Feb. 22, '07, Dewey writes:
Since 1980 I have been O.K. Retired from the Navy in May '82. Worked
5 years in civil service as a Safety Specialist till '88. Was GS-9 due for
GS-11 when my mother got real sick. Packed everyone up and moved
to Idaho. She passed away two weeks after I got there, but I managed
to get on with the Union Pacific Railroad in train service. Started as a
Switchman, Brakeman (1st is yard; 2nd, road), then after 2 years was
made a Conductor, and in '94 became a Locomotive Engineer (get to
toot the horn).
I took a buy-out at the end of May '02 and had it stretch the payments
over 2 years so I could retire at 62. Also in May '02, I had bypass
surgery---five at the end, was looking at three. But I recovered and
feel great. Moved to Fresno to help the wife look after her parents.
They are 80 and 85 and go to a lot of doctor appointments and are in
and out of the hospital for minor things, but it eats up the time. Judy
has been keeping in touch. That's about it for me.
Since 1980 I have been O.K. Retired from the Navy in May '82. Worked
5 years in civil service as a Safety Specialist till '88. Was GS-9 due for
GS-11 when my mother got real sick. Packed everyone up and moved
to Idaho. She passed away two weeks after I got there, but I managed
to get on with the Union Pacific Railroad in train service. Started as a
Switchman, Brakeman (1st is yard; 2nd, road), then after 2 years was
made a Conductor, and in '94 became a Locomotive Engineer (get to
toot the horn).
I took a buy-out at the end of May '02 and had it stretch the payments
over 2 years so I could retire at 62. Also in May '02, I had bypass
surgery---five at the end, was looking at three. But I recovered and
feel great. Moved to Fresno to help the wife look after her parents.
They are 80 and 85 and go to a lot of doctor appointments and are in
and out of the hospital for minor things, but it eats up the time. Judy
has been keeping in touch. That's about it for me.
| Dewey's Page |
| "Missing Man" Table |
1960: Dewey graduates. When this
picture was taken, he almost broke
the camera. Everyone had to wait
till the photographer could fix it.
picture was taken, he almost broke
the camera. Everyone had to wait
till the photographer could fix it.
| 3/6/07: Dewey with his sister, Lynne, from Oakley, Idaho. |
| Dewey and his locomotive |
June 23, '07--On age and schooling:
Actually it doesn't bother me, my age---it's that guy who keeps
looking back at me in the mirror. Strange what the mind's eye
has us seeing ourselves as. My mind seems to want to put forth
a mental image of me between 17 and mid-20s. But that is just
my mind's eye. The camera's eye is more down to earth in
recording what time and the good life have done to this old guy.
So here is your info. Born 23 May 1942 at Redondo Beach,
California (one of those rare things). Moved to Garden Valley,
Idaho in '45 after the WWII thing. Then to Nampa, Idaho. Lived in
a tent house (old army tent with wooden walls). In '47 moved to
Ontario, Oregon and lived in a house that my dad built. Started
school 1st grade in '48 and also the 2nd grade. In the 3rd grade,
I went to nine different schools in five states: Idaho, Utah,
Nevada, California, and ended the school year in Salt Lake City,
Utah. My folks split up and I went back to Ontario, OR with my
mom and sister. Did the 4th, 5th, & started the 6th grade there.
Summers after the 4th & 5th grade were spent with my dad in
Salt Lake City. My mom remarried during the summer after the
5th grade to an Army sergeant. He was at Ft Lewis, WA, but
received orders to Camp Chaffee, Arkansas. We moved there
after 6 wks. of school in Ontario, but didn't go to school in Ark.
There about three wks. and stepdad was reassigned to Camp
Polk, Louisiana, where I went to school in Deridder. Then at the
end of the 6th grade, another move to Ft. Riley, where I went to
the 7th grade in Wakefield, Kansas. It had a population of 500 or
so. At the end of the 7th grade another move to Ashaffenburg,
Germany. Did the 8th grade there, and the 9th grade we were
bussed to Hanau, Germany---about 35 km. away. At the end of
the 9th grade moved to Baumholder, Germany, where I met Ira
Kennedy. He was a junior.
In the middle of the year moved again. This time my stepdad
was stationed at Fort Hood, and we moved to a nice little town
called Belton, Texas. That as you know is where I finished my
high school with the Class of '60.
So when people ask where you're from and where did you grow
up, it is a long answer.
Actually it doesn't bother me, my age---it's that guy who keeps
looking back at me in the mirror. Strange what the mind's eye
has us seeing ourselves as. My mind seems to want to put forth
a mental image of me between 17 and mid-20s. But that is just
my mind's eye. The camera's eye is more down to earth in
recording what time and the good life have done to this old guy.
So here is your info. Born 23 May 1942 at Redondo Beach,
California (one of those rare things). Moved to Garden Valley,
Idaho in '45 after the WWII thing. Then to Nampa, Idaho. Lived in
a tent house (old army tent with wooden walls). In '47 moved to
Ontario, Oregon and lived in a house that my dad built. Started
school 1st grade in '48 and also the 2nd grade. In the 3rd grade,
I went to nine different schools in five states: Idaho, Utah,
Nevada, California, and ended the school year in Salt Lake City,
Utah. My folks split up and I went back to Ontario, OR with my
mom and sister. Did the 4th, 5th, & started the 6th grade there.
Summers after the 4th & 5th grade were spent with my dad in
Salt Lake City. My mom remarried during the summer after the
5th grade to an Army sergeant. He was at Ft Lewis, WA, but
received orders to Camp Chaffee, Arkansas. We moved there
after 6 wks. of school in Ontario, but didn't go to school in Ark.
There about three wks. and stepdad was reassigned to Camp
Polk, Louisiana, where I went to school in Deridder. Then at the
end of the 6th grade, another move to Ft. Riley, where I went to
the 7th grade in Wakefield, Kansas. It had a population of 500 or
so. At the end of the 7th grade another move to Ashaffenburg,
Germany. Did the 8th grade there, and the 9th grade we were
bussed to Hanau, Germany---about 35 km. away. At the end of
the 9th grade moved to Baumholder, Germany, where I met Ira
Kennedy. He was a junior.
In the middle of the year moved again. This time my stepdad
was stationed at Fort Hood, and we moved to a nice little town
called Belton, Texas. That as you know is where I finished my
high school with the Class of '60.
So when people ask where you're from and where did you grow
up, it is a long answer.
| 3/1/07: Our Dewey looks like a movie star---"older male lead." |
| Serious character actor... |
| Right: Son John Dewey inspecting the same kind of boat as his father's. |
| 7/14/07: The Williams Family: Oldest son John; "DLG" Jenny; middle kid, Albert; Dewey's wife Amanda; and his "Forwardship." |
May 18, 2007, Dewey writes:
My son John Dewey and I were in San Diego for the 2007
Swift Boat Sailor's Reunion. It was great and we saw
several of the people I had served with in Nam on the
Rivers and Coastal Patrols. There are 50 of us that are still
on Patrol. It was a good few days and it is the first time I
have seen a Memorial Service for the Swift Boat Sailors
who were lost. It kind of put a real closure to their being. Of
the 50 I knew 5 of them and talked to a couple of them on a
regular basis. Anyway it did my soul good. John seemed to
enjoy it too. We even got to go on a short boat ride on what
the swifts have been evolved into (below, right).
My son John Dewey and I were in San Diego for the 2007
Swift Boat Sailor's Reunion. It was great and we saw
several of the people I had served with in Nam on the
Rivers and Coastal Patrols. There are 50 of us that are still
on Patrol. It was a good few days and it is the first time I
have seen a Memorial Service for the Swift Boat Sailors
who were lost. It kind of put a real closure to their being. Of
the 50 I knew 5 of them and talked to a couple of them on a
regular basis. Anyway it did my soul good. John seemed to
enjoy it too. We even got to go on a short boat ride on what
the swifts have been evolved into (below, right).
| In Ontario: Knew already that he wanted to be a sailor. |
Jan's note: To honor Dewey's many contributions to
our site on his birthday, May 23, 2008, I asked for
photos of his younger years. Here's what he sent:
our site on his birthday, May 23, 2008, I asked for
photos of his younger years. Here's what he sent:
| Dewey, at about one year old. |
| Below: Early biker days in Louisiana. Notice native footwear. |
Left: Dewey didn't build
snowmen, like everybody
else. He built snowWOMEN!
snowmen, like everybody
else. He built snowWOMEN!
| Right: age 2, with birthday cake. |
| On November 18, 1960, Dewey started his career with the U.S. Navy. He's writing his memories. Read about it. |
I was a scout master for about four
years while my boys were in Cub
Scouts and have had a hair growth
on me upper lip a few times and a full
face of hair occasionally.
years while my boys were in Cub
Scouts and have had a hair growth
on me upper lip a few times and a full
face of hair occasionally.