James Engelken:
CLASS OF 1955
St. Clair High SchoolClass of 1955
St. clair, MO
Palm Desert High SchoolClass of 1999
Palm desert, CA
University of Missouri - EngineeringClass of 1966
Columbia, MO
St. Clair Elementary SchoolClass of 1951
St. clair, MO
Hempstead Elementary SchoolClass of 1945
St. louis, MO
James's Story
Life
Joined the Navy 30 days after graduation because I didn't know what I wanted and we had a draft obligation hanging over us. After boot camp at Great Lakes, IL, went to radio school in Bainbridge, MD, and then served in two different ships out of San Diego. After the first hitch I still didn't know what I wanted and was having fun so I reenlisted for a 6 year hitch. Married in 1959 we were transferred to Hawaii. Had children in 1961(M), 1962(M), and 1967(F). The first one was born in Honolulu and the next two in California. Started college in 1962 under a Navy program and graduated from U of MO in January 1966 with a degree in electrical engineering. Went to officer's candidate school in Rhode Island and was commissioned an ensign in the U.S.N. Finished up 13 years commissioned service pulling duty in three ships, San Diego, Philippines, and Viet Nam. During my tour in San Diego I went to night school and got an MBA. Retired from the USN in 1979 after 24 years total service and worked as a communications system engineer/program manager for Tracor Applied Sciences. After ten years of this I got my teaching credentials and taught high school mathematics in Palm Desert, CA. Retired in 1999 after ten years of teaching. Currently live in Southern California and am enjoy...Expand for more
ing retirement. We travel to various Navy reunion sites, back to Missouri once in a while, and to our children's homes in Reno and Denver. The daughter lives less than a mile away from us. We have 8 grandchildren ages 27 down to 12. Always enjoy hearing from old friends and shipmates.
Jim
College
Started at the University of Missouri a couple of months before turning 25. Was married with two children and attended under the Navy Enlisted Scientific Education Program (NESEP). Received a degree in electrical engineering while still in the Navy and then was shipped off to Officers Candidate School where I was commissioned. While stationed at Point Loma in San Diego I earned an MBA from National University.
Workplace
Basically had three careers. U. S. Navy--24 years; Communication systems engineer--10 years; and high school mathematics teacher--10 years.
Military
For the first seven years I was a Navy radioman and stationed aboard two different ships and in Hawaii. Went to college under the NESEP program and was commissioned a line officer. Served in three different ships home-ported in San Diego, on shore duty in the Philippines, in Viet Nam for a year as an advisor to the junk boats, and at the computer center in Point Loma, California. Retired from the Navy in 1979.
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Reunions
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Photos
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