MY DAD part 5

I was born the end of June and as fate would have it, Dad was able to be there.  I was baptized in a local church.  My aunt Joyce made the trip down to Orlando and was my godmother.  My godfather was my Uncle Emmet's son Jerry.  He couldn't make it so they had my dad's Mexican friend Pablo stand in for him.

Finally, Dad was on a ship headed for an air base in the Philippines in September.  Once the sight of some of the fiercest battles of the war, it was now under control of the Allies.  The War was basically over in Europe (V-E Day is May 8) and Japan was on its last legs in the Pacific.  The atomic bombs were dropped on August 6th and 9th.   Japan officially surrendered on September 2 (V-J Day).

Dad wrote me a couple of letters from the ship he sailed over on.   I was only a few weeks old, of course, and they were meant for my mother.   I treasure them.

When dad arrived in the Philippines, they had excess radio people and were short a mess sergeant.  He volunteered.   They utilized locals to do the cooking and kitchen cleaning work.  His main job was to make a menu and see that the right food and supplies were ordered from the general commissary.

Dad returned to the U.S. by ship in January and February, 1946.  I made that trip across the Pacific on my way to Vietnam and it was a breeze.  Dad told me they had rough weather and most of the men were seasick but not him.

o.o