The Summer of '51

 

The summer of 1951 was a turbulent time for young men in the United States. The Korean War was raging, and those who weren't already fighting over seas, were at home waiting for their draft notices. My dad was one of those young men. At the start of the summer of 51, he sent off a letter to the draft board letting them know where to find him, and then packed his car and headed up to Seattle where he boarded a boat heading for Alaska to fish for the summer. He would end up in Korea soon enough, but there were fish to catch first.

 

The Port before the boats headed out

 

My dad's boat, the "Fleetwood"

 

My dad talking to the old man on the sea

The Fish

Walking the rope from the boat to the skiff

... and of course more fish

 

My dad would later serve in Korea, but at least during the summer of 51, he was on the water fishing.

 

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