Slide Collection — George W. Heine, Jr. and Mary Ellen Heine

Volume I: September 1949 – July 1950

“Orders from the Navy arrived in June [1949] and we were excited. Our destination was the Naval Air Station at Alameda just south of Oakland, California … We drove into the Air Station, got fitted with uniforms, and rented a one-bedroom furnished Navy house. It was adequate but plain and simple.”

“Our first child, George III, was born September 22, 1949 in the Oakland Naval Hospital after a long hard labor.”

“…What a great day to gather mother and child from the hospital and bring them home. I was never so proud of anything in my life. Changing diapers was not enjoyed to that great extent but I willingly did it along with feeding, rocking, etc. because I was so proud and wanted to be the best father.”

“Once established, we called upon Mary's Aunt Elva Label and her husband Abie who treated us generously. We spent many great weekends with them in their retreat in San Marin Co. north of the Golden Gate bridge. They also took us out to dinner in San Francisco and invited us to their apartment for Thanksgiving dinner. Elva was an excellent cook! and Abie was fun to be around.”

“Our friend, Ben Owens, came to stay with me during the time Mary was in the hospital.”

“We went house hunting and found a nice two bedroom house in Oakland.”

“We were just getting settled when orders came for me to go on a troop ship. This meant orientation at 50 Fell St. in San Francisco and Treasure Island for 6 weeks bu, first, I was sent to the Oak Knoll Navy Hospital in Oakland where I was assigned to a ward of colostomy patients. The day finally arrived and I boarded a ship, the USS Hase, headed for Seattle and Whittier, Alaska, reluctantly leaving Mary and George III home alone. ”

“Getting home was so grand and little had to be done untile we sailed again 4 months[weeks?] later. This time to Seattle, Whittier and Japan. Again, rain was nonstop in Seattle, the trip to Whittier again spectacular but the trip to Japan was so rough we were never allowed on deck. What a welcome sight to see the coast line of Japan and calm seas.”