My 48 years at Sea: From Deck Boy in Denmark to Captain in America

We all have a story to tell. Mine is a sea story that started in 1948 when I turned 14 and no further education was available to me. My father gave me two choices, “STAY HOME FISHING, OR SHIP OUT.” For the next 48 years I sailed the Seven Seas carrying cargo from one country to another. The ships became my home and floating workplace. Going ashore in foreign ports, I was never more than a taxi ride away from home. I learned at an early age to respect different people and their cultures, and I witnessed their struggles first hand. Being a merchant seaman is not for everybody but once it’s in your blood you don’t want to do anything else. I always felt I had one of the best and most exciting jobs, from Deck Boy to Captain, on 62 different ships visiting 173 ports in 73 countries, some many times over. When I began the world was busy rebuilding after WWII a great time to be young, single, and adventurous. It was a time that can never be repeated.