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After graduation I worked for Morley cabinet Co. in South Salt Lake until October when I enlisted in the navy. I went to boot camp in San Diego. I married in December and shipped out to Sasabo Japan where I picked up my first ship USS Catskill MCS1 a mine countermeasure support ship. The ship went from Sasabo, to the Philippines, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Viet Nam. Where we served a tour on market time along the coast to interuped enemy supply lines comming in by boat or sampans. We returned to Long Beach California in late 1970 and decommissioned the Castkill. I was then assigned to the USS Gallant MSO 489 an ocean going mine sweeper. The Gallant had a wooden hull and superstructure, and most metal was brass or aluminum to eleminate the magnetic field of the ship. It was 165 feet long and 35 feet across and could go 12 knots (10 MPH) our motto was "speed kills"... I made two crossings of the pacific on the Gallant from Long Beach to Guam, and on to Viet Nam where our port of call was Cam Rhan Bay. When we went to sea from Long Beach we traveled in a group of four ships because of our size and had to island hop, due to our small fuel capacity. A trip would take 30 days steaming time from Long Beach to Guam and a 30 day lay over for repairs in Guam. Then another two weeks on to Viet Nam. The trip crossing the pacific consisted of leaving Long Beach stopping at Pearl Habor, then Johnston atoll, meeting a refuling ship btween Johnston Atoll and the Marshal Islands and on to the Marshal Island, them Guam, and then on to the philippines Subic Bay, and on to Cam Rhan Bay. We spent five months in Cam Rhan Bay. Going out on patrol for two weeks at a time and then returning to port for two weeks for rest and repairs. My rate was a damage controlman and my job was ship board repairs and firefighting.
After the navy, I returned to Salt Lake and began working for Tooele Army Depot Fire Department in 1974. I worked at station #2 in the south area of the depot where they stored nerve agent. I worked there for 7 years leaving in 1980 as a engineer. During the time I worked for Tooele Fire I also worked for American Fork Ambulance, becoming president of the association in 1981 and 1982. I was also an instructor for then Utah Technical Collage Fire Science department in Orem from 1975 to 1981. I was one of the first 10 auto extrication instructors for the fire collage. I was divorced from my first wife, we have a son Scott.
I started to work for the American Fork Police Department in 1980. I went to the Utah Police Academy in Salt Lake. I worked as a patrol Sargent and investigator for 10 years leaving American Fork as a patrol sergeant in 1990. I was also an instructor for the Utah Police Academy for, shoot don't shoot, high risk traffic stops, and hazmat safety, to the new recruits from 1984 to 1990.
While serving with the American Fork Ambulance service I met my soul mate Dru Perry, we were married and combined our two family's together and the rest is history. We were sealed in the Salt Lake Temple in 1982. We now are empty testers with 10 grand children and 14 great grandchildren.
I went to work for the Orem Department of Public Safety in 1990. I worked as a patrol officer until 1992 when I transferred to the Fire Department. my job was Fire Investigator / Fire Inspector for the department and retired in 2000. I attended the National Fire Academy in Emmetsburg Maryland and received a certification in arson investigation and fire inspection. During this time I received an award for firefighter of the year in 1993 and 1998 from Orem City. I was also awarded the Utah State Learn not to Burn Champion for 1994 from the National Fire Protection Association in Boston Massachusetts for teaching fire safety to the public.
After retirement my wife and I moved to Lake Havasu Arizona. We lived there for four years and were involved with the Lake Havasu Lions Club, I was president of the club and may wife Dru was secretary in 2003. Because of health concerns we moved back to Utah and settled in St. George. We lived there for 6 years and we loved it. We now live in Harrisville Utah, we moved there to be close to family. During the time we lived in Lake Havasu I was diagnosed with a liver disease called (NASH syndrome) and in 2008 I received a liver transplant from Intermountain Medical Center in Murray. As of this date I am doing great with the new liver. During my liver illness it affected my kidneys and I received dialysis for a year. I received a kidney transplant in 2011. My health in now good and am doing well.
I am back to work now for insurance and I work in security at McKay Dee Hospital in Ogden Utah. 2017 I have retired from McKay Dee Hospital I wi not be going back to work.
Both Dru and I love the outdoors, camping, fishing, sight seeing, four wheeling, rock hounding, and just finding out where that dirt road goes. We love movies, plays (Tuacahn), games, traveling, and being with family and grand kids.
2017 We now live in Ogden UT and plan to stay here. I have retired from McKay Dee Hospital and looking forward to spending time with my wife and kids and there family's. In 2016 I started having complications with my kidney and will soon be looking for a new kidney. Our dear friend Lisa has stepped up and offered to donate a kidney to me. She has now completed her testing and we found out that she is compatible, so a transplant is just a few months away. I am doing dialysis now until the time of transplant.
9/4/2019 Well, the transplant is off for now do too cancer they found in my right native kidney. My kidneys have been removed, Doc. said he got it all, hope and pray. I have to be cancer free for two years to get the transplant. So far I have one year down, last CT scan shows NO cancer. So on top of everything else my left foot has turned in and I walk on the outside in much pain. They where going to operate but put it off for the transplant now it is to late as it has become inoperable. Rheumatoid Arthritis has set in on my hands, so I start a new round of Doctors.
I will not be attending the 50th reunion, but hope things go well have a great time.
Well, my two year wait being cancer free is now up, it ended in November 2020 and I am back on the kidney transplant list at the U of U Medical Center. Still doing dialysis five days a week at home. Hoping and praying that 2021 is a better year for us all, that this COVID pandemic becomes a thing of the past. Some how I feel this new way of life with the virus is here to stay. Sad to say but, it will be most likely a yearly vaccination like the flu. Wish you all well, stay safe.
