By Staff
Staff Reports, Hartselle Enquirer
Mr. and Mrs. Jack Betterton of Hartselle were in Ocean Springs, Miss., recently to attend the retirement of their son, HTCW (SW) William H. Betterton, from nearly 26 years of active duty with the U.S. Navy.
He served aboard eight ships, the first ones being flagships, which provided an education in travel, visiting the major ports of the great Mediterranean Sea. He served as recruit company commander, training six companies (two being women) at the training center in Orlando, Fla.
Betterton served a security duty as officer in charge at Guantanamo, Cuba; was aboard ship when the Sixth Fleet stood guard for the reopening of the Suez Canal; was plank owner of two ships, the USS Grasp (ARS 51) built in Sturgeon Bay, Wis., and the USS Kearsarge (LHD 3) built in Pascagoula, Miss.; was aboard for the rescue mission of Pilot O'Grady in Bosnia; and served as Command Master Chief for a cruise to Chili on the USS Ticonderorga (CG47).
The flag flying on the last cruise was presented to Betterton during the ceremony. His most current assignment was as maintenance manager at Desron Six at the Pascagoula base.
Betterton and his family reside in Ocean Springs, Miss.