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<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=95 BGCOLOR="#999999" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="176005f0ermwup.gif"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#111111" FACE="Arial" ><B>Navy</B></FONT><B> </B><B> </B><B> </B><B> </B><B> </B><B>|    </B><B> </B><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Navy"><U><B>home</B></U></A></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=190 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <B><IMG SRC="06482820.gif" border=0 width="130" height="130" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <div> <B>Don't Rock the boat</B></div> </td> <td valign="top" height=385 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <B>I Didn't Do It Alone</B></div> <div> <B>Part 6</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>     In January 1951, I took Carole to Pennsylvania to introduce her to Mom and Dad.  We rode up with Chuck Campbell. Chuck was a pipe smoker and he picked up a special blend of pipe tobacco that he couldn't find anywhere else.  Mom treated Carole kind of cold until one night, she went up to the bedroom and found Carole with her hair rolled up in pin curls. Mom thought she looked cute. Then Carole told her not to let me see her with her hair all rolled up. Mom came out laughing.  From that time on, Carole and Mom hit it off just fine. </B></div> <div> <B>     Carole and I were both young. She was 17 and still in high school.  I was 18 but soon to be 19 in January.  In those days, it was not uncommon for couples marrying at a young age. After Carole graduated from high school, we decided to tie the knot.  I told Mom Ives that we wanted to get married in a couple of days.  She asked if we could wait at least 2 weeks. We had several things to do in those 2 weeks.  I rented a small place in Enfield Apartments.  They were constructed out of cement blocks with two apartments to a unit.  It was low income housing, and I believe the rent was $42.00 per month.  Carole seemed to be happy with her future home.  I brought blue bunting and Navy gray enamel from the base.  Carole made curtains, and the floor shined gray like the deck of a ship.  The next thing we had to do was get a blood test.  Before getting the test, I told Carole not to worry, it would be a piece of cake.  I got mine first, and darn near passed out.  It didn't bother Carole in the least. We went out side and set on a bench.  Carole was worried about me and called her Mom to come and get us. I was embarrassed. </B></div> <div> <B>     While we were dating, Carole and I spent several mornings at Junie and Pansy's. They were from Georgia, and Pansy was a good cook. She would fix fried bacon and eggs with a large serving of grits.  I never ate grits till that time, and I have enjoyed them ever since.  I guess I'm a rebel at heart. </B></div> <div> <B>     The wedding was set for the 16th of June.  Mom Ives didn't have time to prepare for a church wedding and decided to have the wedding in the home. This didn't allow enough time for Mom and Dad to come down. The days were closing in on the 16th, and I was getting apprehensive.  I went to see Carole about every evening as we continued to work on our apartment.  Friday, we spent time at Junie and Pansy's.  Several of the guys showed up, and gave Carole and I a good ribbing. Saturday the 16th arrived.  I didn't sleep well that night and was up early.  My buddies wanted to take me to Elizabeth City and celebrate my last few hours of single living. My last fling didn't amount to much. They bought me a good meal and a few drinks. </B></div> <div> <B> </B></div> <div> <B>The wedding was scheduled for six. Gene Watz and six others including me rode to Mom Ives house. Jack Trenary was there. I had about 15 minutes to go iside and get ready for the wedding ou look kind of pale.  Are you ready for this?  “Wow Jack, I feel a little weak in the knees, but I’m ready to get this over with.”  Jack was our best man, and I believe he was as excited as I was.  I could hear wedding music coming out of the living room.  Mom Ives looked in the door.  “We are ready.”  Jack and I headed out to the living room.  I went over in front of the preacher.  The next thing, I hear the Bridal March, and Carole came out from the other bedroom escorted by her father. (When I was writing this, I asked Carole what song was played as she came out?  She said, “ The Bridal March, silly.  What did you think it was called - A Sucker is Born Every Minute?” )   Carole looked beautiful in her linen dress, and broad brimmed hat covering her long black hair. She came over beside me as we knelt down in front of the preacher.   In what seemed like eternity, I was asked to kiss the bride.  It was over.  After a few pictures, Uncle Victor took us for a ride to possum corners, and then to Uncle Junior’s and Aunt Doris’ for the reception. All my friends, and all of Carole’s relatives were there. I never saw so many people crowded in one house before.  I felt like I was being looked over  by all the strange faces, and I guess I was.  After all I was a new   They say, it aint over till the fat lady sings, and I was wishing the fat lady would start.  I didn’t have a car to take Carole off on a honeymoon nor did I have the money to go on a trip.  Mom Ives drove us over to our apartment.  We just looked at each other in amazement.  We are married now, and can be together in the same house.  It wasn’t long until we had our first fuss.  I got out of bed to get dressed, and go a close-by restaurant for some snacks.  I looked for my socks, and couldn’t find them anywhere.  The more I looked the angrier I got.  I never had this problem in the barracks.  After a few choice words, Carole found them.</B></div> <div> <B>     Many of my friends from the base came by.  It gave them a chance to get off the base, relax and enjoy a good home cooked meal.  We met our neighbors, and played cards and different games.  We were all in the same boat living from pay day to pay day with little money to go out on the town.  We had fun and didn’t know we were poor Many times we went to Junie and Pansy’s.  Pansy would fix bacon, eggs, and grits.  They were from Georgia, and Pansy knew how to fix a good meal Southern style.  </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>     Lou Marshal, a Parachute Rigger in the shop, said his wife was coming, and he didn’t have a place to stay.  I told him she could stay with us till he found a place.  I didn’t tell Carole.  I had the duty on the weekend when Rene arrived.  Lou took her to the apartment and came out to the base the next morning. Carole spent the night with her mother and that morning she came back to the apartment with her aunt. When they walked in, Carole was met by a cute blonde.  Rene could tell that Carole had a shocked look on her face and said, “Didn’t Bill tell you?”  My name was mud until we got it straightened out. A couple of days later, Carole and I went up town.  Lou and Rene stayed in bed.  Pop Ives usually brought us vegetables from his farm a couple times a week.  He came in and went to the bed room.  He pulled on Rene’s toe and said, “It’s time to get up Piggy.”  Lou sat up wondering who this man was.  Pop thought he was in the wrong apartment and ran out as fast as he could.  When we got home, Lou said there was a strange man who came in the bed room and called his wife Piggy.  Carole and I had a good laugh.  I enjoyed being around Carole’s father.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>     I asked my good Navy friend, Lou Marshal who I served with in the Blimp Squadron, to send me any of his memories of our time in Elizabeth City.  I didn’t see Lou until 21 years later while I was Superintendent of the Aircrew Survival Equipment School at Lakehurst, NJ.  Lou was a Parachute Rigger Chief coming back for advanced training.  Then we were together at the Parachute Rigger Reunion held in Pensacola, FL in 2001.  This is a copy his e-mail:</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"Good evening Bill!! I have read some of your memoirs and they are very interesting indeed!  In my opinion you have come a long ways, and being a part on the navy you did  very well, and this is great! You were very successful and you went along way  in the navy. I remember you very well when I first met you, as at that time you were  a PR3 in ZP1. I was in ZP4 as a QMSN, there I met Jack Trenary who introduced  me to you, this happened as I was trying to strike for PR beings I was a  former Army rigger of the 82nd Airborne Div. Later on Jack Trenary got me  transferred to the Parachute Loft. There I met Ralph Coughlin, Wilson,  Pittman, Krawcyzak, Slingluff, etc. I remember at secure times we walked to the gate and got into your hot  car, and you said,"Good God I reckon" as the heat intensified the car like an  oven, and you use to drive me home on Rivershore Road in Elizabeth City.  Remember? We use to go fishing together on the Pasquotank River, sometimes with  cane poles or with spinning rods. I remember the time when Carole, Rene, you  and I went fishing from our place there on the river and we went out in the  boat, and on return in docking Carole went into the river trying to dock the  boat. She was very furious that day, and I never seen her so mad in all my  life. Remember?? I also remember where we use to drink some beers in the Gold Ore Tavern  there in Elizabeth City. I also remember on New Years Eve you came to our  place and got us out of bed and you were making loud whistles, and all of us  went out to paint the town red. I also remember when we use to go out across the sound with Jack & Hazel  and he use to love to do the Jitterbug with Hazel to the tune of "In the  Mood".I remember at time you use to sleep or snooze under the packing table or  in the dry locker, and so did Jack Trenary. We use to stand long duty weekends, and when we did we made  "cumshaw"items. Lot of times Carole, Rene you and I did things together. Do  you remember when we went swimming at Nags Head, N.C.?? I remember on duty  nights you use to sing "Shit bags are comin', no sleep tonight". I remember  you very well, Bill Scott! We use to call you "Scotty" then. I do remember  when you use to take us out for rides in your 41 Black Buick. I remember  your dog "Cinders"too! Personnel getting orders and PCS and we lost you in time, until the day  I found you in San Diego in the Quonset Housing, you were a PR1 then, and I  was a PR2 and you were smoking cigars then also, and that’s the last I have  seen you until I came to Lakehurst and you were a LCDR and I a Chief. My  times with Carole & you were great times in our lives, and I treasure that!  I thank you for the good times, and I treasure your friendship as well. God  Bless Carole & you. Anytime if I can help you on this matter, just let me  know. Your good navy friend and buddy, Lou Marshall." </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>      It was a long walk to catch the bus to the base.  I was in need of a car, and talked it over with Carole.   I didn’t have a driver’s licence, and very little money to buy one.  When you are young and dumb, all things are possible.  We went to the Chevy car lot and looked at the used cars.  There was two car dealerships in town, and very few cars to look at.  Sailors could not buy anything on credit because of the Soldier and Sailor relief act.  This meant that Sailors were not responsible for their bills.  Off in the corner of the lot was this shinny black 1941 Buick.  It had a straight eight engine with good upholstery inside. I’m not sure what they wanted for it, but I told the man that I would like to buy the car.  I think the sell price was less than $400.  I was told if I had a co-signer, he would consider selling the car.   We went home and talked about the black beauty.  Carole had her driver’s licence and said if we could only get the car, she would teach me how to drive.  The next day, Carole talked with her father.  When I came home from the base, Carole told me that her Dad would co-sign.  We met her father at the car lot.  Carole’s father was well known in Elizabeth City and everyone called him PD.  He said, “This is my daughter, and this is her husband, Smitty.”  (Pop always called me Smitty until the day he died.  I never corrected him.)  Whatever PD said was OK with the salesman, and Carole drove me back to the apartment.  I think the payments were $25 with no interest.  We had our car.  The next day, I was practicing on the street in front of the house.  I backed into a fire hydrant causing a big leak.  I parked the car up the street till the city repaired the hydrant.  I pulled all kind of stunts with the car.  I run out of gas in front of the police station in a no parking zone.  I told them that Carole was driving.  The cop said, “Just like a woman.”  I didn’t get a ticket.  I finally got my driver’s licence and base sticker.     </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>     I always liked dogs and finally convinced Carole that we should get one.  On a Sunday, we went to the dog pound.  Next to the fence was a young Wire Hair Terrier.  I bent the fence back, and off we go with our dog.  We named him Klinker.  After all, we did get him out of the Klink.  A short time later, Klinker broke his back leg.  The vet put a metal framed cast on it, and when Klinker run down the sidewalk the sparks would fly.  All the dogs in the neighborhood were afraid of him.  One day we couldn’t find Klinker.  We looked everywhere for my good friend.   We found out that a man living not far from our apartment put his dog in the pound while he was on vacation.  It was Klinker.  The owner stole him back. </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>     We moved from Enfield to an upstairs apartment on the River Side of town.  This was a nice furnished apartment, so we sold all of our furnishings that we had in Enfield.  I don’t know what we received, but we paid $15.00 for our house full of furniture.  We added a few items so we may have gotten $20 or $25 for everything.  We shared the upstairs bath room with the owners.  When the man of the house came up to use the bath room, he would usually yell, “EUNICE” especially right after I used it.  Eunice would come up and take care of his needs, toilet paper or foo-foo to kill the odors.  To this day Eunice is symbolic with the bath room.  Many times in a restaurant, I would tell Carole, “I’m going to go see Eunice”. .</B></div> <div> <B>The apartment was a couple of blocks from a boat dock.  Each morning I would pass over a small bridge and look at the boats.  I saw one slip unused.  I told Carole that I would like to get a boat and motor.  She reminded me of our finances.  We had little money, and I had  big ideas. Not long after, I received my income tax refund.  I found a large wooden boat for sale located across the sound. It was a solid boat and the price was $35.00.  Now all I needed was an outboard motor.  I found one at Western Auto.  It was a 6½ horsepower Wizard Motor.  Today, a motor that small would be used for trolling, certainly not to push a heavy wooden 16 foot boat around.  The cost was around $65.00.           </B></div> <div> <B>Soon after, Carole took me and Bob Kensler to get the boat.  Carole let us out and she headed back to the other side of the sound.  I wasn’t concerned, but if we had problems it would have been a long time before Carole realized that we weren’t heading back.  It started to get dark as we pulled away from the shore.  The wind picked up, and two foot swells were rolling toward us.  We were both holding on for dear life as the prop would come out of the water and scream at us.  During the next hour, we inched our way to the other side.  As we came near the cove, I could see Carole waving a flashlight.  When Bob got out, I noticed a large wet spot on the seat of his pants.  I’m not sure if the seat was wet or Bob wet his pants. We tied the boat, and went home to a good warm meal.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>     I enjoyed the boat.  Carole and I went fishing every chance we had.  Carole didn’t know how to swim so I got her a life jacket from the base.  There was one spot that we usually fished.  It was fun to watch the bobber go under.  Most of the fish were small pan fish, but we brought them home for a fish fry.  On one occasion, I asked Carole to go and bring back a few sandwiches.  She never drove the boat but never complained.  I got the motor started, and off she went.  She was always a great sport and looking back, I certainly took advantage of her good nature.  I invited several of the Guys at the base to go fishing.  Many times something exciting would happen.  Pitman was with me.  We pulled next to the bank and started to fish. For some reason, the fish didn’t bite.  I asked Pitman to get the oar off the bank and push the boat out.  Pitman grabbed the oar, but it started to move.  It was a large water moccasin.  Pitman froze.  The snake worked it’s way loose, and Pitman said, “You get the damn oar.” </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>     The river was full of Cotton Mouth snakes.  They intertwined into a big ball during breeding season.  Bob Krawzyack was with me as we made our way up the river.  I saw a big ball of snakes about ten yards away.  My curiosity got the best of me so we went toward the snakes at a slow pace.  About five yards away, the motor died, and the snakes started toward us.  Bob tried to start the motor.  One pull after another, and the motor didn’t even cough.  The snakes were getting closer.  I told Bob to get an oar and keep the snakes out of the boat.  Bob was a big guy weighing around 240.  As he went toward the front, the boat started to rock.  I thought we were going to upset.  If we did, you wouldn’t be reading this.  With one last pull on the cord. the motor started.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>     We made several trips to my home in Pennsylvania.  There were no interstates.  Our trip took us up through down town Richmond, Virginia, then to Fredericksburg, and off cross country through West Virginia.  When we got to Cumberland, Maryland, we traveled over the mountains to Uniontown and on home to Allenport.  The Buick did a great job except for a hill in Brownsville.  There was a stop sign at the Railroad tracks with a steep hill on the other side.  Every time I came to this hill, I swore I would make it to the top going head on.  The best I did was making it about 3/4 of the way.  Then it was back down, turn around, and back up the hill.  People on the side of the road laughed and waved me on.  On a trip back to Elizabeth City, I came to a gas station with high price 28 cent a gallon gas.  I told Carole that we can make it to the next town for cheaper fuel.  It was getting late, and the gas station was closed.  I turned around and headed back.  About 5 miles from town, the car ran out of gas.  Here we were in the mountains of West Virginia late at night, and pitch black out.  I told Carole to lock the doors and I would return as soon as possible.  I hitch hiked into town with my small gas can. The car was on a hill.  There wasn’t enough gas to get it started.  I went back to town, borrowed a large can, and finally made it back to the service station. I tried to save maybe 75 cents and it cost me a couple of bucks extra.  I learned my lesson. Today, when my gas gauge gets down to a quarter, I get the shakes till I see a gas station.       </B></div> <div> <A HREF="id27.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Part 7"><U><B><IMG SRC="065251e0.gif" border=0 width="37" height="30" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A><B>  Next Page</B></div> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>