My Dad at 21

My father served on the USS Stentor in the Pacific in 1945 and 1946. The ship, originally an LST, was reconfigured in 1945 as a floating machine shop. By the time they arrived in Hawaii the war was nearly over, but the ship toured the Pacific and he said there was still lots of fighting going on.

He had the best job on the ship: Captain's Yeoman, or secretary. It's amazing to think that a 21-year-old immigrant's son from DC could travel through Asia like he did. He also tells great stories of traveling back to DC by train from San Francisco when he returned from overseas.

My kids love to hear their grandfather's stories. Recently he was over for dinner and out on the back porch with my husband and kids while I was making dinner. My son came in to get the dishes to set the table outside and said, "I've got to hurry; I'm missing one of his stories! I just heard him say, '... so he grabbed the guy by the neck!' so I know I'm missing something good!"



My dad is the handsome guy on the right.

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The writing on the back of this picture says: "Shanghai Jan. '46. Krouse, Christie, [Dad], Judge and Moore."

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Dad's the one in the hat.