The greatest thing that happened to me was joining the Navy at the tender age of 15-1/2. This was done on Feb. 7, 1927 at Brooklyn, N.Y. I had 4 years of formal schooling at the time and I enlisted under an assumed name; Frank Salvatore Russel. Boot training was completed at Newport, R.I.

My first ship was the old submarine tender BUSHNELL. At the time I was a Seaman 2nd class. I got caught teaching the Boatswain Mates pet parrot how to swear and this resulted in my transfer to the submarine base at Coco Solo, Canal Zone. The 0-8 needed a body and I was available. Three months later I switched from Seaman 2nd to Fireman 3rd. In March of 1928 I made Fireman 2nd. Then in November of 1929 I made the grade of Fireman lst. I was sure getting up that ladder of success.

On August 4, 1930, I left the Navy as a Fireman First Class, got paid off and stayed out until December 4, 1930. This was at the height of the great depression. I came crawling on my knees and pulled some strings to get back into the Navy.

I was sent to the USS TEXAS; a nightmare until September of 1932. Then I managed to get back to submarines. I was a Fireman 1st class and it was at Pearl that I was swapped to the S-30 for a bale of rags.

From 1935 to 1940 I was still a Fireman 1st class but with proficiency in rating, mechanical ability and ability in leadership of men as well as good conduct. In August 1940 I was transferred to the USS SICARD, a destroyer and here I made MM2nd Class within one month. At the time I could have passed a Chief's exam.

On the base at Pearl during this time as Fireman, I think there may have been some resentment since I was driving a Cadillac Touring car while the Skipper of the base was being driven around in a Chevy.

A shipmate fell overboard while underway on the S-31. I jumped in and held him up until we were both picked up. There was quite a bit of publicity and I was considered for a life saving medal. I thought it a good time to get straightened out and correct my name.

From the Sicard I went to the Oglala then to the Aircraft Carrier RANGER. Spent time in China and on the S-39. While in Souraba, Netherlands East Indies, I got sick and hooked onto the flag of the Dutch Navy. Was eventually evacuated, I think on board the Fulton at Tilajap. I found out that I had made Chief. The S-39 went aground and I missed that excitement.

At Freemantle, Australia, the Sturgeon pulled in and they were looking for a MM2C. My records hadn't caught up with me so ... by the second patrol run the secret was out. Everybody was unhappy, including Skunk Murray who recruited me as a 2nd Class. I made three runs on board the STURGEON and was sent Stateside on Presidential orders. At Groton, Connecticut I helped put the CERO in commission and made one run on her. I was transferred to the USS TINOSA as Chief of the Boat for the seventh run.

Two things stand out vividly in my memory. While on board Tinosa we picked up and committed to the deep the body of an air-crew-man who had been shot down. He kept a written record of his last days alive while in his small rubber raft. When things get tough for me all I have to do is recall his encounter with death and my problems are simple.

(The airman spent 30 days in the rubber raft. It had formerly held 3 men. The Japs had machine gunned and wounded him. He was dead about 6 days when found.)

The second thing that stands out in my memory is the practice that I instituted regarding loading stores on board. There would be no battery charges, no charging of torpedoes, no charts being prepared, no yeoman reports, etc., etc. All hands loaded stores. If you recall I took my turn carrying foodstuffs.

Oh yes, why I'm so thankful to the Navy. I took enough courses in engineering to qualify as a Marine Engineer and an industrial engineer in Civil service. I retired from both of the above and am now a cowboy from Brooklyn.