From Outhouse To Outer Space

About the Book

FROM OUT HOUSE TO OUTER SPACE This is a true story about my life. It begins with my parents, a young and happy family looking forward to the future. The tragic death of my Father and the struggles of my Mother raising my sister and me. My Mothers marriage to my Step Father who turned out to be a child molesting and abusing alcoholic. When I confronted him he kicked me out of the house before my tenth birthday. I then began taking care of myself. I traveled through the States of Arizona, Texas and New Mexico by freight train or a car, trying to find a relative or my Mother. Finding what ever I could to eat and survive. There were many wonderful people who helped me along the way and there were also the tradigies of people due to the great depression. I had both hard times and fun times. I eventually found my Mother and lived with her while completing my high school education. World War two for the United State started with the bombing of Pearl Harbor while I was in my Senior year. After graduating from High School I joined the Merchant Marines where I saw quite a bit of action. On one ship the steering engine quit working and we had a funny and yet scary time until everything was working. I was on three different ships that were sunk by the enemy. The last ship sunk was by the Japanese. There were five us taken prisoner and we were tortured to get information from us. The Japanese ship was sunk and the five of us were able to escape. We spent sixty five days on a raft before finally being rescued by the U. S. Navy. After being rescued I was not expected to live but managed to escape from the Hospital and eventually arrive home. I began regaining my strength. I tried to join the U. S. Army but was turned down my first two tries, I was finally accepted on my third try and was inducted as a foot soldier. I signed up to go to Europe by agreeing to serve three years. On board the Troop Transport ship the weather was very rough and most of the soldiers and a few of the sailors were very sick. I was given the assignment of cleaning up as I was not sick. My tour of duty in Europe during the last several months of the war was not only exciting but sad and very scary at times. Especially when the patrol I was in was caught between Enemy and U. S. Army fire. Christmas day was different as it showed that soldiers from both sides really did not want the war. During the occupation of Germany I had many different jobs as I was able to type so I was given different jobs where this was required. I was first put in charge of eight men three were to repair typewriters, one man was a shoe maker, three were stove repair men and one was a carpenter that made container to ship home the personal effects of dead and wounded soldiers. This is where I first started learning to speak German. The Germans were interested in teaching me their language and I soon got very good at it. I was given the assignment of interpreting for the Army for a short time. I also had the opportunity to preach at a German Church where I attended. The Church usually had about four hundred in attendance. When it came my time to preach there were at least 1,000 people there to hear the American Soldier preach. Upon my return to the United States I went home only to find out that most jobs were taken by the service men that came home before me. The attitude of people was different. They no longer were so thrilled to see a soldier come home. My sister invited me to come to the Los Angeles area where there should be a better chance of getting a job. The only job I could find was as a Service Station Attendant. I continued this for several months before there was an opening at The United Parcel Service. I delivered packages on a regular bases and was also the person to fill in on other routes when needed. I did this until I hurt my back jumping over a small fence instead of using the gate. I went to work for Williams Trucking delive

About the Author

FROM OUT HOUSE TO OUTER SPACE is the story of my journey through life, from loosing my Father at a very young age. Being kicked out of home before my 10th birthday and having to find my own way during the Great Depression. I lived on an Indian Reservation and learned how to care for myself . For four years I traveled through Arizona, Texas and New Mexico before finding my Mother. I completed High School. to serve my country. I was to young for the Army so I joined the Merchant Marines. The third ship that was sunk from under me ended up with my being prisoner. I later joined the Army. After I got home I went to work for the Jet Propulsion Lab. in Pasadena CA. and worked on many space programs.