Things About My Father


My dad lied about his age in order to enlist. It appears his initial enlistment was in the Navy although after 4 years he transferred to the Army where he served another 4 years. The Defense Department considers him a veteran of WWII and Korea although he never saw combat. Instead he served as a Military Policeman (MP). Although he never saw combat he did say that in the performance of his duties as an MP on Okinawa he had to kill someone. It bothered him probably until his death.
 
It's hard to read, but it says US Navy, US Army, WWII, Korea
The Defense Department provides these to the families of veterans when they die
He spent 4 years in the Navy

He also spent 4 years in the Army
My father was a diesel mechanic and truck driver who converted to Catholicism from the Lutheran heritage of his youth; both grandfathers having been Lutheran ministers. This conversion was independent of my mother’s influence although she would never have agreed to marry him had he not been Catholic. After my mother died he worked for a defense contractor that made tanks where my grandfather was a vice president. The first job I remember him having was as a supervisor for Caterpillar Tractor in York, PA. When I was older he took money he inherited from my grandmother (he was an only child) and bought a cab-over tractor and went to work as an owner-operator truck driver.

Nadine never knew her father so my dad filled in at her wedding.
They were cousins

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