Source: Dec. 2000 USS SLC Association Newsletter Article called
"Sparks" by Sandy Oppenheimer

Syd Foster, who served on the USS SLC years before WWII, had a strange and timely reunion with his beloved ship.

The story started on March 6th, 1934. After nine months of trying to get in the Navy by going down to the recruiting office weekly, he was finally accepted. the country was in a depression and Syd figured he could learn a trade in the Navy, but the Navy had not been taking anyone. In fact, the military, as the rest of the government, had suffered a 17 per cent cut.

"Our pay was $17.00 and we were glad to get it," Syd remembers.

He took his boot training at Norfolk in a brand new barracks. However, in a few days they were transferred to ancient barracks that the recruits had to refurbish themselves.

In a few months the SLC made a visit to Norfolk after making some appearances in big Eastern cities. The Seaman Second Class was assigned to the third Division. His battle station was Turret Three where he was a rammer -- pushing the shell into the gun.

Later he wrangled a transfer to the "E" Division. He met a great group of electricians. A lot of them went on to be commissioned officers. Syd went on to the lighting shop and then communications. He worked all over the ship and made friends from all the divisions.

Some of the fellows he worked with in the fire control left the ship and went to the Asiatic fleet. Some were captured in the Philippines and forced on the infamous Death March.

In 1938, Syd left the ship while it was in Honolulu and was discharged in San Francisco. He went to work for General Motors and then the Telephone Company. He was working in the Boston navy Yard when Pearl Harbor happened. Although he was in the reserves, Syd was frozen in his job.

During the war he helped build ships in Michigan. After the war he was transferred to Long Beach and ran into his old ship, the USS SLC. Syd was assigned to outfit the ship for the Bikini Atom Bomb Test.

Later he worked for Hughes Aircraft and sold real estate part time. After 19 years with Hughes he retired and sold real estate full time, which he is still doing at the present time in Minden, Nevada.

Syd and his wife Ruth, have been married for 60 years and they have a daughter who is a teacher and a son who is a lawyer.

If you wish to contact Syd, please contact Sandy Eskew at the email address on the SLC Main Index page