Ralph Miner
    From a farm in Minnesota I joined the Navy following my high school graduation in 1954. I was assigned to Class A Builder's School at Port Hueneme October 1954. Granduated in March 1955; was assigned to MCB11 deployed to Kodiak, Alaska, for routine building, roads and facility maintenance. In October 1955 MCB 11 was deployed to Kwajalein Island for 11 months to construct what we thought were dependent housing but later found out was also housing for Department of Defense Missile Target Area from Vandenberg Air Force Base - which for the past 40 years I have lived within 30 mile so and have a good view of launches.
    After leave and four months of "Military Training" at Port Hueneme, MCB11 was deployed to Adak, Alaska to repair earthquake damage and resurface roadways, etc. After leave and my getting married in November 1957, MCB11 was deployed to the Cubi Point "Subic Bay", P.I. I returned to Treasure Island for discharge in June 1958 as a BU1. End of Military Service!
    Worked as a carpenter, carpenter foreman, construction superintendent until July 1973. Having had a California State Contractor's license since a965, I decided to put it to use for the next 13 years at which time I hit mid0life crisis; instead of women and booze I just decided it was my wife's turn to go to work now that all three of our kids were grown, educated and married, and I was tired of construction. After six months of leisure I was "drafted by a local architect to inspect one school construction project. Because he was good guy and a good friend I let him twist my arm. Eighteen years later in 2003 and numerous inspecting projects, after finishing our new local high school for the same architect and swearing it was my last job, I've committed to one more 90 day project with him at our local two year college gym. My training and experience in the SeaBees prepared me for a lifetime of work opportunities.