Donald Pennington’s Naval Career

   Donald (Don) Pennington, Lieutenant Commander, USN, (Ret.), was born near Topeka, KS January 3, 1932, the son of Earl and Ruth Pennington. He entered the Naval Reserve on February 24, 1949 and went on active duty after graduating from Topeka High School in 1951. Boot camp in San Diego, CA; Submarine School, New London, CT; USS Cobia (SS-245); USS Entemedor (SS-340); Rhine River Patrol in occupied West Germany where he met Hildegard, his wife of 43 years. They have a daughter, Rene Gehrts of Bremerton WA.

   Other duty stations include USS Hardhead (SS-365); Nuclear Power School, New London., CT; training in West Milton, NY (S3G); USS Triton (SS-586) in July 1958 to serve under Captain Edward Beach who eventually appointed Don to Warrant Machinist (W01); a tour at Reserve Fleet in Vallejo, CA, was very rewarding-promotion to ensign, lieutenant junior grade and officer-in-charge of recommisioning USS Perch (APSS-313) which made Don eligible to return to USS Redfish (SS-395), where he was able to earn his gold dolphins; USS Hunley (AS-31) in Scotland; Commmander Submarine Squadron 18 staff, Charleston, SC, and the FBM Project Officer, Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Bremerton, WA, for four years; then retiring on Sept. 1, 1973 as lieutenant commander.

   Don started in real estate in January 1974 and has had a very successful 25 years in the real estate business in Kitsap County, Washington. He is presently an associate broker with Windermere Real Estate in Silverdale, WA.

Don successfully earned both the enlisted and officer submarine dolphins insignias, during his military career.