Our mission in Labrador was to deliver mail, movies, food etc. to the troops and civilian workers who were installing the new Distant Early Warning System. (Radar). We would make pick-ups at Goose Bay and deliver to these remote encampments. The conditions on shore were terrible. A few of these stops were, Cartwright, Hopedale, Sagleg Bay, all in northern Labrador. I think this is a good spot to show you a picture of the Brough as She looked in the early Fifties.
The Brough arrived back at Newport in mid July and my first free weekend I headed home. On Saturday a few friends and I made a trek to Rockaway beach, a nice sunny day. Now, when we went to the beach, there wasn't much time spent on the sand! Duffy's tavern was as good a place as any, and that was our objective. The place was jumpin', or as they say now, rockin'. By the way, Duffy's tavern was located on one hundred sixteenth street and the boardwalk.
From the bar, through the crowd, who did I see dancing up a storm? Right! It was Helen!. When she sat down at the table, I approached and greeted her, and asked for the next dance. She accepted my invitation, but I sensed something was amiss. It took a while, but I finally came to realize that this girl doesn't even know who I am! I had grown a mustache in Labrador and she said it changed my looks a lot. (Some excuse!). Well, that night we met at the Red Parrot which was located on Myrtle Avenue in Glendale, and spent the evening together. After this weekend, we began to write each other more often, and made a point of seeing each other when I would get home.
A good part of the next year was spent (by me.) trying to coax Helen into
being my "steady girlfriend", I was frustrated by her evasiveness.
She admitted that she was having too good a time to be tied down to one
guy. Finally, in June of Nineteen Fifty Three, I received a letter
in which she stated her love for me. I will never forget that day.
I was, at the time, attending Radar School in Norfolk Virginia. 
Now
we began to date in earnest. This picture was taken on one of our
earliest outings. (Taken in the apartment of Dolores Reynolds' parents.
A close friend of Helen's.) Our very first planned date was to see
"South Pacific", and I believe afterwards, we ventured downtown to Sammy's
Bowery Follies. We really enjoyed Manhattan and its night life.
Good Times!
In the fall of this year the Brough (and the whole Atlantic fleet) made a cruise to northern Europe. It was a great experience. We made port in Greenoch, Scotland, Bergen, Norway, and Cherbourg, France. Also crossed the Arctic Circle. We had plenty of heavy, heavy seas to contend with (hard to write letters when you have to constantly hold on to something with both hands) but all in all it was something to remember.
Later that year Helen and I agreed mutually, that we would become engaged. This was truly a happy time in my life, although in November, we lost my father. Believe it or not, we spent New Years Eve in Pelligrinis' back room. (You remember that place!).
In February of Nineteen Fifty four we were engaged, and agreed to be married in May of Nineteen Fifty Five. (Slipped the engagement ring on in Saint Patrick's Cathedral).
The Chase......was over!.......
