Letters to Loved Ones Back Home

While your Dad was in the Navy, he was "out to sea" for a 3 month period of time. The ship went to Puerto Rico and back from Norfolk, Virgina. Oceana was the air base that your Dad was actually stationed. The few letters that I reread were from a husband and father that missed his wife and little girl, dearly ! Also, ship life was not a joyous time, it seems !! I had forgotten how he signed off at his letters end -- Love, Doug and Dad xxxx -- the x's for kisses to us. Most of the time, stamps were placed on the envelopes upside down -- a symbol of "I love you". It was 1959 and 1960 - we had our little mobile home and you and I were at my grandparents mobile home park in Ohio for the duration, plus a few months. When your Dad got settled back at Oceana and we got a few financial issues ironed out, my uncle moved the mobile home to Virginia Beach for us. We were happy to be a family again. Today would have been our 52nd anniversary. The letters will go into the "treasure chest".

You're in the Navy, Now

This is one of my favorite photos of your Dad, - his boot camp "graduation" portrait, circa 1958. Of course, he had that hat set off at a bit of a jaunty angle. Uniform code, the hats were to sit directly straight with two fingers width between the edge and the eyebrows. Those heavily starched white uniforms had to be uncomfortable !!! Makes me wonder how he could have that big smile on his face !!!