Dad
U.S. Navy  1942-1946
Atlantic Campaign Star
When my dad was a teen-ager during the 30's, he left Arkansas to go to CCC camp in Idaho. He stayed there for several years, then returned home. Jobs were scarce at this time, so he went to a school in California to learn aircraft metal working. Upon completing the school he found a job in California. He wanted my mother to come out there so they could marry, but her dad wouldnt let her go. So, he quit his job and returned to Texas. My mother talked her dad into letting her go to Dallas to meet my dad and they were married in a boarding house. My dad was draft age, so he could not find anyone that would hire him. Finally I suppose he decided he might as well join. So he Joined the Navy. They had been married for 6 months.

He was sent to Great Lakes Naval Training Center for boot camp. They almost made a frogman out of him because he was such a good swimmer. They decided against it because he was so small. He ended up being an Aviation Sheet Metal Mechanic.
After training he was sent to New York. He was on a one-man draft. Eventually he received orders to go to Reykjavik, Iceland. There he worked on airplanes and flew  anti-submarine patrols in PBY's. German patrol aircraft would fly within sight of their base on Iceland, but never within anti-aircraft gun range. After a while he was moved to England. I remember seeing a picture of a sign. It said "Welcome to Camp kwityerbellyachin". Im not sure of spelling. Anyone can correct me if they know how to spell it. I dont think it can be found on a map.
Battle of the Atlantic
PBY Catalina Warbird
PBY Catalina
The U.S. occupied Iceland starting on July 7, 1941
Map of Iceland.
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