I could discuss it for some time but I will make a very painful and long story short.
Until I was six years old I lived in Anderson Indiana with my Mom and Dad who
were both deaf. (That also made the depression a bit more difficult for us)!
At age six I had the old-fashioned measles and whooping cough at the same time and my immune system was about zero. Consequently I contracted Tuberculosis. I had a baby brother who was one year old and the doctors said that I must be placed in a sanatarium or somehow away from the baby because he would surely contract TB also.
A great aunt and unle who lived in the tiny town of Kennard, Indiana offered to care for me until I was over the TB. They had never had children and were each 54 years old.
The ordeal of getting well then commenced.
Two hours of rest every morning AND afternoon, plenty of fresh air, sunshine, etc., etc.
The TB was gone after three years!
I then faced harsh RESTRICTIONS on what I could do. Exercise was very restricted. I couldn't play basketball, etc.
(I'll shorten the rest of the story).
You may understand when I enlisted NONE of my folks thought I could possibly pass the physical exam!!!(Ha, Ha, Ha)!!!
I DID and the rest is History.
(Boot Camp was extremely difficult but I never let it show and kept up with the big jocks)!
So...your can see I was so happy to SUCCEED in something that was meaningful!
OK Fran, does that break the silence enough!!!
I'm not whining...just explaining why entering the US Navy really meant something to this former,"sickly" boy.
God Bless all.
Roy Brown
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