This book describes the life story of John LeDoux. Born in 1924 and reared in California, this story recounts the adventures of growing up in the 20s and 30s when there was no TV or youth sports' programs. Youngsters in those days played sandlot ball, cops and robbers, cowboys and Indians, kick the can, and various other activities. There was little parental interaction but most of the time the kids did behave although the story does recount some mischievous behavior, especially on Halloween.
This fleet footed Broadmoor gang all saw service in WWII. Some did not make it home. LeDoux went to the Naval Academy when it was still a military school not influenced by feminism. The story describes the life of midshipmen and their officers and how sometimes the strict military code was avoided. The description of one officer, "Uncle Beany Jarrett" is a classic.
His "sea stories" about life in the Navy, even in peacetime, are interesting and funny, like his "Mr. Roberts" role on a cargo ship. He did see much of the world: the arctic, the South pole, the Western Pacific, and several trips to Europe. But it is the personalities and their interactions that grab your attention. During this time he married and fathered and helped rear 8 children. In 9 years this family moved coast to coast 8 times. He was the first civil engineer in the Navy to receive nuclear PG training. His role as a "Poor man's Rickover": when he was in charge of the Shore Based Nuclear power program provided grist for the mill. The Fairway Rock project illustrates how government red tape was avoided to accomplish an important task.
After the Navy, his many jobs in civilian life show that people interactions are again the salt of life. These experiences also go coast to coast. How he handled a tough personnel problem coming in as a high level civilian and an outsider, is a lesson in leadership.
His last position before retiring for good, was as a university professor teaching engineering freshman provided more "sea stories". It is interesting to read how education of children has changed from his experience in the 40s to the present. The three Rs, reading, 'riting and 'rithmatic, are now the three Ss, self esteem, socialization, and low SATs. The story recounts many human interest events that are at times funny and at times sad but intriguing. The marriage of over 50 years that produced 8 children, 11 grandkids, 6 greatkids mixed with a varied professional career on a world wide stage provided the fodder for these stories and how to be a father, husband, and a popular leader of men.
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John Carver LeDoux was born in Portland, Oregon on May 18, 1924. His family moved to San Leandro, California in 1926. He graduated from San Leandro High School in 1942. He was student body president in his senior year.
John joined the Navy in 1943, and went to the Naval Academy in 1944, and graduated with the last war time class in 1947. he served at sea on two ships for two years; he taught at the Academy for one year then transferred to the Civil Engineer Corps (the Navy SeaBees) and had engineering management positions at various stations for the next fifteen years. He received several citations for his engineering work and was a principal in developing the training and education of engineers and architects with a tour with the Civil defense organization. His last position in the Navy was as Officer in Charge of the Navy Shore Based Nuclear power program. He retired in 1967 with the rank of Commander.
From 1967 to 1970 he was director of the Nuclear Division for Flow Corporation, a Boston Company. The work field work was done at Fort Belvoir, Virginia. he was then Vice-President of marketing for weiner Associated in Baltimore and a consultant for a New England company for the Washington D.C. area.
In 1973 he went to the University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado as the director of an Engineering advisory center for five adjacent states. This program was sponsored by Civil Defense and provided guidance in constructing new buildings for wind and earthquake protection.
In 1975 he went to Chicago with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission Field office. He was a branch chief for the inspection of plants under construction. In 1976 he was transferred to the headquarters office in Bethesda, Maryland, that was close to the District of Columbia. In 1978 he became the Chief of Training division that provided training and education for NRC inspectors.
In 1981 he resigned and accepted a professorship of engineering at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Virginia. He primarily taught the basic freshmen classes until he retired in 1994, receiving Emeritus status. While at VPI he was active in local politics and wrote a number of newspaper columns on various topics of national and local interest. After retiring from VPI he has continued these activities.
