Presidential Elections

I was raised in a democratic family but can remember my parents voting for Ike in the '52 and '56 elections. JFK waved to me from the backseat of a Cadillac convertible as he was traveling West on Street Road in Feasterville, Pa. roughly three weeks before the Nov. '60 election. I was wearing a bright white sweater while walking alone down Centre Ave. and was close enough to see him clearly. When JFK noticed me, his right arm went up quickly and he waved directly at me. His electric charm still haunts me just thinking about that day.

I marched in President Lyndon B. Johnson’s inaugural parade in Jan. '65 as a freshman at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy also known as Kings Point. After graduating in '68, I completed my three year obligation to Kings Point by sailing as a steam and diesel engineer. Since I reported for a physical four years out of the Academy, I was promoted to full Lieutenant in the Naval Reserve. After turning down an offer to become an active duty Naval Engineering Officer, I was honorably discharged as a full Lieutenant in the early '80s. I told you many postings ago about my dad being awarded the Navy's Distinguished Service Medal for saving lives as the Chief Engineer on a naval destroyer, the USS James C. Owens. The Owens was docked at Pusan Harbor during the Korean War. Capt. Robert Early had ordered the crew to stand down but my dad maintained general quarters in the engine room keeping the boilers and steam turbines hot in case of trouble. When a surprise attack happened, they were able to maneuver at full power. Seven crew members were killed during the battle. The ship may have been lost if they weren’t able to exit harm's way quickly. Capt. Early asked my dad how the ship was able to leave the harbor at 40 knots. He didn’t know general quarters was maintained in the engine room and recommended my dad for the Distinguished Service Medal. The offer to become an active duty Naval Engineering Officer was appreciated.

I’ve heard the Pusan Harbor attack in the T.V. "Mash" program is actual footage of the event. If so, my dad won his medal in a really fierce battle. I haven’t been able to find out conclusively if that’s true. I still honor my oath to protect and defend our country. My training has required a lifetime of vigilance so please take the following advice seriously. There is something not right about the present day Republican ethic. Believing in lies and hateful rhetoric always leads to an unpleasant future. The nature of the current Republican campaign seems to be overtly designed to harm our country. We’re looking into how reality has arrived at this point. Please remember this is coming from someone whose family voted for Republican Dwight D. Eisenhower in two Presidential elections.