I've been retired from Boilermakers Local #13 since 2004 after doing thirty-four years in the trade.  Have been with Sara, my wife, for thirty-five years with four children; All of them have blessed us with eleven grandchildren; and o-boy, what a handful they can be.

Ship life was an experience.  At first, I just could not get into the painting of the ship, painting of the jungle deck while on manuevers with the sea coming over the , and painting of the other apertures; wanting to get into the black gang with the boilers, of which my Dad steamed the boilers for Campbell Soup Company for forty years.  I remember doing firesides, with the help of extra duty personal, standing watches on the lower level feed pumps, the water levels at the sight glasses on the upper level and, of course, top watch after making BT3, plus any repair that had occured at any time.  Three cruises to West Pac, the Philippines, Manila, Hong Kong, Japan and of course, the home part of Pearl Harbor, Hawaii; will always be with me.  I've been in contact since with/at times, James Donato, and Paul Murphy ever since I left the service. I'll have to get into my trunk and let all those memories of service time in boot camp and aboard the "Big K" refresh me.