World War II created lifelong friendships

As Memorial Day 2006 approaches, I reflect upon the most memorable 33 months of my 82-year life span. It was serving our great country during World War II. I made three lifelong friends from the crew of the U.S.S. LST 582. Junior and Rex have passed on while Al calls me monthly, maintaining a 62-year-long friendship between Massachusetts and Ohio.
We formed a close bond through serving 18 months on the ship, as well as several months training before boarding ship. Like many combat veterans we had been through hell and back, fighting off Japanese Kamikaze suicide planes and typhoons.
We had our first reunion in 1984 in Evansville, Ind., where the 582 was built. Our crew was formed in 1944 and I hadn't seen Junior and Rex in 40 years. Al had stopped to see me several times.
Life saver
Junior said, "Mike, you saved my life." The incident I recall was a time in the Philippine Islands, preparing for the invasion of Japan, when Junior was swimming off of the ships fantail (stern). I was the only one watching him, when he shouted to me that he had leg cramps and was about to go under. I threw him a life preserver ring attached to a rope, which he grabbed. I notified our small boat (LCVP) operator, who picked him up. We were about the only three that knew of the incident, and it had been long forgotten.
My military service has made it possible for me to be eligible and inducted into the "Ohio Veterans Hall of Fame" in 2004, by Gov. Bob Taft. This is the greatest honor that has been bestowed upon me. I was an inductee into the 1996 "Ohio Senior Citizens Hall of Fame." Included in both of these groups are John Glenn, Paul Brown, Woody Hayes and my lifelong baseball idol, Cleveland Indians pitcher Bob Feller. Interestingly enough, we were all U.S. Navy veterans.
Michael J. Lacivita is a Youngstown retiree who writes, makes photographs and haunts garage sales.