Business executive. His experiences as a mechanic in the Southwest Pacific Theater during World War II. His family background and education; influence of the Great Depression on his military and civilian careers; his decision to enlist in the Marine Corps, 1942; boot camp, Parris Island, South Carolina, 1942-43; assignment to VMB-433, Cherry Point, North Carolina, 1943; training at Peterfield Point, North Carolina, 1943, in the transportation section; his training as a vehicle mechanic; additional training and preparation for overseas assignment, El Centro Marine Air Station, California, 1944; journey across the Pacific to Espiritu Santo, 1944; assignment to Emirau, 1944; living conditions on Emirau; his duties as a vehicle mechanic; his building of a personal Jeep from salvaged parts; cooperation with Navy SeaBees; nuisance raids by Japanese aircraft; recreation and entertainment; sea voyage toward Mindinao, Philippines, and the end of the war; homecoming with his family in Abingdon, Virginia, Christmas, 1945; graduation from Virginia Tech with the aid of the GI Bill, 1950, and his postwar business career.