SP3 Intermediate Speed Radio Operator Hq & Hq Co, 16th Inf Regt.

NDSM: AOM (Germany) 1yr 14days

Honorable Discharge: 12 Jan 1956

https://16thinfassn.org/history/regimental-history/

16th Infantry also known as Big Red One.

Dad had many jobs depending on where my mother was transferred to in the US Forest Service or State Park Service. Dad drove a taxi cab in Seattle, a Salvation Army truck, worked for the US Postal Service, became a Real Estate Agent, had an Amway business, read gas meters in Ballard, worked in the State Park Service in Boston right next to Old Ironsides, the USS Constitution. One of his favorite jobs was transporting Easter Seals workers to their training site. He loved interacting with them and making them laugh.

Dad had dreams and favorite places. He dreamed of converting a school bus and living in the woods with mom and us kids. Mom didn't go for that. Instead, we lived in the Rocky Mountains of Idaho at Powell Ranger Station and went to school in a 1 room school house with 6 students. That is the closest we got to that dream. He also loved the Pacific Ocean and dreamed of living in Alaska. He had never been there. He loved going to The Christian Science Mother Church in Boston for the Sunday and Wednesday services. He loved organ music, especially E. Power Biggs playing Johann Sebastian Bach. Bach was his favorite composer of all time. I'm sure he's listening to one of Bach's newest compositions live in concert right now!

Dad had a humor of his own. And sometimes didn't even know he was being funny! Dad would put a cassette walkman on a lanyard around his neck and swear it would become a fad. He would also use a headlight flashlight on his head to read the menu in a restaurant! He was also the man with BIG pockets in his shirt so he could have his many pens, pencils, highlighters, notebooks, mini tape cassette player wherever he went. He was a walking office. He also had "a system" with 3x5 cards to organize his life pre-computers. However, he continued using them after computers and smartphones were invented. His humor was unique in the way he wanted people to think about what was being said. His jokes ranged from Steven Wright-type jokes to more sophisticated ones to make you think. Some were just silly.

Dad also had regrets in life. He felt he could have been a better father, uncle, or husband. In some ways, yes. However, he loved us kids and our mother Anne with all his heart. After our mom passed in 1991, his world fell apart with huge regret. Things he wished he could go back and change, things he wished he told her, etc. However, his love for his faith in Christian Science kept him busy in times of sadness. He would dive into the books. He was our CS Practitioner in our early years, and a good one even though he didn't expand it beyond the family. He was constantly studying about his relationship with God. This made him a better person after mom passed, a better father, and a "funny grandpa" as my kids liked to call him.

There are things I wish my father had done differently, and things I don't think he could have done any better. That is the crux of this mortal life. But my dad and I became best friends in the last 2 to 3 years of his life. We talked about things we never thought we would tell each other, and things we should have said a long time ago. When he was healing from an injury 3 months before he passed, I saw him every single day to read to him his favorite books, the Bible, and Science and Health by Mary Baker Eddy. My sister was able to see him when I was at work during the day. But the last day he was here, I was contracted to sing the National Anthem at the Tacoma Rainiers game. I hadn't seen him that day yet. My sister called me after my performance to tell me to come immediately. I got there too late. I was devastated. But I decided to do what he would have wanted me to do instead of mourning for him at that moment. I picked up the Christian Science Daily Bible Lesson, held his hand, and read to him till the end of it. I know in my heart he heard every word.

I love you Dad, and miss you every day. There are times I wish I could call you and tell you what your wonderful grandkids did today. But I know you are "working out your own salvation" and talking with Mom and the rest of the family. Tell Mom I love her too!