John W Sinkankas:
CLASS OF 1959
Wakefield High SchoolClass of 1959
Arlington, VA
John W's Story
I was an immature " cut-up" in wakefield... I ment well, just not ready for structure or discipline in my life. I have been such a "late bloomer", that I seem to re-invent my self every 3-4 years.
I have had an interesting...if not spectacular life so far (just 71 now) and could write a book about all the events, many good and unfortunatly, many bad... I'll TRY a quick summery: US Navy 8 yrs, 1 yr, flying in USNR Patrol Sqdn.
Starting to drink Alcholicly. Work in electronics plant and get Married. Work in wholsale Gem Stone finishing plant
as Mechanical Maint. man and learn "shade tree Welding" (not). By the way! 2 babys at this time, with NO insurance
and 3.50/per hr. Almost die in alcohol related car wreck. Decide to quit job and go to formal, long course Welding
school. End up in Seattle, Wa., go to work in Shipyards making pretty good money. Join Union and stay there for 27 Years... During that time, I worked in the Shipyards, Shops and Outside Construction. For ~ 11 years. I knocked around a lot.
In the "nine Western States" I mostly worked on enormous Coal, Gas And Nucular Power Plants. I also worked on approximatly 5 different Refinerys and 15-20 Pulp mills (paper). During this time I amassed 5 DUI's and got Divorced
( basically "Kicked out").
Also in connection with road work, we lived in Pheonix and Denver but we always moved back to Seattle. I also quit
drinking (absolutly) in Nov. 1984, and smoking in Mar. 1996 !!
As a little self confidence in my situation and SOBER welding skills returned, I evaluated the Seattle climate and decided it SUCKS! and headed out to warmer climes... I ended up in LA, and was doing structural welding on High Buildings. Unfortunatly my years of (prior) welding and smoking caught up to me in a hurry and I started to get sick on every Job, Also I was working with the Ironworkers during this time and thier unwritten law said; no Travelers (me)
will be over 27...so age ment nothing!! God only knows that I tried but the physical part just "broke me down"
The Union Knew that I was a good welder, so they sent me to a Pulmanary Doctor. I was Diagnosed with advanced COPD and Athsma, with a 26% lung Disability.
After ! !/2 years legal wrangling, I was entered into a Class Action and was awarded ...Expand for more
a fair amount of money, REDUCED by 1/2 due to prior Smoking! I was also awarded (?) permanent SSI type Disability but with no monetary compensation. I Promptly Retired and since I was single and with the terrific cost of living in mind, I cast about looking for some place to hang my hat permanently... After looking for ~ 6 Mos. I settled on Knoxville, TN. and have been living here for 11+ years. While here, so far I have built a Street Roadster, been 1/2 owner of a Circle Track Race car and at one time had huge Gardens... That's my storey and I'm sticken to it !! JW Sinkankas
ps: while you folks paid attention...I fiddeled away in spelling class.
ADD ON, Late night, June,14...11:30/2022 Since my last, I fiddle faddled a bunch of bucks on
fun overseas trips! Hong Kong, Singapore, Tokyo, Venice and London with super long and
pricy plane trips. The A-380 (not impressed) several 777's several 747's one 767er and one
of those small, crowded Airbus "flybe' or some such.
I never really (to this day) added up all the buck$ Probably if I find out my head will hurt!
But I got in a little deep ($$) and ended up driving UBER...all was well until I took a
Cognitive Function Test and scored dangerously low. The score had to be higher to meet the States requirement for a " for hire" driver...and my almost new Ford Fusion was
repossed...so that all crashed & burned BUT !! the credit card bills did not stop and here
was the reason why I declared Chap. 13 Bankruptcy. I am now into my third year of the
deal. I only drive (anymore) when necessary and pretty much lowered my Std. of living.
On the Health & wellness front a lot has happened : two Stents, three Pneumonias and
both kinds of Covid. Prostate Cancer...a" 3 out of 7" whatever in the hell that means?
and several bouts of food poisening Now, for my Lungs I have heavy COPD and am
on Oxygen at this instant....Also mentioned above
Today I went to the Neurologists and after all the crazy tests; was judged fit for UBER
once again....Ironic now I can drive BUT have no Wheels sick,sick !
Well..... now that is about it, honestly, I love you ALL I just can't remember anyone
with the exception of Wayne Allman.......and that is a shame 'cuz some remember ME!!!
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