I served in the U.S. Navy from Aug. 1959 through July 1980, Retiring as a E-9.
In 1987 my wife of 25 years decided she wanted a divorce, at this time we had 4 children,
2 of which were adults and a 14 and 9 year old daughter still at home.
My wife's reason was that she wanted to be with my half brother, (whom she had an
affair with some 18 years earlier) while I was in (Viet Nam).
I fought in the courts to give our daughters the right to choose which parent they
wanted to live with. (They chose to live with me). However I was advised that there was
nothing I could do but to give her the 50% of my retainer.
For 6 months while waiting for the divorce to become final she was living out of
the area with my brother, I had custody of the minor children and still paid her an
additional $700 a month in child support.
I refinanced our home and paid her 1/2 fair market value in a lump sum settlement.
I paid off all the outstanding debts, Raised our daughters as a single parent, While
she married my brother. They bought 2 new cars and a Mobile home immediatley while I was
driving a 21 year old vehicle as did not qualify for a loan at this time to purchase anything newer.
I received no child support at anytime while raising our daughters.
I have an accumulative time of 56 months in combat zone during the VietNam affair.
have made 11 full term West Pac Deployments (6 to 9 mos. in duration in my day) Plus numerous
shorter cruises overseas. For some
reason I do not remember her being on any of them, I don't remember her sharing in any of
the dangers or hardship of shipboard life in a combat zone. She never had to work during our 25 years of
marriage. She was a
housewife taking care of our children, Always had a place to live, a vehicle to drive and
money for the needs of the family. There was a time while on shore duty I worked a second job
nights amd weekends in order to make up for loss of sea pay to support my family and to be able
to qualify to buy a home.
I made certain that she kept her Beauticians License current in the event she had
to fall back on her profession just in case anything should ever happen to me.
I am still paying, 16 years later over $157,000.00 to date. It is Un-believable that this could
happen but thanks to USFSPA it has to me and thousands more just like me. It is still happening
and will continue unless something is changed. This unjustice MUST be corrected to prevent
this from happening to others in the future.
Joined Navy in August 1959, Co. 395 SDiego, MM"A" School GLakes, Submarine School NLondon,
Nukpower School MIsland, U.S.S. Bridget (DE-1024), U.S.S. Piedmont (AD-17), U.S.S. Paricutin (AE-18),
AC&R School Instructor SDiego, U.S.S. England (DLG-22), 1200 PSI MTT Team 1 SDiego, NavMacPac SDiego, Retired
July 1980 as a MMCM.
Divorced in 1987 after 25 years, 4 Daughters, 10 Grandchildren, Enjoy Family, Friends, Radio, Computer,
Camping, Wild Life, Fishing, Cooking, Eating, Trips Driving, Mountains and the Early Morning
Worked at various Ship Yards San Diego area 16 years, and as a Mechanic's Shop Manager
at a Automotive Repair Facality with a Dealers only Auto Action 3 years - Now Retired
