Grandpa has always been a sailor. Always will be.
He is now 85 years (young) and still owns and sails a 22' Atlantic City Cat Boat. He passed his love of sailing (and boating) on to his children and grandchildren.
Grandpa's only son, "Uncle D" is preparing to sail in the 2006 Mackinac Race. He has been successful in years past and I wish him luck in his 29th run in the Chicago to Mackinac race.
I boat (as you all know ...Mr. Chep and our fishing trips!) but I haven't sailed since college (Iowa doesn't have much in the way of sailing waters, nor do I have a sailboat) but I did take sailing in college! (Writermom has a photo of that somewhere - as do I)
But anyway....
It's amazing to me that Grandpa will even get on a boat, much less sail one.
Why you ask?
Sixty-three (63) years ago, Grandpa was on the USS Helena when it when it was struck by 3 torpedoes in the Pacific ocean and sank on July 6, 1943.
He shared his story in the local paper on May 30th of this year. Sometime when I have a little more time I will share his amazing story.
Tonight I want to wish my Uncle D the best of luck in the race - and a speedy recovery to Grandpa so he can get back on the water.
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2 comments:
And grandpa is certainly one good lookin sailor too. Ooo la la. xx, Lori
Wow! Good luck, Uncle D! We were two hours or so from Mackinac. Beautiful up there. And we were on my Uncle's boat, but I was down below for most of the trip. Pickles was unimpressed topside if she wasn't allowed to steer the boat.
Garsh, I wanna go see the new Jack Sparrow movie!
Where was I?
How have we not swapped WWII stories?
I had a great-uncle who was killed on May 4th, 1945 on the USS Luce Destroyer. A day of kamikazees. The last three did the ship in. My great-grandmother always hoped he survived. She put together a tremendous scrapbook of all the survivors.
Your Grandpa's a lucky man, and so are all of you.
I'd love to hear his story!
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