[FrankR]

No, he was employed by the Navy in the Civil Service as a Machinist. He had polio as a child and wasn't able to join the regular service due to his slight limp, so he went the civil service route.

However, he was on base and in the barracks on the morning of the attack, and he saw it all; before, during, and the aftermath. He never talked about that part a lot.

[Charles Martel]

He never talked about that part a lot.

Understandable, I'd say. My late father-in-law was a navigator aboard a Navy patrol bomber- one of the big 4-engine flying boats, nearly twice the size of the more commonly seen Catalina. I knew he was in the Pacific later in the war (got there just in time for Guadalcanal), but he never said much until I started asking. Then, the stories... wow.

I actually typed up a summary and gave it to the WWII Museum in New Orleans, along with a few Japanese artifacts he'd brought home.

[PGalt]

No, he was employed by the Navy in the Civil Service as a Machinist. He had polio as a child and wasn't able to join the regular service due to his slight limp, so he went the civil service route.

Great post/pic, FrankR. Thanks to all who have served and all who have supported, all who are serving and all who are supporting, and all who will serve in the future and all who will support them.

[cracker45]

Thanks FrankR!! We need to remember those guys who endured the tragedy that was that war. Too many nowadays think they have the only solution to tyranny as appeasement, but your Dad’s generation took the fight directly to the enemy and prevailed against all odds. My hat goes off to him!

JC