Ernest Luders:  

Life I turned 17 on July 27, 1952, and on July 28, I boarded a train in Seattle, WA, bound for Navy boot camp in San Diego. Upon completion I was transferred to Electronics Technician School at Treasure Island, CA. A few months before graduation I had applied for and taken an exam for a Secretary of the Navy appointment to the Naval Academy, but graduation came and went and I heard nothing. I was transferred to the Naval Communications Station at Guam, MI, and began an 18 month tour as a radio repairman. After two months a message was received that stated in part, "If he still so desires, transfer ETSN Luders to the US Naval Academy Prep School (NAPS), Bainbridge, MD, ASAP" Needless to say, they didn't have to ask me twice. Arriving two months after the beginning of classes at NAPS and not having been the greatest student in high school, the next few weeks were a disaster. I was failing all five subjects. Fortunately, with extra instruction, and a lot of midnight oil, I managed to get my head above water by the end of the program and most importantly, to pass the USNA entrance exams. Following graduation from USNA, I enjoyed 72 days leave back home in Seattle, WA, the highlight of which was my wedding to the light of my life, Paula Anderson. In late August we drove our Volkswagen bug to the opposite corner of the country, Pensacola, FL, where I began flight training. Our first son, Mark, was born at NAS Memphis, TN, during the eight week instrument training segment between Primary at Pensacola and Advanced at Corpus Christi, TX. Upon completion of flight training in February 1960, I was assigned to Patrol Squadron 17 based at NAS Whidbey Island, WA, flying the Lockheed P2V Neptune. We spent three and a half years at Whidbey where I made three deployments to the Alaskan/Aleutian area. Our number two and three sons Matt and John were born at NAS Whidbey. In July 196...Expand for more