Arvel Owens

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Biography

I was born in the small town of Silver Grove, KY on a cold, snow stormy, winters Day in January, 1941. My father went to fetch a Doctor and upon his return I was there to meet all. Grew up and attended School in Silver Grove until I joined the Navy and proceeded to see the World ( mostly through a Port Hole). We lived in a small rental house off of River Road (rout 8) at my berth. We moved to Covington, Kentucky for awhile but before I was of school age we were back in Silver Grove along with a new sister. I had a wonderful childhood growing up in that town, although at times I didn’t think so. Never had my wish for a motorcycle or Horse fulfilled; at least not by Mom and Dad! I was always able to get into enough mischief without whose items. I sometimes wonder why the let me live. Because their lives were so hard and they had so little growing up, they tried to gift me and my sister (she says me mostly, but I don’t think so) almost anything I wanted. One year it was a chemistry set! I could blow and stink things up with the help of a recipe book provided with the set! Now how cool is that! It somehow disappeared one day. Got a good idea what happened but knew not to ask. I joined the Navy reserves in April of 1958 to supplement almost no income. I was still in high school and had a family at the time. (Thank the Good Lord for my Mother and Father.) Marriage didn't go well and ended in divorce. But having a Beautiful and Intelligent daughter was and is the highlight of that experience; of which I take full credit! Served my basic training at Great Lakes, Illinois and first laid eyes on the Atlantic Ocean boarding the USS Roberts moored in Norfolk, VA for a summer cruise. Went active duty in June of 1960 aboard the USS Glacier AGB4 out of Boston, Mass, headed to the South Pole to break ice for ships to resupply Myrtle sound Antarctica. Well that didn’t work out. I arrived in Panama Canal Zone with swelling in my ankles from past injuries playing Basket Ball in High School. I was transferred to the Hospital in the Canal Zone for evaluation and treatment. My Ship had to proceed without me. “O woo is me”! About two weeks later the Hospital released me to Rodman Naval Station without any findings of disease or injury. I was given a choice: I could be returned to the Glacier or find another home. I knew where the Glacier was going; to break ice for six months! Kind of a no brainer! Ended up on the USS Falcon MSC 190 a costal mine sweeper stationed in Rodman Naval Base. Some of the Best Duty I could have ever imagined only I was too Dumb to know it. So,,, while I was hospitalized, I sent letters to family stating my status and that I would write soon. My soon became a little long and I was called before the mast to explain! It was explained to me, by the Chief Bosun's Mate, to "Always write" !!! Talk about writers block!

Sources

• First-hand information. Entered by Arvel W. Owens at registration.