Wichita, Kan. (KSNW) – Former Navy serviceman Jeffrey Rians was drafted in 1971, and over time, his sentiments regarding this event have evolved significantly.
“We wished our lottery number had been higher so we could avoid it, but looking back, I’m thankful it wasn’t because I ended up joining the Navy and gained a lot of valuable experience,” stated Rians.
Rians took up the role of an Aviation Fire Control Technician and served aboard the USS Midway for three years, where he maintained the circuit boards of A-6 Intruder aircraft during the Vietnam War, specifically participating in the Linebacker bombing operations.
“Every airplane up there was full of bombs. Some of them came back with hung ordnance landing on the ship. So, they’re fueling, they’re re-arming. It’s a dangerous place to be, but not like the guys in the jungle,” said Rians.
Rians reached the conclusion of his service period and was moving on to the subsequent phase of his naval journey. Over the next 16 years, he would be engaged in tracking down Soviet submarines throughout the Cold War as an Anti-Submarine Warfare Specialist.
“There’s acoustic and non-acoustic sensors on the aircraft, and we’d put listening devices in the water and track soviet ballistic or attack submarines. And we were very good at it,” said Rians.
Rians spent his time protecting the waters of the Mid-Pacific above Hawaii as well as our nation’s aircraft carriers.
“We’d stay on top of them with aircraft after aircraft, and then we’d leave them alone for a day, and they thought they got away, and then we’d go find them again and stay on top of them. They knew we were there,” said Rians.
Rians left the Navy in 1991 as a Senior Chief Petty Officer and transitioned into a civilian role within the aviation sector, which led him to Wichita. There, he crossed paths with his future spouse. Now, in his retirement, he takes great pride in having contributed to America’s triumph during the Cold War era.
“It was amazing to do this and know we were successful almost every time,” said Rians.
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