Martin Mellon:
CLASS OF 1959
Carter High SchoolClass of 1959
Strawberry plains, TN
Martin's Story
My story. I left Tennessee five days following the 1959 graduation. I had 5 dollars and a dream of seeing the world via the United States Navy. Well the dream came true. I spent 23 years in the Navy. Married Victoria M Zarzynski from Binghamton New York in 1964. Traveled to San Juan, St Thomas, St Croix, Cuba, Barbados in the Caribbean in my first 4 years. Participated in the Cuban blockade in 1963. Scary for a young dummy like me. Navy sent me to be a communicator and I started out in 1959 with Morse code and ended up managing Satellite transponders in 1982 when I retired. After marriage in 1964 we ventured to London England for three years. The back to Electronics school in 1969 to learn about transistors and integrated circuits. After School I spent a year in Norfolk Va. then off to Morocco in North Africa. We spent 4 years there. It was kind of nice. Then the Navy saw Fit to send me to college ... Spent two years in college getting as associates degree in management. then Off to Gaeta, Italy. We spent three years there. I was on a Command Ship and our primary mission was diplomatic. I visited Portugal, Spain, France, Greece, Turkey, Israel, Egypt, Tunisia, and Gibraltar, Took my boys with me to Greece and Egypt. We climbed inside the Giza pyramids and have pictures of us with the Sphinx. In Israel I was a guest of the Israeli Navy and they took me all over Israel. Jerusalem Bethlehem, The sea of Galilee, the Jordan river.. I spent a day and a night in a kibbutz. It was great. In Italy we visited the Vatican several times and Spent Christmas eve mass there one time. Our seats were about 30 feet from the Pope. The place was literally packed with standing room but we had reserved seats. I had my youngest on my shoulders most of the mass and he was in 5th grade...Expand for more
. Took the whole family to Athens, Greece and toured the country for five days. When my tour was up in Italy the Navy saw fit to send me to Honolulu, Hawaii. I was stations at Camp H.M Smith, a marine base. My command was Commander in Chief of the Pacific. It was very interesting work. From there I retired and we settled in Austin, Texas where I worked for Lockheed Missile and Space on the Tomahawk Cruise Missile software. In addition I attended Park College and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science. Have been here since. I enjoy going to the Texas Longhorn football and basketball games. My wife gave me the gift of season tickets back in '87 and we have had them since. When I finally quit working I am going to get season tickets to the Baseball games also. My two sons are both successful. The oldest is GS-14 working for the Internal Revenue Service and My youngest is assistant Vice President for IT at his company I have one grandson who is 21 and going to school to be a nurse. I have two granddaughters. Both are straight A students and have been since kindergarten. The older one is in the 7th grade and is a cheerleader for the Junior High. She is a member of the National Junior Honor Society and received the highest state grade in math for her school. She spent her first years through the fifth grade in a private Christian school and entered the sixth grade in a public school. The youngest will probably follow that same path. The youngest is a very athletic young lady. She is very good at gymnastics and at soccer. She very competitive in both. Well I have bragged enough. I hope all is well and good with the whole class of 59 and all other throughout the years but especially the class of 59. Would like to hear from all of you. Take care and God bless.
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