Chapter 8, Page 1
When the memories that we carry of days gone by start to fade it is nice to have a photograph or two to refresh the mental images we carry. It is unfortunate that at the time I entered the Navy I was not allowed a camera to record the sights that surround me. It was an important security issue at the time, just like censoring our mail going home. We couldn't mention what we were doing or where we were located. This extended to any logs or personal diaries that were strictly forbidden.
A couple of my buddies and I managed to get our hands on a simple camera and through some rather devious means we were able to get a few pictures of the ship. We developed the film and made prints ourselves using the battery locker for a dark room and the shower to rinse the film and prints. With that in mind you will understand that these photos are pretty crude, but are the only photos I have of the time.
I'm not sure how old I was here but I do have vague memories of playing sailor as a kid. It was all around me, my Dad had been in the navy and my Uncle Art was a 20 year career man who was called back into service after retirement. I'm sure the salute would not have passed the correct form in boot camp but for a little guy of 3 or 4 it was the best I could muster.
I was 13 when the war in Europe broke out and like all early teens, the problems of the world seemed very far away and of little concern. But shortly after I started my sophomore year in high school the bombing of Pearl Harbor brought us all closer to the reality that this was going to be a war we could not avoid. This is my graduation picture taken in 1943, which was about a year prior to entering the Navy.
