Farragut veterans reunite, reminisce

Sad and glad interchanged back and forth as the 25th annual reunion of Farragut naval recruits came back once again on Sept. 12 to meet and greet old friends.

Some also had the sad duty of reporting yet another veteran moving on. One of the most missed would have to be Charles Lish’s wife of 66 years, Theora. Charles and Theora Lish, living in Athol, have been mainstays in the many reunions of past years. His mind clouded with grief, Charles attended as always, even though he lost his beloved wife just two months ago.

Lest we forget, the prime mover of these reunions, Al Leiser, once again was master of ceremonies for the event as he always has been. Assistant manager of Farragut State Park from 1982 through 2005, he insisted when he retired that he be allowed to support what had become his family over the years, the veterans that kept coming back. The reunions, organized by Al, started in 1984 through the present time. Two years ago, the reunion was heralded as the last reunion. Others picked up the banner and somehow kept it going.

The total numbers of veterans were estimated at around 35 or so. Al was present as usual. The Farragut park rangers are not neutral observers at these events. They all take great pride in re-creating an unforgettable experience for the vets, now in their late 80s and 90s. Ranger Errin Bair, who started at the park as a nature interpreter and is now a full-time ranger, worked hard at the Brig Museum, turning it into a major site. She remarked, “These old guys have me trying my best to hold back the tears. They are just wonderful.”

Volunteers also played a huge role at the brig. New cabinets and showcases built by Jim Graham are huge in the redecorated brig. Along with his wife, Jackie, they volunteer their time and labor for the public. One such ranger, along with Gayle Alvarez, of the Idaho state archives, is Dennis Woolford. These two individuals put together a book of the history of the base during its tenure from 1942 through the end of the war.

Images of American Farragut Naval Training Station is being released by the publisher, Arcadia Publishing, and will be available around Sept. 26. Copies can be purchased at the visitors center in the park or by sending e-mail to sales@arcadiapublishing.com.We spoke with several of the veterans that attended . Some of the stories were exciting, some were not. All were interesting. As always in war, many of the forces never see combat. The long chain of supply, training and land-based stations outnumber the ships that combatants serve on.

Joe Clay was a radar man when he joined the fleet in 1944. He saw service at Okinawa, survived and stayed in, retiring after 23 years as a chief petty officer. Gordon Willis said he served as a radioman in the Philippines. After the landings, replacements started to arrive. Gordon said, “They whisked all of us radiomen off the ship for shore duty as there was a shortage of trained operators.”

Richard Sandord, of Grand Coulee, said, “I served two years, nine months and four days in the South Pacific.”

Leroy Walker had an interesting story. He was assigned to the submarine USS Bashaw in December 1943. He served on the boat for three war patrols back when many boats didn’t come back. He mentioned riding out a hurricane in the Pacific on the surface as it was deemed too dangerous to try to submerge. Walker was a lookout and spotted one of the largest remaining Japanese battleships. It was so close, neither could shoot at each other, so they sailed in concert until fog separated them, fortunately for both.

Charles Lish, previously mentioned, served for 28 months in the Pacific on the USS Pruitt. Although Lish arrived later, the USS Pruitt gave good account of herself at Pearl Harbor.

George Cooper, was sent to Norman, Okla., for aviation training and never left the states.

Perhaps the most interesting of all was a gentleman that I met coming in as I was about to leave. Most North Idaho residents either know, or know of, a country music legend that settled in these parts many years ago. Slim Dossey, country singer and bon vivant among the senior citizen ranks, also served in the U.S. Navy, and did his boot camp at Farragut. Asked how he served, he replied, “I was on the oldest ship in the Navy. The USS Prometheus, a repair ship, was commissioned in 1908 and served throughout the second World War.”

Slim, now somewhat crippled up, can still belt out a song when asked. He turns 91 years old in November.

Yah gotta love these guys and gals of the “greatest generation.”