A cousin who was a close friend was in the Navy and he sold me on the benefits of the Navy. Three weeks after my mother passed away my aunt was assigned my guardian and I enlisted October 5th, 1943.

The Navy had what I thought was a good deal - enlist directly in the Hospital Corp and enter the Navy one rank higher than a Seaman Apprentice. I was to find out later why the Navy needed more Corpsmen.

Boot camp was at Farragut, Idaho. Somehow we screwed up the first week and an added week was given to us. Our Company Commander was Chief Kenneth Masson. He was with us marching everywhere, teaching close order drill, how to become Navy Men. He had high standards but he was always reasonable and fair. We appreciated him and did our best to make him proud of us.

In my last year of High School in Vancouver we had an Army Cadet Program where I learned close order drill. When I got to Boot Camp, I marched sharper than the others. The Chief designated me as Guide On Bearer where I was a credit to the Company.

We took a battery of aptitude tests. My highest score was in electrical subjects. The Navy wanted to send me to Radio School but I had enlisted in the Hospital Corp and it could not be changed.

Some idiot figured that this seventeen year old must have had medical training so I was sent to the station hospital for duty after Boot Camp. I was trained on the job.

Later I was sent to the 1st Marine Division. That was why more Corpsmen were needed.