I Attended Lehi, Arizona public schools and graduated from Mesa Union High School in 1935. Worked at various farms and construction jobs until 1937, and then joined the US Army. Spent 2 years in Hawaii (Schofield Barracks), discharged and re-enlisted at FT Bliss Texas for two months and then transferred to Army Air Corps. About one year later sent to Sacramento, California where I met the girl I was later to marry. I was transferred to many air bases- finally overseas in 1945. I spent 4 months in Italy, came back to Sacramento, in August 1945 and was discharged. I enlisted in the Air Force in June 1946 where I stayed at Sacramento (Mather AFB) for three years and then re-enlisted at Castle AFB, California where we moved to Turlock. This is where I came back into activity in the church. I had been inactive for 14 years except for 1 year in 1941. This activity was brought about through the efforts of my wife, Bishop Birtchall and his wife, and other fine members of Turlock Ward. Here I received a special blessing from Anson DeWitt, the Stake Patriarch just the day before going to England on a special Air Force project. This was the turning point of my life. The efforts of all these good people – their faith and prayers were answered and the spirit of the Lord touched my heart and understanding. My bad habits were overcome and I became active in the church. I was appointed advisor to the M-Men and Gleaners and shortly afterward Superintendent of YMMIA in 1950.
I got a little ahead of our family history in giving my own. Our first child, Roland, was born 11 Feb, 1944 at Sacramento. I was at Selfridge Field, Michigan at this time. Mary and Roland joined me here in April. In May I was transferred to Godman Field, Kentucky. They joined me there a few days later.
It was from there I went to Italy, sailing on Easter Sunday. I had stopped by my folks (in Arizona) on the way and I knew when I told my Dad goodbye that he knew that it would be the last time he would see me while he was in this life. The next time I saw him was at his funeral in 1947. He was buried beside my mother in Mesa. She died in 1923 of appendicitis (I was 6 years old).Our second child, Laurel, was born while I was in Italy, 9 May 1945. This partially explains my early returns as each child counted 12 points toward returning home and this gave me sufficient to do so. After I was discharged we made our home in Sacramento. Here our third child, Linda, was born, 29 April, 1948. Mary lost her father here in 1946 (John Leland Hales). He was a fine man who understood the gospel and had a strong testimony.
While in Turlock I was appointed Elder’s Group Leader and served as a Stake Missionary for 1 year. Also, I was on the building committee for a new chapel. We really had wonderful experiences in Turlock and sure did hate to leave. The Lord blessed us abundantly. It was shortly after I came back into activity that my wife and I were privileged to go to the Mesa Temple to receive our endowments, to be sealed for all eternity and to have our 4 children sealed to us. David, our 4th child was born on July 24, 1949 and Rachael, our 5th on April 2 1952. (Rachael was born under the new and everlasting covenant). It was indeed a time of rejoicing.
After being transferred to Forbes AFB, we joined the Topeka, Kansas branch in January 1953 and it didn’t take long for them to put us to work! I was appointed Elder’s Group Leader and assistant YMMIA Superintendant in Feb 1953. In May I was set apart as Supt of YMMIA holding this until Oct 1953 when I was set apart as branch financial clerk. At this time I was also released as Elder’s Group Leader. In June 1954, I was set apart as 1st Councilor to the Branch President, Christian Sanders and released as Financial Clerk. In November 1954 I was appointed Scoutmaster of Troup 50, BSA, a church sponsored troop. We have a small troop but they are good boys and the troop is growing. I sure have enjoyed working with them. On December 26, 1954 I was set apart as a District Missionary. I know that I am going to enjoy this work. I have a firm testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ and know that the Lord blesses us in our home.
In Jun of 1955 the Air Force transferred me to March AFB, California. We decided that this was where we would complete the raising of our children, so we bought a very nice home there (4145 Jackson Street) in Riverside. However, in July of 1957 the orders came for me to go to Biggs AFB, El Paso, Texas. By this time Roland was in the 8th grade, Laurel the 7th, Linda 4th, David 3rd, and Rachael 1st. We really enjoyed El Paso. The two wards there had been divided the week before our arrival and everyone thought we had come from one of the other wards. Mary was called to the MIA Stake Board and shortly thereafter I was called as an assistant ward clerk. It was a wonderful year there and when it was up I was transferred to the Azores Islands (near Portugal) a military refueling stop. Prior to going overseas I was able to move the family back to our home in Riverside. I went to the Azores in August 1958 and by March of 1959 I was ready to leave there. The only way I could leave was to retire. I applied for retirement and came back in April of 1959 to Norton AFB, Calif. where I was retired on April 30, 1959. We maintained our home in Riverside.
In Jun 1959 I went to work for the Navy at the North Island Repair Facility, San Diego, as a Radio Repairman. Right after retirement I had applied for employment at the Naval Ordinance Laboratory in Corona (only a few miles away), but was not successful. However, it was an easy matter to have me transferred to Corona after I had been employed by the Navy in San Diego for 90 days.
In Riverside we were members of the Arlington Ward, Mt. Rubidoux Stake. Here I was called on a Stake Mission and was ordained to the office of a Seventy on 21 October, 1956 by Clifford E. Young of the First Council of the Seventy. (This was prior to going to El Paso, Texas). After returning from the Azores I was called as ward clerk of the Arlington Ward by Bishop Milton H. Tew.
In 1959 I started to night school on the GI Bill to work toward a Bachelor’s Degree. This was not completed until 1970 when I obtained a B.S. in Administrative Law. I first started and Riverside City College, then Chaffee College in Ontario, California and completed with the Riverside Branch of the Van Norman University Law School (Los Angeles).
In Jun of 1955 the Air Force transferred me to March AFB, California. We decided that this was where we would complete the raising of our children, so we bought a very nice home there (4145 Jackson Street) in Riverside. However, in July of 1957 the orders came for me to go to Biggs AFB, El Paso, Texas. By this time Roland was in the 8th grade, Laurel the 7th, Linda 4th, David 3rd, and Rachael 1st. We really enjoyed El Paso. The two wards there had been divided the week before our arrival and everyone thought we had come from one of the other wards. Mary was called to the MIA Stake Board and shortly thereafter I was called as an assistant ward clerk. It was a wonderful year there and when it was up I was transferred to the Azores Islands (near Portugal) a military refueling stop. Prior to going overseas I was able to move the family back to our home in Riverside. I went to the Azores in August 1958 and by March of 1959 I was ready to leave there. The only way I could leave was to retire. I applied for retirement and came back in April of 1959 to Norton AFB, Calif. where I was retired on April 30, 1959. We maintained our home in Riverside.
In Jun 1959 I went to work for the Navy at the North Island Repair Facility, San Diego, as a Radio Repairman. Right after retirement I had applied for employment at the Naval Ordinance Laboratory in Corona (only a few miles away), but was not successful. However, it was an easy matter to have me transferred to Corona after I had been employed by the Navy in San Diego for 90 days.
In Riverside we were members of the Arlington Ward, Mt. Rubidoux Stake. Here I was called on a Stake Mission and was ordained to the office of a Seventy on 21 October, 1956 by Clifford E. Young of the First Council of the Seventy. (This was prior to going to El Paso, Texas). After returning from the Azores I was called as ward clerk of the Arlington Ward by Bishop Milton H. Tew.
In 1959 I started to night school on the GI Bill to work toward a Bachelor’s Degree. This was not completed until 1970 when I obtained a B.S. in Administrative Law. I first started and Riverside City College, then Chaffee College in Ontario, California and completed with the Riverside Branch of the Van Norman University Law School (Los Angeles).
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