How a life can be a "Living Witness."
July 4, 2009
About the time of your departure, I was put in charge of the ordering of supplies for the division (Supply Petty Officer), my primary job until shortly before I left. I was just under 6 feet tall, very skinny (140#), didn't drink alcohol or do drugs...but like most of the lads, I had a "potty" mouth. I think you were one of the few that approached me and said something to the effect of my not having to impress everyone regarding my foul language.
After you left, Michael Yount was like a little lost puppy. He really missed you! Another guy, an E-5 that I think replaced you, went sour on us - got bit by the mal-content bug, and ended up in S-2 as an E-3 prior to being reassigned.
I remember a Scotty, but he was not short. Scotty was 6-2 maybe 6-3 and weighed in probably near the 280's. He was assigned to IFF along with Yamashita. Scotty was one of the more responsible guys (easy to be so when so many of us were always trying to duck out of duties). The guys that pushed the rest of us along were Scotty, Levine, Harold (Hal) Glover, and E-6 Potter (who later made Chief).
I was honored to inherit your foul-weather jacket after you left. When I handed it to the next guy upon my departing, it still had your name across the chest. There were many characters that I met while in the Navy, but there were very few that left an imprint on me. Two of those imprints were left by Yount and you.
I wasn't yet a Christian but what impacted on my soul was the manner in which you and Yount conducted yourselves. The two of you demonstrated to me what true Christians were and in so doing, helped ease open the door that later I would allow Christ to enter through.
I remember a Scotty, but he was not short. Scotty was 6-2 maybe 6-3 and weighed in probably near the 280's. He was assigned to IFF along with Yamashita. Scotty was one of the more responsible guys (easy to be so when so many of us were always trying to duck out of duties). The guys that pushed the rest of us along were Scotty, Levine, Harold (Hal) Glover, and E-6 Potter (who later made Chief).
I was honored to inherit your foul-weather jacket after you left. When I handed it to the next guy upon my departing, it still had your name across the chest. There were many characters that I met while in the Navy, but there were very few that left an imprint on me. Two of those imprints were left by Yount and you.
I wasn't yet a Christian but what impacted on my soul was the manner in which you and Yount conducted yourselves. The two of you demonstrated to me what true Christians were and in so doing, helped ease open the door that later I would allow Christ to enter through.
It doesn't matter that you don't remember me. For what does matter is that you (and Michael) could make such an impact on someone else, by just living your lives as good Christians. For that, I am eternally grateful to you.
Shawn
July 5, 2009
I was lying in bed last night when I suddenly realized that my memory could have been mistaken. A name from the past had suddenly unlocked itself from some deep vault in my memory and now haunted me with the thought that I might have been referring to the wrong responsible sailor that worked in IFF as Scotty. I ran to the desk and wrote down the name lest I not remember it when I awaken this morning. I just read your most recent reply and got a chuckle (and some relief from anxiety). The name I wrote down last night on paper, the name I now think belonged to the IFF guy - was "Farrin".
Shawn