The author, born in 1922, at a coal mining camp, near Hudson, Wyoming. One of six children. His father, Pierce Ricketts, was born on a ranch in Wyoming, in 1891. His mother, Miss Edna Leora Carroll, born in Broken Bow, Nebraska, 1901.
Because of their death a year apart, the author was left to the mercy of the community during the depression of the early 30’s. At the age of 12, he was picked by a Scotsman to become a ranch hand to earn his keep and the right to go to a one-room school at rural Milford, Wyoming. His tiny brothers and sisters disappeared out of his life for years to come, out of state with relatives. He attended Fremont Vocational High School in Lander, Wyoming, and joined the National Guards Horse Calvary at 16. After a 29-day encampment with our Rag Tag Army, 1940, he joined the regular Navy for six years, and was happy, proud and obedient.
He was assigned to a destroyer as a deck hand going everywhere at a time of a national wartime emergency; combat experience in the North Atlantic, South Atlantic and Pacific. Naval occupation in China.
He attended several Ordinance Service Schools as an honor student, became a first class petty officer. He attended Real Estate school and became a licensed realtor. Also, a Ham Radio operator.
He married his wartime pen pal 50 years ago from British Guiana, south America. The father of three daughters and give grandchildren.
After his 6 years in the navy, he became a small merchant, owner of a donut shop as well as a fast-food place on coastal Highway 1.
He is the author of a featured article in the California Miming Journal, 1972: “What’s brewing in Guiana.” He had a featured article published in the quarterly newspaper Tin Can Sailors, “The Blue Beetle.”
The author mentions that the greatest satisfaction of the war is his war bride, Olivia, who was also his pen pal during the war. He talks a bit about his family and siblings. One brother dies of leukemia; another dies at 52 of a heart attack. He also recalls some family friends who died in the war and talks about the fate of his two ships. The Winslow was used for scrap, and the Cunningham was eventually used for target practice. The old house he was born in became a stable and then was burned down.
Eventually Maurice decides to join the cavalry with some friends. this is a great experience. His Grandpa Carroll shows up at school one day to ask for twenty-five dollars to help bury his son, Cecil, who has died of some strange disease. It was very difficult for him to ask for the money and Maurice gives it to him out of his Muscrat savings.