The Sailors from Mishicot, WI

(Posted 20 February 2005)

This is the story about friends in the Navy, all assigned to different ships. Coming together in places like Japan, San Diego, CA and Long Beach, CA. What are the odds even during war time, of 3 friends coming together? All from a tiny village in Wisconsin? Mishicot, Wisconsin I served on the USS Helena CA-75, a heavy cruiser. Home port was Long Beach, CA My cousin Lloyd Brouchoud served on an AKA with stops in Long Beach, CA and ports in Japan. Donny Dvorak served in the Navy, aboard a ship, during these same times and places. After more than 50 years, I no longer remember what kind of ship it was. The same is said for another cousin, Donny Cretton. Don Cretton and I pulled many liberties together in Long Beach and San Diego CA. Lloyd Brouchoud and I met at least two times in Long Beach, CA. In late 1953, Lloyd Brouchoud, Donny Dvorak and I all met in Yokosuka, Japan. Three different ships with widely different duties, all in the same place at the same time. The pictures on this link and the memories are all that is left of some amazing coincidental visits between the Mishicot, WI Sailors. Dave Brouchoud