A remembrance, by son Fred
Dad (1909-1995) was a young lawyer in Cleveland with two children
(soon to be three) at the time of Pearl Harbor.
He joined the Navy in 1943. I don't know the date he was assigned to
the Miller, but I do remember hearing about Ulithi, Sipan, Iwo Jima
and Tokyo Bay. He did mention a typhoon at sea and seeing the Franklin
burn. While he was away, my Mother and my brothers and I lived with
my Grandfather in Flushing, MI. One time I remember taking my Mother
to the train in Durand, MI so she could travel to San Francisco to
spend a few days with Dad while the Miller was being refitted at Mare
Island to deal with the kamikazies. I recall Dad coming to MI for
Christmas, 1945, which would have been just after the Miller was
decommissioned; and, just before he was released from active duty.
When Dad was released from active duty the first of 1946, he returned to his
old job in Cleveland with Squire, Saunders & Dempsey, at which time, he was granted a
partnership. He had a most accomplished career as a lawyer, including a term as
president of the Ohio Bar Association in the mid 60s. When he retired from the firm
at the manditory age of 70, he and I practiced together in Ashland for about 10 years.
Dad died in 1995, leaving his widow, Suzie (Mother died in 1985), four children,
eleven grandchildren and three great grandchildren.
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