Arden Boone Chittick
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arden's profile
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| 1955 First jet ride
as an Air Force ROTC Cadet at the College of Puget
Sound |
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The Story:
From the first grade on, Arden wanted to fly. In his
high school Freshman year, he submitted a term paper
on careers which highlighted his desire to be a military
aviator. He arrived at the College of Puget Sound, after
graduating from South Kitsap HS, and was very pleased
to find the U.S. Air Force ROTC program there. In his
sophomore year, Arden was selected as a Cadet of the
Month, and awarded a jet ride out of McChord AFB. Later
that year, a U.S. Navy pilot and a U.S. Marine Corps
pilot visited the campus recruiting Naval Aviator prospects.
That cinched it!
Having to scrimp on limited funds and working several
part-time jobs while maintaining his studies, the decision
to move on was simple. Upon completion of his second
year of study, he enlisted as was accepted as a 2nd
Lieutenant in the U.S. Marine Corps and pinned on his
Naval Aviator wings.
During his eight years in the Marines, he served with
two fighter/attack squadrons in the U.S. and Far East,
including duty aboard the aircraft carriers USS Coral
Sea and USS Midway. Counting flight training, he qualified
in nine different single-engine aircraft. Just before
completion of his Marine Corps service, due to knee
surgery, Arden spent short tours as a Captain with the
3rd Armored Amtrac Battalion of the 1st Marine Division,
and 5th Howitzer Battery. After his Marine Corps service,
Arden returned to Washington State University to complete
his Bachelor of Science.
With a degree in hand, and a fully recovered knee, Arden
was accepted into the Direct Commissioned Aviator Program
of the U.S. Coast Guard. He rapidly qualified as an
Aircraft Commander in teh HU16E "Albatross"
twin-engine seaplane and the HC130 "Hercules"
four-engine transport, flying medium and long range
search and rescue and logistics missions.
In addition to air station tours in San Francisco, CA
and Kodiak, AK, his Coast Guard service included a tour
as XO/Navigator on the icebreaker CGC "Storis",
operating in the Bering Sea and Arctic waters. These
naval-centric tours were the result of Arden's failing
of his flight eyesight exam. Alas, Arden was grounded.
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| 1970 LT Commander,
Port Security Branch Chief at Headquarters USCG |
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After the Alaskan tours, Arden then served as Chief
of Law Enforcement for the CG Captain of the Port, New
York City, NY. The following tour of duty took him to
Coast Guard Headquarters in Washington D.C. where he
served as Port Security Branch Chief, in the Port Safety
& Law Enforcement Division. During this tour, he
also served as an advisor representing the CG Commandant
to the Intergovernmental Maritime Consultative Organization
of the United Nations in London, on the "Carriage
of Dangerous Goods" Subcommittee. Arden's final
tour of duty prior to retirement was served back in
his home state as XO, then Captain of the Port of Seattle,
and finally as Commanding Officer of Group Seattle.
During these demanding but exciting twenty-four years
of service, he received numerous awards, commendations
and citations. The military training and education received
throughout was extensive, and covered aviation, surface
operations, law enforcement and intelligence. He retired
in Seattle, WA in 1979 as a Commander.
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