Mike Zeese:
CLASS OF 1969
Elston High SchoolClass of 1969
Michigan city, IN
Mike's Story
Life
Married a girl from the class of '68 in November of 1970. We've been married now for 37 years. I have 2 daughters, ages 31 and 30 and a son, 20. My girls are finishing college courses on-line and my son is a sophomore at the University of Indianapolis. Not sure where he got his smarts but he did earn a full scholarship and graduated in the top 10 in his class at M.C. High School. I have 4 grand children, 3 girls and a boy with another baby girl due sometime in March of '08. Oh, and a terrier mix named Quigley Tyrone.
School
Graduated with the Class of '69. Largest class to come out of Elston if I recall correctly. Had the best beach parties, and the dances at the "Y" and the high school are what I remember most. I met my future wife at a "Y" dance. I remember she thought I was in college. Boy was she surprised when she found out I was a year behind her in the same school!!! The football games at Ames, and the Red Devil basketball games at the gym were always packed and made for a great friday night. We had the best girls in our years at Elston. These things are what made everything fun!
College
Did a little car engine tune-up and repair schooling so I could take care of my own cars in the '70's and also took a little basic electrical wiring and welding in the evenings at the A.K. Smith career center for my present job. It all saved me a few bucks here and there so I can't complain. It served it's purpose.
Workplace
After the Navy I started working for InterRoyal Office Furniture on Royal Rd. here on the east side of Michigan City. Got almost 10 years in there before it was bought out by another owner and we moved to South Ben...Expand for more
d to continue operations. From there I ended back on Royal Rd. and I'm now working for Federal Mogul, (it use to be ANCO Wiper Products) and we're still making wiper blades so that you can all "see your way clear" in all kinds of weather. Work is so-so and as with a lot of manufacturing, we've lost a lot of jobs to Mexico. Let's hear it for NAFTA!!! Started there with over 1200 people and now we're down to around a little over 200.
Military
Joined the Navy in the fall of '69 and started boot camp at Great Lakes in March of 1970. Went to "A" school in Pensacola Fla until October of '70. Was married in November of '70 and shipped out to Misawa, Japan as my first Naval assignment. I worked in a Naval Security Group Detachment as a morse intercept data collector. Worked all over S.E. Asia including Guam, and the Phillipines. After my tour of duty in Japan, I was shipped to the Republic of Vietnam where I was stationed in Phu Bai, just south of Hue. I never did see sea duty so during all my assignments I remained on land. After Phu Bai and a two month stay in Da Nang, our detachment was sent to Udorn, Thailand to finish out my tour and by now it's nearly the summer of '73 and I went to San Diego to end my enlistment. The thing I remember most was the simulated prisoner of war school (S.E.R.E.)that prepared us for Vietnam. It was quite an experience to say the least and nothing I'd want to do twice around. It was something we had to take because of our job and our top secret clearances. The classes were mainly officers and pilots with very few enlisted men. Rotated out of the Navy while in San Diego and started my civilian career in July of 1973.
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