I was 15 when Pearl Harbor was attacked. Also, spent a weekend on the SLC that was really fun for a teenager. I recall that the ship didn't have hot water. When taking a shower, saturated steam was mixed with cold water so the amount of cold water was adjusted to get the right temperature. It was important to turn off the steam first and then the cold water - a sequence that I learned the hard way!

I remember climbing all over the ship and probably was a headache for the ship's company. Once, when high up on the mast, the ships bell chimed so loudly that I almost lost my grip! Also, much of my time was spent in the radio room, a subject which was my main interest then and was for the next 60 years. I'm sure that the radiomen were happy to see the pest finally leave the ship!

I recall that our father was away at sea or on other assignments most of the time, especially during the war. One evening, following dinner, our mother was doing the dishes when there was a special bulletin on the radio announcing that the SLC had been sunk. Not unlike the report of Mark Twain's death, the report was false, but my mother suffered until navy friends did some checking and assured her that the SLC was still very much afloat.

Jerry would probably agree that dad was a kind disciplinarian and a person who was mostly in a good humor - - much like our mother. From our point of view, both were fine people who were tolerant of others and invariable mutually supportive. "Secret Missions" is a good accounting of our father's life in the navy.