Merle H. Kropf

Merle H. Kropf

EM1

I was born, on August 23, 1921, and raised in Coldwater, Kansas. I graduated from high school in Coldwater in the Spring of 1942. On April 14, 1942 I enlisted in the Navy in Dodge City, Kansas. I attended Boot Camp at the Naval Training Station in San Diego, California. In November 1942, I graduated with the rank of E.M. 3/c from the Naval Training Station IOwa State College, Ames, Iowa, now known as lowa State University.

In November 1942, I was assigned to the U.S.S. Nassau. On October 31, 1942 we crossed the Equator. THIS was a very memorable time. We also "toured" a lot of the South Pacific.

I was married on April 21, 1944 in Coldwater, Kansas to Virginia "Ginny" Salisbury from Auburn, lowa. I attended Electrical Interior Communications School in Washington, D.C.; and schools at the Naval Training Station in Williarnsburg, Virginia and at Camp Alien, Virginia. I disembarked at San Bruno, California U.S.N.A.B.P.D. I was Honorably Discharged at U.S.N. Minneapolis, Minnesota with the rate of E.M. l/c on October 8, 1945.

My wife "Ginny" and I made our home in Ames, Iowa. I worked in construction as a Licensed Electrician for 5-1/2 years. In April 1951, I left the construction-electrician Job and went to work for the Atomic Energy Commission. I was the head of the Electrical Department until September 1984, when after 33 years, I retired. After retirement, my wife and I moved to Las Vegas, Nevada. We enjoy being in the warm sunshine, year around, and we don't' have to shovel snow!! We have one son who was born in 1945, and one daughter who was born in 1949. Both of our children are married; one living in Indiana and the other in Iowa. We also have two grandchildren, one great-grandchild, and two "great" grand-dogs. I am still playing terrific golf, and get in a couple of rounds a week. We also enjoy the night life that the city has to offer.