In August 1942, to avoid being drafted into the Army, Al enlisted in the Coast Guard. After boot camp in Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts he was stationed at Guantanamo Navy Base. As a radio man he decoded 4/5 letter/number coded messages.  He never understood what they said but just gave them to the communications officer. There was only one message ever not coded “Ship broke in two, stern adrift”.

He was stationed in Saipan and then on a boat for a year in the Philippines.  He was transferred to shore duty for the rest of his service which was hard since no one spoke English. He was honorably discharged in March 1946. He married Marie in 1949 and had three children, Laura, Allen and Bob.

- Our Lady of Victory Parish Family