Richard Deaton:  

Richard Deaton Story in a Nut Shell My earliest memories began living on a farm in near Lorimor, Iowa, my dad was a farm laborer. This was the Great Depression and we were dirt poor. I always remember that if it wasn't for potatoes and beans and the vegetable garden we probably wouldn't have made it. All I remember about the house was the old fashion wood cook stove with a water boiler, oven and water boiler on the side and a warming oven over the top. My mom had irons that were heated on the stove that could be picked up with a wooden handle to iron our clothes, probably had no more than an extra pair with patches on the knees. There was a stained glass strip over a large picture window in the living room. I do remember playing laughing and having fun with my older brother but I don't remember being unhappy or sad except when my brother Norman Dean got Scarlet Fever and we almost lost him. I will never forget Doc Ayers coming when Dean was in trouble. My Dad had to walk to the neighbors to use the phone. Dad would arrive at the gate just in time to let Doc drive through. We moved into Lorimor, Iowa in about 1937, I don't remember why, probably farm job no longer available. I remember Dad working on the WPA and there were times when he got layoff notices from that job, when road work dried up. He did odd jobs for anyone and finally got a job as a mechanic. I went to Lorimor High School which was a 12 grade consolidated school. I remember going to uncle Hobart and aunt Gertie's on Sunday often for dinner always fried chicken and the trimmings. My brother Ray, cousin Bob Deaton and I would go down to the Grand River and skinny dip; not known to our parents. Our Parents probably would have tanned our hide if they would have known. After we moved to the town of Lorimor my brother Garry was born November 23, 1938 and our family had grown to 7; Ray, Dick, Marjorie May 31, 1933, Dean and little bubba Garry. In November 1943 we moved to Des Moines. Ray and I started at Woodrow Wilson; Marj and Dean went to Phillips grade school, Gary was held back until January he would not be 5 until November 23, 1943. I started at East High in 1945, I was small for my age 5 ft. 2 in. and 96 lb. to small for sports too shy for anything else. I had Miss Larson the Librarian for home room all 3 years. I finally grew to 5 ft. 9 in. by graduation. I got a job as a bus boy at the Hotel Ft. Des Moines in the coffee shop. Things started looking up a bit because I had money to buy my own clothes and relieve the burden on my parents. World War II was hell and our family did not benefit much from the War economy. But we all lived through it and the post war economy had its down turns also. The Korean War broke out in mid 1950, I thought it might end but the stalemate began so I decided I had better join up. There seemed to be a great Patriotic feeling from WW II and I enlisted in December 1950 and reported for duty on January 1951. I was sent to MCRD Boot Camp in San Diego. I didn't know at the time but Bob Wade from EHS class of '49 was on the same train. We went through Boot Camp together. That was the next thing to hell on earth but looking back it made a man of me in about 10 weeks and a brotherhood for the rest of my life. I had grown to 6 ft. and weighed 145 lb the best condition in my whole life. I always feel a shiver when I see Marine Flag Bearers or the Marine Band playing. Was not sent over seas but did get a lot of training. Was sent to Yucca Flats, Nevada for an atomic bomb experiment and was 4 miles from Ground Zero. I will never forget that experience brilliant light and powerful blast. Thanks for fox holes and pray for accurate bombardiers. They dropped that bomb right down the stove pipe. I met my beautiful wife Audrey in July 1952 on a blind date and we were married June 5, 1953. After discharge I returned to Des Moines in 1954 and worked at Pittsburgh Des Moines Steel until May1955 after our first child Jaynie was born March 17, 1955. We moved to Duluth, Minnesota and I got a job at the US Steel Plant, became a switchman on a locomotive crane. Started my education at UMD in Duluth a branch of the University of Minnesota with a Major in Fine Arts, I surprised m...Expand for more