Tim's Retirement Page Last Updated on December 23, 2007

15 September 1976 to 30 November 1998

     Senior Chief Petty Officer Jacobs was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois. Upon graduation from Roger C. Sullivan High School, he entered active duty in the United States Navy on September 15, 1976. Upon completion of recruit training at Naval Training Center, Great Lakes, Illinois, he attended Basic Electricity and Electronics school. Subsequent advanced electronics training and accelerated advancement to Third Class Petty Officer followed at Electronics Technician Class "A" School also in Great Lakes.

    Following ET "A" School he shipped off to TSEC/KW-7 and TSEC/KWR-37 Cryptographic "C" Schools in Mare Island, California. His first sea duty assignment found him aboard the USS Turner Joy (DD-951), homeported in San Diego. During his nearly five years aboard "TJ" he made two incredible Western Pacific (WESTPAC), deployments including stops in Hawaii; Subic Bay, Philippines; Hong Kong; Chinhae and Pusan, Korea; Sasebo, Unzen, Nagasaki and Kagoshima, Japan; Pattaya Beach, Thailand; Singapore; Port Hedland, Freemantle, Perth, Port Lincoln, Tasmania and Melbourne, Australia; Nelson, Auckland and Port Gisbon, New Zealand and Pago Pago, Western Somoa.

    In January 1983, with Second Class stripes on his sleeve, he crossed the Pacific again for a four-year assignment at the Naval Communications Station in San Miguel, Philippines. During this tour he qualified as a SCUBA Dive Master, reenlisted 80 feet underwater, toured remote locations of the Philippine Islands, witnessed the Philippine Marcos-Aquino Revolution and most importantly, met his future wife, Josephine Torre.

    With another promotion he then reported as a First Class Petty Officer to the USS Worden (CG-18), homeported in Pearl Harbor. While stationed onboard Worden he qualified as an Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist during another WESTPAC deployment that took him to old and new ports, including Guam; Diego Garcia; Maldives; Bombay, India and Bahrain. Worden did the customary tour in the Persian Gulf where he participated in the first U.S. Navy convoy operations since World War II. Upon return from deployment, he married Josephine in March 1988. In September ‘88 he was selected for and properly initiated as a Chief Petty Officer, 12 years to the day after reporting to boot camp. Before detaching from the Worden he had the distinct honor of reenlisting onboard the USS Arizona Memorial.

    From Pearl, it was back to the Philippines in January 1990 for an assignment at Cubi Point as a Maintenance Inspector on the staff of Commander, Naval Surface Group, Western Pacific. More travel followed as he criss-crossed WESTPAC with numerous stops in Atsugi, Yokosuka, Iwa Kuni and Iwo Jima, Japan; Naha and Kadena, Okinawa; Seoul, Korea; Guam; Palau and Cebu, Philippines. One operational highlight of this tour included a humanitarian search and salvage mission to Cebu following super typhoon Ruby.  His son Jack was born at Cubi Point "Jungle General" Hospital on December 22, 1990, Josephine’s 22nd birthday. In June 1991, Josephine and Jack were both evacuated from the Philippines during the catastrophic eruption of Mount Pinatubo. In June 1992, Chief Jacobs participated (unwillingly!) in the closure of the Subic Naval Base and the establishment of the Navy presence in Singapore.

     Relocating the staff now known as Commander Logistics Group Western Pacific, to Singapore came with new responsibilities as the Seventh Fleet Assistant Diving and Salvage Officer. During this tour, he worked directly for the two Officers who would have the most impact on his career; Captain John D. Hamilton and Commander Patrick J. Keenan. Working with and for these Diving and Salvage Officers, he participated in salvage exercises and operations, which found him in Yokota, Japan; Osan and Kunsan, Korea; Saipan; Tinian, Utapao, Thailand and back to Subic Bay for the first ever US Navy - RP Navy SALVEX.. The highlight of this tour was another first-ever, an open-ocean search for two B-52 aircraft in Vietnam. Chief Jacobs completed this mission single-handedly, with less than 24 hours notice for deployment from Singapore to Bangkok, Thailand and Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. The mission was of such significance that it was briefed to the military services Joint Chiefs in Washington, DC.  Additionally, he also participated in a year-long planning operation which culminated in a highly successful, U.S. human remains recovery mission in Cambodia.

    From staff duty overseas, it was back to sea in May 1996 aboard the USS John S. McCain (DDG-56) homeported in Pearl Harbor. Now as a Senior Chief Petty Officer with twenty years of service, new challenges awaited on the one-year-old, state-of-the-art McCain. Senior Chief’s tour on McCain, and his career, however came to sudden halt after only a year onboard, when long-running knee problems required a fourth knee operation.

    From McCain he was transferred back ashore in May 1997 to the Naval Computer and Telecommunications Area Master Station Pacific. During this limited duty tour he supervised an extensive computer network upgrade project and served as Leading Chief Petty Officer for 80 technicians in between rehabilitation therapy and too many medical appointments. Being ashore did however allow him to be home for daughter Jillian’s birth at Tripler Army Medical Center on October 24, 1997. 

    Unfit for further sea duty he capped his twenty-two year career by regretfully accepting transfer to the Permanently Disabled Retired List. During his service Senior Chief Jacobs has earned the following awards: 3 Navy Commendation Medals; 2 Navy Achievement Medals; 1 Joint Meritorious Unit Award; 1 Navy Unit Commendation; 3 Navy Meritorious Unit Commendations; 5 Good Conduct Medals; 1 Navy Expeditionary Medal; 1 National Defense Service Medal; 3 Armed Forces Expeditionary Medals; 2 Humanitarian Service Medals; 3 Sea Service Deployment Ribbons and 10 Navy Overseas Service Ribbons.

    After 15 consecutive years overseas, the Jacobs Family headed back to the mainland United States. Following his retirement, Tim, Josephine, Jack and Jillian moved to Texas.

	A draft-dodging, Military slashing, Wife Cheating, Fraternizing, lying and finally former, Commander in Chief extends his thanks on behalf of the nation.		Illinois Senator Dick Durbin commends Senior Chief for his 22 years of service.
	Best Wishes for an enjoyable retirement from Illinois Governor Jim Edgar.		Chicago's Mayor Daley invites Senior Chief back to the Windy City.