Me at sea

In the Navy, I served aboard a WWII minesweeper , the U.S.S.

Avenge, MSO 423 (172 feet long, with an 80-man crew and a maximum speed of 14 knots, aka 16 mph).

Minesweepers were the only all-wooden, ocean-going ships in

the Navy. They were made of wood to enable us to sweep magnetic mines without becoming dust and debris. They’re all at the bottom now. Phased out, not blown bits.

I was what they called a “deck ape.” They said I’d be a radioman when I left boot camp, but the ship already had one, so they hung me over the side with a paint brush.