He was The most wonderful father anyone could ask for.
A Renascence man who was a great cook, hunter, metal artist, gardener, adventurer, neighbor, worker, friend, entrepreneur, teacher, and so much more.
He liked relief carving in later years an generously gave most of it to admirers.
He played the guitar, the harmonica and the piano a bit.
He was recalled to the ARMY in 1941 and fought in the Pacific throughout WWII.
He learned Cliff Diving in Hawaii where he was friends with islanders including Bill Char and Sachimo an Olympic level swimmer who drowned in a lava tube.
Sachimo taught Dad about the rip tides and how to navigate them.
In 1984 while on vacation My husband, myself and Dad were walking on dry sand along the part of Waikiki farthest from Diamondhead when a rogue wave swept all of us into the ocean and dragged us 50 feet from shore in an instant. We were all coughing up water and had been pummeled by coral rocks and debris in the waves.
Dad called out to us and told us to relax and tread water.
Far Down Waikiki the lifeguards were alerted by swimmers and surfers who had observed the wave they began the long haul toward us.
Dad explained the Rip Tide to us and pointed out the still water toward Diamondhead.
He told us to follow him as he swam parallel to the shore.
Suddenly the Lifeguards stopped and sat in the water on their SkiDoo vehicles.
We all swam with Dad and returned to the shore when we reached the end of the Rip.
The Lifeguards came to join us and talked to Dad.
He said Why did you stop? They said we thought you must be from here because you knew what to do and were doing it well. We all were thankful he had listened when Sach was educating him on the ocean.
My poor sweet Mom had been sunbathing and thought she was watching us all be dragged to our Deaths.
After WWII ended and the soldiers were preparing to be returned home the various ships of Allies and US were in formation off the coast.
Dad was on the Windham Bay as they awaited the formation of the homebound convoy off the coast of the Hawaiian Islands. Several of his group were watching others swim. They observed an Australian man become injured while swimming. The man was unconscious and being bounced off the ships and dove off the deck to assist him.
They were dragged up onto the Windham Bay in cargo nets, the man was treated and when he regained consciousness he was returned to his ship.
He never thought himself a hero he was just glad he had learned to cliff dive.
A Renascence man who was a great cook, hunter, metal artist, gardener, adventurer, neighbor, worker, friend, entrepreneur, teacher, and so much more.
He liked relief carving in later years an generously gave most of it to admirers.
He played the guitar, the harmonica and the piano a bit.
He was recalled to the ARMY in 1941 and fought in the Pacific throughout WWII.
He learned Cliff Diving in Hawaii where he was friends with islanders including Bill Char and Sachimo an Olympic level swimmer who drowned in a lava tube.
Sachimo taught Dad about the rip tides and how to navigate them.
In 1984 while on vacation My husband, myself and Dad were walking on dry sand along the part of Waikiki farthest from Diamondhead when a rogue wave swept all of us into the ocean and dragged us 50 feet from shore in an instant. We were all coughing up water and had been pummeled by coral rocks and debris in the waves.
Dad called out to us and told us to relax and tread water.
Far Down Waikiki the lifeguards were alerted by swimmers and surfers who had observed the wave they began the long haul toward us.
Dad explained the Rip Tide to us and pointed out the still water toward Diamondhead.
He told us to follow him as he swam parallel to the shore.
Suddenly the Lifeguards stopped and sat in the water on their SkiDoo vehicles.
We all swam with Dad and returned to the shore when we reached the end of the Rip.
The Lifeguards came to join us and talked to Dad.
He said Why did you stop? They said we thought you must be from here because you knew what to do and were doing it well. We all were thankful he had listened when Sach was educating him on the ocean.
My poor sweet Mom had been sunbathing and thought she was watching us all be dragged to our Deaths.
After WWII ended and the soldiers were preparing to be returned home the various ships of Allies and US were in formation off the coast.
Dad was on the Windham Bay as they awaited the formation of the homebound convoy off the coast of the Hawaiian Islands. Several of his group were watching others swim. They observed an Australian man become injured while swimming. The man was unconscious and being bounced off the ships and dove off the deck to assist him.
They were dragged up onto the Windham Bay in cargo nets, the man was treated and when he regained consciousness he was returned to his ship.
He never thought himself a hero he was just glad he had learned to cliff dive.
