I AM THE ORIGINAL REAGAN DEMOCRAT. Let me Explain…….

THE FAMILIES DEMOCRAT ROOTS

I grew up in Tacoma Washington in a very typical Puget Sound area Democrat family. My Dad worked for the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, and my mother was a homemaker. My Fathers family had a true Grapes of Wrath story. They were of Scots-Irish decent, a proud people with a fighting and pioneering spirit who settled much of the non-coastal regions of the South. The roots of my family can be traced to States such as North Carolina, Tennessee, the southern tip of Illinois, Texas, and Arkansas. In the early 1920’s the family left the economically depressed South for the hope of a better life in California. They had a farm growing oranges not far from where Disneyland now stands. It was in California where my Dad was born in 1926. During the depression when my father was still a young boy the family moved to Washington where his father found work with the WPA and later with the Railroad. ,br /> People from the south in those days were mostly democrats, though very conservative by today's standards, and so it was with my Dad’s family. Because of this our family was not liberal by no stretch of the imagination. The folks believed that having the strongest military in the world, equipped with the most sophisticated and reliable weapons was the best way to keep America safe from the Soviet Empire. My parents, with five kids to raise and living from payday to payday, hated taxes being raised and would vote against every single tax increase that came up. But yet they would keep voting for those politicians who supported those increases. Go figure.

My parents hated the long haired hippy anti-war protestors they saw on TV, and their thoughts on the Vietnam war was that we should "bomb the commies back to the stone-age, and” if we would fight it like a war we would win in no time." Not exactly the way today’s Democrats think, is it? They did love JFK. I remember my Dad had a record album that contained his greatest speeches that he would often play. Wonder what I could get for that on EBAY today? My parents would preach to us the old union-fed mantra that Republicans were for the rich and Democrats were for the poor and the working class, and with only Nixon and Ford to be examples of Republicans we had no reason to doubt them.

THE GREAT CONVERSION

If there was one single person who had the greatest impact on me turning Republican it had to be Jimmy Carter. When I was in High School I could not even find even a part time job, there was none to be had. The only money I could make was from doing odd jobs. I was very discouraged. I would turn in an application at the bowling alley, fast food restaurants, the supermarket, gas stations, etc, and they would all tell me the same story, "we're not hiring, but we will take your application." And then it would be placed on top of a pile a foot high. Out of the dozens and dozens of applications turned in I was never called in for even an interview. This was the malaise Carter spoke about in his “the Great Days of America are Behind us” speeches.

Then came his energy crises. I still find it hard to believe Carter asked America not to put up Christmas lights one year. Young people today could not imagine having to be in a block long line to buy gas, and only if it was your day to do so. Remember the odd/even system? On the World front, the Soviet military began a major build up and the Soviet communist were influencing governments in Central and South America and in Africa, making the world a much more dangerous place.

Then there was the Iran hostage crises to top it all off. I joined the Navy in 1977 right out of High School because of the lack of jobs. I served aboard the aircraft carrier USS Saratoga. This was during the time Qaddafi decided to extend the coastal claims of Libya to the waters where American naval maneuvers were conducted. The entire Gulf of Sidra, extended up to one hundred miles from Libya's coast, and it was proclaimed by Qaddafi to be Libyan water, off limits to our forces. The Carter government meekly rescheduled our maneuvers to stay outside disputed area, ordering us to not cross Qaddafi's line. True to form, Carter failed to confront Qaddafi over the issue even after a siege on the American embassy in Tripoli in 1979. Prior to the election an Admiral called all the sailors to the flight deck where he gave a speech on how important it was to vote for a President that would stand up for the military. I can't remember if he actually used Reagan's name, but we all knew he wasn't talking about the peanut farmer. I'm not sure he was supposed to do this, but I'm so glad he did. Within months after taking office, Ronald Reagan took a stand. He made it clear that American maneuvers in the Gulf of Sidra would proceed as they always had before Carter. Anticipating trouble, Reagan was asked by the Joint Chiefs what American Navy pilots do if attacked? Would Reagan's orders allow for "hot pursuit"? Reagan's answer was – “All the way into the hanger." You know the rest of the story.

I voted Republican ever since and learned about the core values of the Republican Party and found they were much closer to the values my family grew up with the Democrats. When I left the Navy in 1981 and returned to Washington. I was able to find employment right away. The electronics revolution has started and a building boom of new strip-malls, video stores, restaurants, and new housing developments were popping up everywhere. Help Wanted signs were in store windows for a change, and things seemed so very different than the Puget Sound I left in 1977. All four of my brothers and sisters also changed their preference to republican during my absence. My parents however took a little longer to convert. Sensing Bill Clinton was a flim-flam man my parents voted for Ross Perot in 1992. Clintons two terms proved them right.

This was also the time that conservative talk radio was taking over the airwaves, and my Dad began to tune in to Rush Limbaugh and learn the truth about what his party was becoming. They have voted Republican ever since.

ABOUT ME

Why the handle NavyCanDo? Because, unlike John Kerry, I have a genuine pride in my Naval career. I have no combat medals to show, I didn't save anyone’s life under enemy fire, or chase down and kill a fleeing enemy soldier, but I'm proud of my Navy anyway and would serve all over again if I could go back in time. I am asked from time to time if I was a SeaBee because their motto was Can Do. No I was not a SeaBee, but the story of the handle is just as interesting. In Navy Boot Camp our company was so awful (remember F-Troop?) the company was taken out of the training schedule (Yellow Flagged), which we were told was the first time in many many years that that had happened. The two company commanders lost their jobs and were replaced by two very hard-core and salty Chief Petty Officers. We had to replace our company flag with an embarrassing yellow flag until we caught up with where we should be. Two very hard weeks later we were caught up and put back into the schedule, and by graduation day we were the most decorated and awarded company on the field, and given the honor of leading the parade of graduating companies. And the company flag used for graduation day had the hand-painted words, “Can Do” signifying the belief these Chiefs had in us.br />
Real Name: David Age 49, wife 41

Occupation in Aerospace and happily Married and we have one child, a boy who's 6 years-old. Besides politics,

my interest include:

CLASSIC MOVIES. My favorite movies being the screwball comedies from the 1930's and 1940's that were designed to get people to forget about the domestic and world problems for a little while and laugh their heads off. My favorite stars were Cary Grant, Bob Hope, Carole Lombard, Mickey Rooney, James Cagney, Ginger Rogers, Hedy Lamarr, oh heck they were all great. And unlike most of today's so-called stars they had talent, class, and style back then, and they loved our country. When our country was at war they sacrificed careers to do their part for the war effort and I respect them for that regardless of their political party. I am a big collector of these classic movies, and old Hollywood memorabilia and when we bought our new home, we designed a theater room to have a classic movie theme, with autographed photos adorning the walls of Lana Turner, Bob Hope, Ginger Rogers, Hedy Lamarr, Paulette Goddard, and more. Also have a separate room with over 1000 movies, all cataloged, with many of them being the classics I love. It is so cool.

BOATING/CAMPING/FISHING.
We own a 16ft ski boat. You can't live near the Puget Sound without owning or at least knowing someone who has a boat. There is just too much water both fresh and salt to have a blast on. We also enjoy tent camping. Both the wife and I grew up in families that had large trailers, and motor home’s, and both feel that that’s not real camping. So we opted not to go that route, and have purchased a large tent instead. But, now that I am approaching the 50, sleeping on the ground, even on an air mattress is less and less thrilling. We have thought about maybe graduating to a tent trailer. At least you can still feel you are in a tent, but yet have a little more comforts. At least once a year we do go the luxury route and we rent a condo for a few days. Canon Beach, Oregon, is one of our favorite places to rent one. We also love to fish, and traveling to Eastern Washington to fish its lakes for Rainbows is a real treat for us. If the fishing is good we often trade half of it with the chef at the Sun Mountain Lodge and in turn he cooks up the rest of the catch for the best trout dinner ever. .

BIGFOOT Don't laugh. Even my talk radio favorite Michael Medved is a big believer in this northwest phenomenon. I have participated in several field studies in the wilds of Skamania County looking for evidence. I recommend www.BFRO.net if you are interested in learning more about serious investigations. Weather it exist or not, its still fun just to get away with some good ole boys for a weekend or two. And on the return trip, we usually find time to take in some gravel pit target practice with whatever weapons we brought with us. Good clean fun, with just a wee bit of salty conversation around the fire pit at night, that you would not dare do if the wives were there.

STUNT KITES We own several stunt kites that we love taking out to the wide ocean beaches of Washington.

PETS
We have one dog, a Shiba Inu named Takara. A 150 gallon salt water reef aquarium (my wife’s hobby), and this year we have introduced a new kitten to the household.



IN MEMORY OF MY FATHER.

Clarence was born June 21, 1926, in Placentia, California. His home was on an orange farm not far from where Disneyland is now located. His family moved to Washington in the middle of the depression. Their move was unplanned though, for it was on a trip to Washington to visit a relative that the family's car broke down, and not able to afford to fix the car for the return trip back to California they decided to stay, making the copper smelting town of Ruston Washington their new home. Clarence has many fond memories of his childhood in Ruston, like riding his bike to downtown Tacoma to see the latest Roy Rogers picture, roller skating at the Ruston roller rink, and joining his friends in playing practical jokes on the good humored Ruston cop. His father worked hard to keep the family fed during those tough times. They took in immigrant borders from Mexico to help make ends meet and Clarence's father got a job with the WPA. Later he worked as a Ruston Police officer and then for the Milwaukee railroad which he worked for until his retirement.

When Pearl Harbor was attacked in 1941, young Clarence was eager to join the military as soon as he was old enough to do so. Clarence joined the Navy in 1944 and served on the battleship USS Mississippi (BB 41) with 2,000 other men. With her twelve 14 inch guns Mississippi supported the Marine landings on the Island of Peleliu. She then assisted in the liberations of the Philippines, shelling the east coast of Leyte supporting the landings of General Macarthur's troops. On the night of October 24th the Army on Leyte passed the word that a powerful Japanese naval task force was approaching from the south, and with The U.S. main battle fleet and the carriers away in the opposite direction chasing a decoy, the soldiers knew the Japanese were about to spring a trap. They would be doomed if the Japanese ships opened up on them. They waited in the dark in stunned silence and quite desperation. But lying in wait for the Japanese were six of America's oldest battleships including the Mississippi that waited at the mouth of the Surigao Strait. This line of old battleships accompanied by 7th Fleet destroyers and cruisers, opened fire with an enormous coordinated salvo at the approaching line of Japanese warships, immediately sinking the first of the two Japanese battleships they would sink that night, along with three destroyers and a heavy cruiser. Naval historians would later call this "The greatest Naval Battle in History", but for the Army ashore who could see the ships burning in the night sky, they had no words to explain what they saw, for they knew their worst nightmare was stopped dead in its tracks by Admiral Oldendorf's old battleships. The men ashore have eternal gratitude to those Sailors and to the 1,100 of them that died out there that night. The Mississippi supported the landing forces in the Philippines until February, despite receiving heavy damage near her waterline from a kamikaze during the bombardment of Lingayen Gulf Luzon. One of the more memorable moments for Clarence came while supporting landing forces on Okinawa. Clarence would often tell the story of how the Japanese stalled our offensive from their position in Shuri Castle, which the enemy claimed was indestructible, and our Marines were beginning to have doubts it could be taken. Clarence said. "We opened up with our 14 inch guns and with 56 direct hits destroyed the castle." The Marines were finally able to capture the castle but only after the Navy laid waste of it. Clarence recalls the ship remained off Okinawa for two months never shutting down it's engines so they would always be ready for a fight and for the constant threat from the kamikazes. Even after being hit by a kamikaze once again, this time on her starboard 5 inch gun mounts, which caused heavy damage and many casualties the Mississippi refused to leave. The soldiers ashore were grateful that Ole Miss stayed on post even with her heavy damage. Her steadfast presence saved many lives on Okinawa. After the announced surrender of Japan, the USS Mississippi anchored in Tokyo Bay while Clarence and his shipmates witnessed the signing of the surrender documents aboard the USS Missouri on September 2nd 1945.

The ship was sold for scrap in 1956, but the men to which she was so good haven't forgotten her. It is recalled by his children that the first word he taught them to spell was M-i-s-s-i-s-s-i-p-p-i., and there is no doubt why.

After the war Clarence met and married the love of his life, Helen. They bought a home in Tacoma's north-end where they raised their family of five children. During this post-war period Clarence led quite the adventurous life, he was a seaman aboard the Pt. Defiance to Vashon Ferry, he signed aboard an ocean going tugboat that towed barges between Puget Sound and Hawaii, and he even played semi-pro baseball in Tacoma. Later he was hired by Todd Shipyard in Seattle but soon transferred to Puget Sound Naval Shipyard where he worked as a Ship Fitter until his retirement in 1993 after 33 years. It was during this time at the shipyard that Clarence fell 32 feet from scaffolding into the hold of a ship. He was in critical condition and spent six months in the hospital in traction.

Never fully recovering from the accident, plus the onset of asbestoses caused from working at the shipyards, his health was affected for the rest of his life. It did not affect his spirit though, for Clarence had a love of life, a warm smile and a twinkle in his eye that never dimmed, even in tough times. Clarence and Helen raised three girls and two boys. He enjoyed bowling, which he did on a league and with his kids, and he loved giving his grandchildren horsy rides on his back or rides around the block on his tractor. Watching the Mariners and Seahawks on TV was something he enjoyed immensely, as was taking the kids to watch Tacoma Minor League baseball, usually sitting on tightwad hill with a thermos of hot coffee and a bag of peanuts. Tightwad hill was free, and not the best place to view the action, but its also where the home run balls were hit, and us kids would not trade the experience of chasing down one of them for the most expensive ticket in the stadium.

With a robust body frame he was perfect for playing Santa which he did for nearly 40 years at an annual family Christmas party. Most of all Clarence loved traveling with the family in his RV. The annual summer trip to the California theme parks left many lasting memories for his children.

After his retirement, Clarence's health was failing, he could no longer walk unsupported, and he was becoming more and more dependent on others. When it came to a point he could no longer get out of bed by himself, not even to go to the bathroom, we had the terrible decision families dread making and admitted him to a nursing home. Until his death, he shared a room with Helen, his wife of 57 years who with the onset of Alzheimer's disease also needed nursing care. As he wished, all of his family was with him when he went to be with the Lord on Thursday, the 18th of March 2004. When I last looked into his eyes before he fell into his last sleep, I saw that twinkle that was there when he was a younger man, a twinkle that will always be in the gallery of my mind that is filled with wonderful memories.

Thanks Dad for all you did. I will see you again on the Lords Day. Love your Son, David.