Her Last Letter

This is a story of a love that began, not at first sight but on a first date - five-and-a-half years later. During those five and a half years there were at least seven chances that this meeting would never take place - one, just two hours before. But the meeting took place and a great love flourished only to be married a year and a half later - by gossip. This is a true story. Nearly all proper names are intact. Every incident is factual. The story also contains the history of a U.S. Naval Construction (Seabee) Battalion, from the time of its formation up to D-Day on an island in thr Pacific. It also depicts life in the Panama Canal Zone during WWII.

I am a 91-year-old retired structural engineer. While working in Panama on the design of the proposed 3rd locks, the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor. I then joined the Navy Seabees. Following WWII I spent my career on the design of industrial plants. I have seven children, 26 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.