My fathers memories of the event where dramatically different. On June 1, 1966 my parents moved from the small town of Lyndhurst, New Jersey to Edison, intending to open an office in New Brunswick. On June thirteenth my father received a letter from the United States Government inviting him to join the Navy. Ironically, the letter was received only a few days prior to finishing his fellowship at the Seton Hall School of Medicine, now the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, on June 30Th.

The orders had my father reporting to the United States Naval Hospital in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Sept 1, 1966. I would arrive into this World only a few months later on March 17, 1967. In jest, I usually tell people that most of my time in the Navy was crying and wetting my pants, since I was only a few days old when I was “in” the Military.

Unfortunately on July 29Th my Mother fell while she was pregnant with me. The Navy moved all of their belonging out of their place in Edison to a storage facility while my Mother’s broken leg healed. She spent her time healing under the care of my grandmother in Newark, New Jersey and when she was strong enough to walk, the Navy moved all of their belongings out of storage and into their new home in Blackwood, New Jersey.

To my amazement, my Father entered the Navy as an officer with the rank of Lieutenant Commander and was not required to complete basic training. This turns out is common practice for those officers who have a specialty which is in great need such as doctors.

During his two years in the Naval hospital he was very busy. Most of the patients where taken from the battlefield in Vietnam. The military system of transportation and logistics where incredibly efficient. Many patients arrived withing twenty-four hours of being wounded on the battlefield. Some soldiers still had their muddy and bloodstained uniforms they where wearing in the battlefield when wounded. To assist in their recovery the soldiers would be transported to a hospital closest to where they lived so family and friends could visit during their stay.

After serving two years my father receive an honorable discharge from the Navy. On June 9Th, 2001 the Naval Hospital was destroyed to add a parking lot for two new sports stadiums for the Philadelphia Major league baseball and professional football teams.

For More Information:

The History Channel
Vietnam Veterans Memorial National Monument
Vietnam Veterans Of America
United States Navy

Many people who had money could received their visas for America through the Consulates office in their country of origin. Since money was not plentiful while my father was immigrating, the least expensive route required processing at Ellis Island.

As with many immigrants, my father’s journey to America began with boarding a ship bound for the Unites States. Since the opening of the US embassies, Ellis Island was primarily used for immigrants who where third class or steerage. This was due to the ability of the passengers with first and second class tickets to be processed at docks in both New York and New Jersey.

Steerage was the lowest class of travel and was all my grandparents could afford. The first class accommodation’s where as opulent as any cruise ship we see on the seas today. In stark contrast and located in the bowels of the ship, steerage was dirty and unpleasant.

While having to keep an eye the young children my Grandmother was escorting to the United States, she slowly wound her way through the various inspection stations. The most worrisome inspection was the medical inspection. This is where the United States Government would determine if the immigrants had a disease that would prevent them from entering the country. If an immigrant was sick, the unfortunate individual would quarantine until the ailment was cured. Luckily, only two percent of the immigrants where sent back to their country due to failing the medical inspection process. My father was not one of the unfortunate and successfully immigrated to the United States.

For More Information:

History Channel
Ellis Island National Monument
Statue Of Liberty – Ellis Island Foundation