These pages are dedicated to the memory of our father, Steven Hollenczer, who passed away at the age of 89 on September 29, 1998. Steven was a master carpenter, and served with the U.S. Navy from 1942 to 1945 in the 43rd Construction Battalion.

We have always been proud of our father's service to his country, and have fond memories of the items pictured on this page. As children, we enjoyed looking at our father's scrapbooks of photos, cards, military newspapers and other items he collected during his tour. We read and reread the Seabee Log, Seabee Newspapers, letters and autograph books. We were awed by his pins and medals and the jewelry he made for our mother while he was in the Pacific.

Below are images of some of the items that so impressed us, and now give us happy memories of our childhood with our loving father.

Dad's Dogtags, Service Medal, USN Pin

The medals below are, left to right, the American Campaign (1941-1945) Medal, the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign (1941-1945) Medal, and the World War II Victory medal.

Dad's US Navy Ring, 43rd NCB Pin, Mom's Civil Defense Pin, USN Pendant

The item below was a pin my father made from driftwood, while stationed in Hawaii, and sent home to my mother.

Pop made Mom a "Sailor's Valentine". It's a jewelry box. He said he gathered all the shells on the beach at Waikiki, matching them for color and size, and the stones, too. He also found sand in different shades from various locations on the beaches. He built the box of wood, set in the mirror, and attached green felt, inside the box and on the bottom, also. After he worked out the design, he glued all the shells and stones in place, and finished it with the sprinkled-on vari-colored sand. It has "Helen" on the top, in small shells, inside a border design. Pop sent it home to Mom.

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