Staff photo / David Skolnick John Jakubec of North Jackson, who served in the U.S. Navy from 1965 to 1967, looks at photos of his time in the service.

EDITOR’S NOTE: This is part of a series published each Monday between Memorial Day and Veterans Day honoring local veterans. To nominate a veteran, email metro editor Marly Reichert at mreichert@tribtoday.com.

NORTH JACKSON — While on four-hour watch aboard the USS Stalwart around 3 a.m. June 25, 1966, John Jakubec said he discovered a large fire aboard the ship.

“I was making my rounds and went into the boiler room when I saw that it was on fire,” said Jakubec, who grew up in Austintown and moved to North Jackson in 1972, where he still resides. “Once the fire started, it spread quickly, and everything was burning.”

Jakubec said he sounded the alarm aboard the mine sweeper and made sure everyone got off the ship, which was docked in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

“Alerting the crew was my priority,” he said. “We were tied to the dock, and we started getting the hoses out. After we got everyone out, we had to decide how to approach fighting this fire.”

Jakubec said he tried to keep himself calm.

“I kept my cool,” he said. “We fought the fire for several hours. But the ship filled with water, and it sank right next to the pier. It was amazing. There were a whole bunch of fire hoses on the deck.”

About 75 men were on the ship when it caught fire.

“It was a nice little family,” Jakubec said. “Everyone knew everybody. We got off the ship and watched it go down.”

Jakubec was among about a dozen members of the Stalwart who stayed three months in San Juan to check the ship as it was refloated with an attempt to save it.

But the ship was too heavily damaged, and the need for a mine sweeper wasn’t as important anymore so it was towed back to Charleston, S.C. The ship was placed out of commission on Aug. 24, 1966, and scrapped.

Jakubec said the scariest part of the entire incident was the investigation into what had occurred.

“I was 19 years old, and they had a couple of admirals and captains and all that brass,” he said. “I was sitting in a chair in front of them explaining what happened.”

Jakubec’s two years in the Navy ended in December 1967. The Navy wanted him to extend his time, but Jakubec said it was time for him to return home. He spent four years in the Reserves.

During his two years in the Navy, Jakubec said: “I learned to take a lot of responsibility and to get along with your fellow sailors because you’re in such close quarters. They become your family.”

Jakubec said he would recommend people joining the Navy or the Air Force in peacetime.

“It was a great learning experience,” he said. “It’s a great place to pick up a trade. My experience with the Navy helped me get an apprenticeship, and it helped me become more mature.”

A few years after leaving the Navy, Jakubec went to work for Delphi in Warren as a millwright, a job he held for 32 years. He’s been a longtime Jackson Township trustee.

dskolnick@vindy.com