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SHEA'S PLACE

PAGE TWO

THE MEETING..... On a very cold morning in late March of Nineteen Fifty One, our train arrived at the Great Lakes Naval Training Center. It is located in northern Illinois, and the wind was howling off Lake Michigan.
Standing in the dark and having a group of training officers barking orders at you was at the very least,
disillusioning. What made it a little easier was the fact that I had two of my best friends with me. Jack Shine and Joe Eckle were a saving grace. We had joined the Navy together with a group of other friends but we three were called up on the same date. After a day or two, we became accustomed to the routine and were on our way to becoming sailors.

Eleven weeks later, we graduated Boot Camp and were ready to receive our assignments. I had applied for printing school but was informed that no billets were available. After two weeks leave at home, I reported back and was assigned to the U. S. S. Brough DE-148. It was being recommissioned in Green Cove Springs, Florida. After a hot summer of chipping rust and painting, the Brough was recommissioned on September Seventh, Nineteen Fifty One. By the way, coincidentally, Jack and Joe received orders to report to Jacksonville Naval Air Station which was only thirty miles from Green Cove Springs. (Another blessing). Needless to say, a lot of visits were made between us.
After the Recommissioning and a month in a shipyard in Jacksonville, we left on a short shake-down cruise. Everything checked out fine and we were assigned to the Atlantic Fleet. Newport, Rhode Island became our home port, and for the balance of Nineteen Fifty One and five months in Nineteen Fifty two, the Brough cruised between Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and Key West, Florida. From Key West, we made a cruise to Havana Cuba. ( It was really quite a city for a gang of swabby's to visit! ) Well, back to Newport.

Being so close to New York was a break in that I could travel home on my duty free weekends. It is now May of Nineteen Fifty Two.

During one of those weekends in May, it happened that the three of us were home at the same time. On Saturday night we decided we would try a different bar, rather than the usual neighborhood hang-outs. It was called Pelligrini's, and was located on Fresh Pond Road next to the El station. It was a larger bar than we anticipated, having a back room with a dance floor. I think we had a couple of beers at the bar and then noticed three or four girls in the back room, dancing with each other. (No competition!) So a table in the back room was in order. All four girls were "good lookers" but of course one in particular caught my eye, so I finally mustered up the nerve and asked her if she would like to dance. She accepted and we wound up dancing the night away. (Even though I was not much of a dancer.)

Well, since we both seemed comfortable with each other, I asked if I could walk her home. Her answer was yes, so we strolled up Fresh Pond Road. When we arrived at her home, I explained that I was interested in seeing her again but was leaving on a seven week cruise to Labrador on Monday. She let me take her address and phone number and I even got a kiss goodnight. WoW!

This was Helen and this was the meeting!........

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