I joined the Navy in July 1957 -- right out of High School.  After serving
Boot-Camp at Bainbridge, MD, I was assigned to the USS Sellstrom DER 255 out of Newport, RI.  In August of 1959 put in a Transfer Request for new construction, USS Parsons DD 949, which makes me an original Plank Owner.  I was an Engineman in R Division in the Auxiliary Gang.  Duties: Fwd Emergency Diesel Room
           Engineer Captain's Gig
           Steaming Watch Throttleman No. 2 Engine Room
           and a variety of other jobs which go along with being an
Auxiliaryman

Discharged San Diego, July 1961.  "Bummed" around St. Augustine, FL from July to November.

November 1961 went to work for Pan American World Airways Guided Missile Range in the Bahamas as a Diesel Generator Operator (tough assignment, but somebody's gotta sweat!)  Then started Railroading in Miami, FL in 1965 with the Seaboard Railroad; on to AutoTrain Corp in Sanford, FL; Amtrak in New Orleans, LA and Chicago, IL.  Retired as Locomotive Foreman, Diesel Shop for the Burlington Northern Railroad in Lincoln, NE October 1995.

Purchased and renovated a 1975 Cutter-rigged 40' Ferro-Cement Sailboat.  We thought she was "cosmetically challenged", turned out to be what I call "one step from a Derelict", but a mere 3 1/2 years later, after our hard work and all the $$ we could muster, we sailed away in a truly gorgeous Sailing Vessel.  Spent 2 years cruising and cavorting before we found ourselves living in Paradise.  At present living aboard our Sailing Vessel "Essa" in Islamorada, FL.  We consider ourselves "Charter Members of Slaves in Paradise."  (HaHa -- long story)

Thanks for the web site.
Virlyn N. Sheppard
AboardEssa@aol.com