Dad was born in rural Harlan, Iowa. He grew up there with his four brothers and helped on the farm and in his father's hauling business.
Dad was especially proud of his service to his country in both World War II and the Korean Conflict. After the Army turned him away for being too young, Dad lied about his age and enlisted in the Navy. His dedication was not unlike many of his, the Greatest Generation.
His primary theater of duty during WWII was the Pacific, specifically occupation in Japan and the China Sea. He was, like other sailors, passed from one command to another and saw several duty stations, all which used his skills as Aviation Radioman Second Class. His most terrifying duty was in the rear of the Douglas Dauntless dive-bomber. The most boring was waiting for the Admiral's PBY Catalina float-plane to be used.
During the Korean Conflict he was stationed in the United States with a US Navy weather squadron and flew into several hurricanes for research and reconnaissance. His descriptions of these harrowing trips were quite vivid. He always made mention that once you have gotten the snot shaken out of you in the outer rings of a hurricane the eye was clear, calm and beautiful with sea birds flying at high altitude, just like a sunny day at the beach. Then you had to fly back out. The confidence he gained through these flights and the metaphor they provided helped him get through many a storm in life.
Dad died in his bed in Vancouver, Washington, where he and Mom had retired.
I will forever forget that I can no longer just call him to hear his voice, which I did often.
BC
Dad was especially proud of his service to his country in both World War II and the Korean Conflict. After the Army turned him away for being too young, Dad lied about his age and enlisted in the Navy. His dedication was not unlike many of his, the Greatest Generation.
His primary theater of duty during WWII was the Pacific, specifically occupation in Japan and the China Sea. He was, like other sailors, passed from one command to another and saw several duty stations, all which used his skills as Aviation Radioman Second Class. His most terrifying duty was in the rear of the Douglas Dauntless dive-bomber. The most boring was waiting for the Admiral's PBY Catalina float-plane to be used.
During the Korean Conflict he was stationed in the United States with a US Navy weather squadron and flew into several hurricanes for research and reconnaissance. His descriptions of these harrowing trips were quite vivid. He always made mention that once you have gotten the snot shaken out of you in the outer rings of a hurricane the eye was clear, calm and beautiful with sea birds flying at high altitude, just like a sunny day at the beach. Then you had to fly back out. The confidence he gained through these flights and the metaphor they provided helped him get through many a storm in life.
Dad died in his bed in Vancouver, Washington, where he and Mom had retired.
I will forever forget that I can no longer just call him to hear his voice, which I did often.
BC
Dad was born in rural Harlan, Iowa. He grew up there with his four brothers and helped on the farm and in his father's hauling business.
Dad was especially proud of his service to his country in both World War II and the Korean Conflict. After the Army turned him away for being too young, Dad lied about his age and enlisted in the Navy. His dedication was not unlike many of his, the Greatest Generation.
His primary theater of duty during WWII was the Pacific, specifically occupation in Japan and the China Sea. He was, like other sailors, passed from one command to another and saw several duty stations, all which used his skills as Aviation Radioman Second Class. His most terrifying duty was in the rear of the Douglas Dauntless dive-bomber. The most boring was waiting for the Admiral's PBY Catalina float-plane to be used.
During the Korean Conflict he was stationed in the United States with a US Navy weather squadron and flew into several hurricanes for research and reconnaissance. His descriptions of these harrowing trips were quite vivid. He always made mention that once you have gotten the snot shaken out of you in the outer rings of a hurricane the eye was clear, calm and beautiful with sea birds flying at high altitude, just like a sunny day at the beach. Then you had to fly back out. The confidence he gained through these flights and the metaphor they provided helped him get through many a storm in life.
Dad died in his bed in Vancouver, Washington, where he and Mom had retired.
I will forever forget that I can no longer just call him to hear his voice, which I did often.
BC
Dad was especially proud of his service to his country in both World War II and the Korean Conflict. After the Army turned him away for being too young, Dad lied about his age and enlisted in the Navy. His dedication was not unlike many of his, the Greatest Generation.
His primary theater of duty during WWII was the Pacific, specifically occupation in Japan and the China Sea. He was, like other sailors, passed from one command to another and saw several duty stations, all which used his skills as Aviation Radioman Second Class. His most terrifying duty was in the rear of the Douglas Dauntless dive-bomber. The most boring was waiting for the Admiral's PBY Catalina float-plane to be used.
During the Korean Conflict he was stationed in the United States with a US Navy weather squadron and flew into several hurricanes for research and reconnaissance. His descriptions of these harrowing trips were quite vivid. He always made mention that once you have gotten the snot shaken out of you in the outer rings of a hurricane the eye was clear, calm and beautiful with sea birds flying at high altitude, just like a sunny day at the beach. Then you had to fly back out. The confidence he gained through these flights and the metaphor they provided helped him get through many a storm in life.
Dad died in his bed in Vancouver, Washington, where he and Mom had retired.
I will forever forget that I can no longer just call him to hear his voice, which I did often.
BC
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