Joe Harrell:

After graduation from Princess Anne Joe attended Old Dominion University for two years before joining the Navy in August 1963. After completing training as a Naval Flight Officer, Joe’s first assignment was to Airborne Early Warning Squadron One in Agana, Guam. The squadron flew missions in support of Vietnam operations and the National Weather Service – typhoon trackers. It was in Guam that Joe met wife Ruth. After three months of dating, Lt. Ruth ordered Lt JG Joe to marry her, or so he says. It turned out to be the best order he ever got!

In April 1966 Joe returned to Pensacola, Florida to go through pilot flight training. On 10 September 1966 Ruth and Joe were married in Columbus, Ohio. Joe completed flight training and got his second pair of wings in October, 1967. During his naval career of twenty years, Joe:

- Flew off several aircraft carriers (Randolph, Constellation, John F. Kennedy),

- Graduated from the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey with a B.A. in Political Science (Joe II was born at Fort Ord February 1971)

- Served as Executive Officer of the Naval Recruiting District San Antonio Aug. ’74-Oct. ‘77

- Spent his last tour of duty in Hawaii. There he got his Master’s Degree in Management & Supervision from Central Michigan University. He retired in September 1983.

Joe’s first job upon retiring from the Navy was as a pilot for Royal Hawaiian Airlines based in Honolulu. This was a great job that allowed him the opportunity to be a commercial pilot. But he decided it was going to be too much, more time away from the family so he resigned and used his Navy move to return the family back to Norfolk. However, as he was picking up his tickets at NAS Barber’s Point, a Navy friend told him of job opportunities for pilots with Lockheed satellite operations in Sunnyvale, CA. He set up an interview on the stopover to Norfolk from Hawaii. Since Lockheed indicated they would hire him he called Ruth, who was still in Hawaii finishing her physical therapy job, and had the household goods rerouted to Oakland. Joe and Joey never completed their flight to Norfolk!

Joe was a Satellite Engineering Manager for Lockheed Martin. Retiring after twenty-two years he and Ruth pursue their many enjoyments: yard work (Joe, not Ruth!), home remodeling, skiing, golf, travel, ballet, symphony, bridge & just being with each other. And, of course, his “need for speed” – usually in his Testarossa. Bottom line—God has allowed Joe a very wonderful and fulfilling life.