, sitting on a stool in his basement while he painted. He was truly a lover of words, art and education. He loved people who were witty, knowledgeable and above all humble. Through the years I have met one or two of his students, and I am so thankful he abides in their memories as one who genuinely cared that they learned a thing or two. While Lebanon was not my hometown, I claim it as a secondary one. The people there were and are indelible characters and witnesses to my childhood, and I am forever grateful. So cheers to Major Wooten on his birthday and thank you for such lovely words.
I’ve worked with Jim for nearly 20 years and I can’t say enough good things about the man. One thing I’ve always been impressed with is how clearly I can hear his voice whenever I read his writings.
Hi Jim
Simon Wong
Hello, how about an interview for Americans for a Stronger Navy
Sorry for the late response. i will back this up with an email. i would be happy to participate in an interview with you.
Jim, it was wonderful to read about Granny Prichard, your mom, and Aunt Betty Kate, all larger than life figures in my early life. Granny is so young looking holding what I assume is baby Martha. Butch and Tim are unrecognizable as well, but Aunt Betty Kate must have been ageless, looking little different when we had dinner with them (“native” pulled pork!) on our way to Knoxville in the 1990s. Our brief visit was topped off with son Jimmy managing to lock himself in the bathroom. I’m certain it was your dad who quickly figured out how to rescue him.
Jim, Thanks for your kind words. Yes, they were all larger than life. Granny is holding Blythe in the photo. Its was 1972 as we had left NY and my sports editor job on our way to Paris, Texas to leave her and Kathie with her parents while i flew the Med to join my ship. Did you read my post: https://jimjewell.com/a-pocket-of-resistance/ode-to-three-sisters-and-their-mother/. i think it captures that entire family well. i’m glad the Prichards, Jewells, Orrs, and Roes latched up. Wonderful years!
Hey Jim I am sorry to say I married your Judy for 53 years. I am sorry to say that Kazuko died several years ago.
Would be happy if you replied
Daryl, i just replied to your daughter’s email. i am thrilled we have connected. Please tell your wife she is one of the most wonderful women i have ever met. My memories of Kazuko are dreams of what might have been. Thanks. As i told Michiko, i have a college friend on Orca we visit torandomly. When we head that way again, i will make every effort to meet you, Hisae, and Michiko when we pass through Seattle.