User:Tony619

Work in Progress
'''This is a work in progress. I will clean this up and add details as time permits, and the spirit moves me.'''

Early Life (1961-1980)
Born June 17, 1961, in New York City, New York, as George Anthony Hecht, Jr., the son of George A. Hecht (July 27, 1900- November 24, 2000) of New York City, and Elaine (June 10, 1927 - February 28, 1983) of Jersey City, New Jersey. His Mother had been a social worker for Monmouth County while residing in Sea Bright, New Jersey until her death at Riverview Medical Center in Red Bank. His Father was a bookseller, retiring in 1975 as President of Doubleday & Company where he had worked since graduating Columbia University.

Both parents were members of the Roman Catholic Church, and he was first baptized Catholic, but within a month re-baptized in the Episcopal Church in the United States of America and was raised as "High" Episcopalan.

Until his parents divorced in 1964, the family lived in the Greenwich Village/Washington Square Park area, afterwards he lived in several areas, but primarily Rumson, Sea Bright, and the Upper East Side of Manhattan until September 1972 when he began to attend boarding school.

Known as "Tony" since childhood, he attended Rumson Country Day School (http://www.rcds.org/) for Kindergarten through Fourth grade, and then St. Paul's School, a college preparatory boarding school in Garden City, New York, graduating summa cum laude June 1980. St. Paul's School was part of the Episcopal Diocese of Long Island, and used the "First Form" to "Sixth Form" nomenclature, as has been used in the private school education in England.

College and beyond (1980-1987)
He attended The American University in Northwest Washington, DC as an undergraduate student from September 1980 - June 1983, in the School of International Service. His academic major was International relations, with duel minors in Political science and American History.

During this time in Washington, he was a Congressional intern for Representative James J. Howard, (D-NJ), as well as the College Democrats, and the Democratic National Committee.

After battling alcoholism, then a job as Night Manager at the Holiday Inn of West Long Branch, New Jersey, he went to work for T & D Software, Inc. (d.b.a. The Program Store) in Eatontown, New Jersey. After several years, and being the product of the Peter Principle, he gave two weeks notice and enlisted in the United States Navy in September 1987.

Early Military Life (1987-1991)
After recruit training in Orlando, Florida and advanced training, called A School, in Dam Neck, Virginia, he began his service in Naval intelligence with his first tour was on USS Independence (CV-62) from 1988-1991.

He joined the Independence during the Service Life Extension Program (SLEP) at Philadelphia Naval Shipyard in April 1988. Later, set sail 15 August from Norfolk, the ship transited the tip of South America and arrived at her new homeport of NAS North Island, part of Naval Station San Diego, California, 8 October, 1988.

In June 1990, Independence began her first WESTPAC since 1965. While near Diego Garcia "Indy" was sent to deter Iraqi aggression and what would later be called Operation Desert Shield. Arriving on station in the Gulf of Oman on August 5, 1990, Independence was later the first carrier to enter the Persian Gulf since 1974. The ship remained on station for more than 90 days and permanently reestablished a U.S. naval presence in the region. She returned to San Diego on December 20, 1990.

Independence changed homeports again on September 11, 1991—this time to Yokosuka, Japan, becoming the Navy's only permanently forward-deployed aircraft carrier. While in Japan, he re-enlisted for four more years in the Navy on the Japanese battleship Mikasa. In October 1991, he finished his tour and PCS'ed off Independence as an Intelligence Specialist Second Class, a Non-commissioned officer.

First Shore Duty (1991-1994)
In November 1991, Tony checks into the USAF's 548th Reconnaissance Technical Group (548th RTG) at Hickam Air Force Base; which in 1992 became part of the Joint Intelligence Center Pacific (JICPAC). JICPAC provided direct intelligence support for all military forces assigned to the Commander, United States Pacific Command (CDRUSPACOM). After three years of duty in Hawaii, he left to go back to sea in November 1994 as an Intelligence Specialist First Class.

For more information, see also:
 * JICPAC

While there, he lived in Ewa Beach for the first year then moved to Aiea where he lived until November 1994.

Back to Sea (1994-1997)
In 1994, Tony reported as the first Assistant Intelligence Officer (N2A) to the staff of COMPHIBRON SEVEN (CPR-7), with deployments on the USS New Orleans (LPH-11) and the USS Boxer (LHD-4).

June of 1995 saw New Orleans underway for WESTPAC operations. She was present to support the Marine raid on the Al Hamra Facility on October 24, 1995. She returned to San Diego on December 22, 1995.

Boxer deployed to the Western Pacific 24 March 1997 to 24 September 1997, along with Ogden (LPD-5) and Fort Fisher (LSD-40), and visited many foreign ports of call.

Tony finished his second sea tour and departed for shore duty in November 1997.

Shore duty in Alameda (1997-2000)
In November 1997 Tony reported to the Joint Interagency Task Force West (JIATF West), working maritime drug interdiction at Coast Guard Island in Alameda, California. While living in San Leandro, he took night classes at University of California, Berkeley.

For more information, see also:
 * JIATF West

Once more to Sea (2000-2004)
After shore duty in Alameda, in November 2000 he reported to the staff of Commander, Cruiser-Destroyer Group One (COMCRUDESGRU ONE), and completed two deployments on the USS Constellation (CV-64).

Constellation's 20th deployment began on 16 March 2001. She entered the Persian Gulf on 30 April and immediately commenced operations in support of Operation Southern Watch (OSW). She ceased OSW operations on 4 August, having conducted multiple air strikes in response to Iraqi violations of the no-fly zone. On 11 September Connie had just departed Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, with dependents on board for the traditional Tiger Cruise on the final leg to San Diego, when word was received of the terrorist attacks on New York and the Pentagon. Despite discussions about turning the battle group around, the carrier was allowed to complete her regularly scheduled deployment. Connie arrived in San Diego on 15 September 2001.



Following an abbreviated turnaround cycle, Constellation prepared for her final deployment and the opportunity to fight in the global war on terrorism. She departed in October 2002 and was soon supporting Operation Enduring Freedom; on 17 December she entered the Persian Gulf to begin OSW missions. On 19 March 2003, with two carriers in the eastern Mediterranean and three in the gulf, Operation Iraqi Freedom commenced. Connie was designated a night carrier and remained on station throughout the major ground combat phase. She launched more than 1,500 sorties and CVW-2 aircraft delivered over 1.7 million pounds (770,000 kg) of ordnance.

During this tour, he maintained an apartment in Hillcrest, a neighborhood in San Diego.

Shore duty in Washington (2004-2008)
After completing over 36 months assigned to CCDG-1, he departed for the Office of Naval Intelligence (ONI) in the Washington, DC suburb of Suitland, and his final tour of service in the US Navy, checking in to ONI in July 2004. He is presently the Fleet Support Advocate on the staff of Commander, Office of Naval Intelligence.



For more information, see also:
 * Office of Naval Intelligence

He is living in an apartment adjacent to The Catholic University of America in the neighborhood of Brookland in the Northeast quadrant of Washington, D.C..

For more information, see also:
 * The Heights

Personal Awards
During his service in the Navy, personal awards include: Two awards of the Joint Service Commendation Medal; the Joint Service Achievement Medal; three awards of the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal; five awards of the Navy Good Conduct Medal; two awards of the National Defense Service Medal; three awards of the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal; the Southwest Asia Service Medal with three service stars; the Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia); the Kuwait Liberation Medal (Emirate of Kuwait). the Iraq Campaign Medal; the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal; the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal; plus two awards of the Joint Meritorious Unit Award; the Navy Unit Commendation Award; the Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation; seven awards of the Navy Sea Service Deployment Ribbon; and the Cold War Victory Medal.

For more information, see also:
 * Military awards of the United States Department of the Navy

Foreign Travel
It has been through his time in the Navy that he discovered his love of travel and seeing other cultures. Some these places he got to visit include:



Tijuana, Rosarito, and Mazatlán, Mexico; Tegucigalpa, Honduras; Vancouver, Nanaimo, and Victoria, British Columbia, Canada; Olongapo City, Zambales, Philippines; Hong Kong; Macau; Singapore; Johor Bahru, Malaysia; Kuwait City, Kuwait; Manama, Bahrain; Mina Jabal Ali and Dubai, United Arab Emirates; Nairobi and Mombasa, Kenya; Yokosuka and Tokyo, Japan; Sanaá, Yemen; Aqaba, Petra, and the Dead Sea, Jordan; Port Said, Egypt; Massawa, Eritrea; Phuket, Thailand; Denpasar, Bali, Indonesia; Guangzhou, China; Perth, Darwin, Brisbane, and Sydney, Australia. In November and December 2000, he made a three week trip to the Netherlands, while staying primarily in Amsterdam, he was able to visit and tour The Hague and many areas of Holland in the Netherlands.

Domestic Travel
Lived in: Manhattan, Rumson, New Jersey, Sea Bright, New Jersey, Delray Beach, Florida, Garden City, New York, Southampton (town), New York, Durham, North Carolina, Oak Island, North Carolina, Eatontown, New Jersey, Belford, New Jersey, Orlando, Florida, Virginia Beach, Virginia, Coronado, California, Imperial Beach, California, National City, California, Ewa Beach, Hawaii, Aiea, Hawaii, San Diego, California, San Leandro, California, Washington, D.C..

Notable visits or extensive stays: The Hamptons Monmouth County, New Jersey Dallas, Texas Wilmington, North Carolina Amarillo, Texas Las Vegas Seattle, Washington Honolulu, Hawaii, Oahu San Francisco, California Berkeley, California Castro Valley, California Pleasanton, California Napa County, California and Sonoma County, California Russian River, Guerneville, California, and Santa Rosa, California

Marriage
In October 1991, he married the former of Miss Imelda Canlas Manulid of Guagua, Pampanga, Philippines. They had met in July 1990 in Olongapo City after corresponding by mail since 1988. The wedding took place in National City, California, and they moved to Ewa Beach, Hawaii, the next month. The marriage ended in divorce without children in 1999.

In October 2002, he married the former Ms. Yolanda Nicole Watkins of Nashville in Las Vegas. They had met in Atlanta in June 2002 after meeting online in February 2002. The honeymoon was ended by a recall and an earlier then expected deployment on the USS Contellation, and were not reunited until July 2003. They separated in November 2003.

Multi-licensing
I agree to multi-license all my contributions, with the exception of my user pages, as described below: April 2008 Nicole moved to Washington DC for a reconciliation.

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