Preparing, Planning, and Looking Back

     Dale says the rest of our history is to be written by me with him reading to approve, disapprove, or make corrections. I feel lucky to have had him be patient with this necessary project this far.  I hope to get much input from him even yet.
    At the close of 1963 (New Year's Eve) and the dawning of 1964 (the New Year), Dale and I were engaged to be married in the Salt Lake City Temple the 10th of July, 1964. I became focused on planning our wedding reception. Dale became focused more on a career and a place to live. He decided to return to the University of Utah so he transferred to a Standard Station near the University. I had another three years I needed to teach school to fulfill the contract with my student loan. I had a car payment, government school loan payment, and he had a car payment. We began to look at our assets and plan, ponder and prepare. He was not totally at peace with the University, but what else was there? We were both country at heart, of which had great weight in our planning.
     1963 and 1964 the dynamics of our families were changing. Dale's 

Kent

brother Kent J. Van Leuven graduated from Uintah High School likely in 1963. He was looking toward a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints but he was first nabbed by the United States to serve in the Army. He spent a year in Vietnam in 1967-68, we do know that from two different Vernal Express paper clippings that we have kept. One clipping tells of him attending a LDS Conference in Chu Lai on December 29, 1967. Another clipping is dated April 25, 1968, also saying he is in Chu Lai, Vietnam. He was in the the service two years. His mission was accomplished from November 15, 1969 to November 21, 1971 in Portland Oregon. First place of assignment for his mission was Coos Bay, Oregon. 
     I (Shirleen) rode with him to Whiterocks, Utah to attend a meeting (social activity), as he was serving as a Stake Missionary on the Ute Indian Reservation (likely 1965). I remember he picked me up at my parents' home where I was living. He was driving his mother's car. I don't know why I remember that, but I do. I was teaching school and Dale was then attending college. Also during these years Kent attended school at Salt Lake Community College. Along with an interest in art, he kept himself busy during his years of preparing to step into a marriage and family.

     My family was and had gone through change. Our births were close so our departure into the world was just as close. Jeanne married Allen Reynolds Merkley, 18 April, 1964. Vonae married Albert Alma Young, 1 May, 1964, Raymond Leland Perry, had just left for Fort Gordan Georgia (Army Base) about the same time, and Lanette married Nels Earl Carlson, 2 November 1965. My parents' budget was meager anyway, and it had taken a major hit. Mother had a major melt down after we were all gone, and spent several days in bed quite physically and emotionally spent.

Vonae
Bridesmaid
Coral dress with coral
satin heels.

She had helped us make quilts, make bridesmaid dresses, covers for tabletops, and aprons for the servers and much more. Each one of us had chosen different colors, so of course, we didn't share a lot except for the wedding veil. More than one of us shared the same veil.  I had run out of money so I was willing to share. Oh well, I needed "something new, something used, and something blue". The serving dishes worked fine for all of us. We were all busy for many weeks.

Lanette

     Light peach, tan and white was the color I had chosen. I asked my sisters, Vonae and Lanette, to be my bridesmaids. Jeanne was my maid of honor. Dale asked his brother Ray to be his best man and Kent as an usher.
     It was clear that Dale and I would be on our own. We handled the expenses quite well except for pictures. I always wished we could have afforded a professional photographer. 
     I went to Aurbacks in Salt Lake to purchase my wedding dress. Along with the purchase of the dress, they took pictures of me in my dress, and then delivered the dress to the Salt Lake Temple the day of our wedding. Thanks to Aurbacks I do have some nice pictures of my wedding dress.

Shirleen    

     At quieter and less active moments, I could not help but ponder and be grateful for the spiritual journey I had experienced in bringing me to this time of my life. Today, I don't believe the journey was by accident. I believe the Holy Ghost was bringing seemingly small events to my remembrance. I should have forgotten them but, I hadn't. He brings things to our remembrance, ever so insignificant they might be, which is one of the many ways He communicates with us. My testimony of a higher power was growing the more I pondered and recognized that His hand had been guiding me in every step. I love these quotes by unknown authors. "His love reaches beyond our power and comprehension." "If you take one step, God will take two." He had certainly done just that for Dale and I.

Dale's Spiritual Goal Is Apparent

     I met Shirleen Perry after we followed the girls to some apartments on

Shirleen

 1st South. After introductions and making the girls at ease in our company, we asked them to go for a ride. A couple of them needed to go elsewhere, but Shirleen and her younger sister, Lanette, agreed to go with us. Shirleen said she had plans for that evening so she couldn't be gone too long. Before we returned them back to their apartment, I asked her for a date for the following weekend. I continued to ask her for a date as often as possible. I got to know her family. I found them to be fun and easy to know. I took her home to meet Kent and Mother.

     Before I came home from France, I had started to look ahead and think about what I was going to do with my life. I wanted a family, extended family, to be near my own family, and the church. I had even thought of making the Air Force my career, then I realized I'd be continually around the rough environment that the military is known for. Such as swearing, dirty language, immorality, etc. I really didn't want that. The smallest of offenses, such as not making a bed correctly, cleaning a room, dust on shoes, a bad sunburn etc. could be grounds to being court marshaled, which would result in a dishonorable discharge. Receiving a honorable discharge was very important. Applications for jobs, loans, and schooling would include military information. "Did you serve in the military? Do you have an honorable discharge?" Not only for the mentioned reasons it would be a stressful career for a family! I continued to ponder my options after I returned home. 
     I'd taken some classes as a freshman at the University of Utah before leaving the States, so I considered going back to school and get a degree. I could go into traffic control but likely that meant a life of living in a city and controlling the sky traffic and runways which is a high stress career. Staying with Standard Stations was never an option for a life-long career. It was a hobby and a job to help get started in life. I was feeling it was time to settle down and get my life headed in another direction. Ray was married and having his family and was successfully supporting them. It can be mentally taxing as a young man prepares to start a family.  
     I found a '47 Chev 1/2 ton truck that I could afford so I could do some hauling. The engine had a lot of dirt on it. After I cleaned and sprayed the engine, it shone like a silver dollar. It cleaned up very nice. It had a straight six engine and I kept it until I moved to Salt Lake City and then I traded the '47 truck for a '57 Chev 1/2 ton.
     I decided to try the University of Utah again so I transferred to a Standard Station on 13th South and 13th East. I found an apartment in back of a house on 13th South and about 3rd East. The nightly traffic going by would vibrate my bed. I should have known going to the University of Utah wouldn't work out. After one quarter, I knew I would need a smaller college with smaller classes and quieter sleep hours. I begin to think of another college or university, and had even driven to Rexburg, Idaho to check out the possibility of attending Ricks College. Once I got there and looked around I didn't feel that was the answer. Shirleen had received her degree at the College of Southern Utah in Cedar City, Utah and had told me that she'd liked it. The professors at the U of U would hire a graduate student for each class to take notes. The graduate would then write the test, grade them and pass the results back to the professor. With a large class of fifty to sixty students, a person wouldn't be able to get any help from the professor.
     The Standard Station on 13th East and 13th South was new, but it was built on a small hill. During the first good rain storm, the water came in the front door, through the lube bay and out the other side and down the road. The engineers had not actually thought things through wisely.

     On my way to and from work, I would pass a dress shop. It had a small window right by the road and they had a gold dress on display. I thought, "that looks good." I would notice it more at night. The lights in the shop would illuminate it. With Christmas coming, I thought it would make a nice gift for Shirleen.

     Kati Marie Van Leuven Johnstun, our beautiful oldest granddaughter, is modeling the dress in the pictures below. The dress had a dinner coat that could be worn over the dress. 

     On New Year's Eve 1963, we went to the LDS New Year's Eve dance in Vernal. Leaving a little before midnight we rode to the lookout point on Highway 40, just coming into Vernal from Roosevelt. This is the same place we had driven to on the day we had met. I reached across to the jockey box and pulled out the engagement ring. I told her we were starting a new year and and this year can be a new life for us if she'd say yes to my request. I asked her to marry me. Of course, she didn't say no because here we are after fifty some odd years.

Our wedding bands match.

   One Sunday, Shirleen and I were attending Sacrament meeting in Vernal. Before the meeting started, the bishop came over to speak to us. He said that he had thought to ask me if I wanted to serve a LDS mission but he noticed the engagement ring on Shirleen's finger and could see that I was going to start a mission of my own.

    We started to make wedding plans. Shirleen finished teaching that school year. We had set a date of July 10, 1964 to be married in the Salt Lake Temple.
    We drove to Cedar City, to check the possibilities of me finishing school at the College of Southern. It looked very favorable and we felt good about it. I enrolled to start school at CSU (today it is Southern Utah University). Shirleen tried to find a teaching position but they did not have any openings. It was very hard to find a position in a college town. Once hired, the teachers would hang on to their positions, because they knew if they left Iron School District it would be difficult or next to impossible to get hired again. She applied and we hoped but, it looked very doubtful. The school district had many other job applications ahead of hers. The other school district was in St. George. It was another college town and was quite a drive from Cedar City so we didn't even consider that as an option. I got a job at a Standard Station in Cedar City and we found an older home with three apartments. The apartments had their own main entrance. We were lucky to get the front apartment. Another couple (Corry's) lived in the apartment behind us. Then there was a basement apartment a single student seemed to live there, though we seldom saw him. It was on a quiet street, near work, near the campus and had quiet neighbors.  

Dale's Going Home

     After the purchase of my car in Detroit, I headed west without any place in mind to visit. I traveled alone stopping at night to find a motel to get some sleep. Crossing the plains I discovered my car had a broken shock absorber on the left front of the car. The wind was making the car lift and I couldn't even do the speed limit. After a short stop at a GM dealer, I was able to continue westward toward home.
     While stationed at Toul, I worked at the Toul Rod and Gun Club on my days off at the base. This club was a building with a bar on one side and a gun and ammunition outlet store on the other. When my branch president found out that I worked there, he asked which side I worked on. I assured him that I wasn't selling beer. He was alright with that. Guns were another investment that the military guys were involved in. Buying them at a lower price in France and selling them in the States. At the time, I had in my mind that once I was discharged, I would move to Alaska. So I purchased two Weatherbys. I figured that would take care of the bears I planned to hunt. I also bought two Sakos and a Browning shot gun. In those days, guns could be sent through the mail. So, I bought some three quarter inch plywood and made boxes in the wood shop. The guns were sold and packaged in a cardboard box. So once I'd finished the plywood boxes I packed each gun, still in its cardboard box, inside a plywood box and mailed them to Vernal. One gun was stopped in Denver. The postal people wanted to know why I had a gun in the mail. I sent them a copy of my orders and they moved the gun on to Vernal.
     By the time I received my honorable discharge on April 22, 1963, a lot had changed in the United States during the time I was in France. John F. Kennedy had been elected President of the United States of America November 8, 1960. His famous quote was, "My fellow Americans ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country." I had done just that! The Vietnam War started December 11, 1961 with the first 33 helicopters, 400 crewmen and troops arriving in Saigon. The first American combat death was December 22, 1961 marking the beginning of the war involving the United States. The Vietnam War lasted until 1975. In fact, while my personal world was changing the United States was making some history of its own. In 1958, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that Little Rock, Arkansas schools must integrate. Civil Rights was a major issue of the people in the U.S. and causing much unrest. Dwight D. Eisenhower was President of the United States and Richard M. Nixon was Vice President (1953-1961). Elvis Presley was inducted into the U.S. Army on 24th of March 1958. NASA was formed for the purpose of exploring space. In 1960, John F. Kennedy was elected President and Lyndon B. Johnson Vice President of the United States. They took office in 1961. John F. Kennedy was assassinated 22nd of November not many months after I returned home. In 1961, the Bay of Pigs Invasion made history. Alan Shepard was the first American in space, followed by John Glen in 1962 being the first to orbit the Earth. That same year was the Cuban Missile Crisis. In 1963 Martin Luther King Jr. gave his famous "I Have a Dream" speech.

Ray Van Leuven

Kent Van Leuven

left to right - Jeanine's parents, Jeanine, Ray,
Vera Van Leuven ( Ray's mother) 

     My mother was happy to have me home. Likewise, Kent and Ray seemed to be glad I was back. Once Ray had graduated from high school he was itching to leave Vernal, so I don't remember that he was living with us very long after he graduated. As I recall Uncle Duayne was helping him to get relocated in Salt Lake. Ray served a LDS mission from 1955 to 1958 while I was finishing high school and working at Standard Stations in Vernal, meeting the draft requirements in the National Guard, and preparing to leave Vernal. I then left home for the Air Force in October 1958. Ray got home from his mission that same year. If he came home to Vernal or Salt Lake City I don't remember that either. So between Ray's going and coming, and my going and coming we were not meeting up with each other at home very often. While I had been serving there had been some additions in my family too. Ray had married Jeanine Eldredge on the 23rd of April 1959. Ray and Jeanine had two children, a daughter, Lauri, born in 1960, and a newborn son, Jerry, born the 15th of April, 1963. They were living in Salt Lake City. Kent was a Senior at Uintah High School.  

     By law, employers are required to employ serviceman that desire to return to their former employment. I felt lucky to have a job that I could start working immediately on my arrival home. Having a job was important because I had a car to pay for. I didn't feel that my mother was responsible for my existence, and had always felt I needed to make my own way. I did need some time to adjust and figure out where my life was headed. Standard Stations were owned by Standard Oil Company and sold Chevron gasoline and other Standard Oil products. We were required to wear white uniforms. I went from a government servicemen uniform to a work uniform. Standard Stations had always been good to me in the past. 
     Most of my friends were married, in the service, or living and working elsewhere. In the first part of May, 1963, Anthony Roberts, Orlo Caldwell and I were dragging Main Street. Vernal was preparing for a parade. We parked in front of Standard Stations to watch the parade. We noticed some girls parked across the street. We devised a plan to meet the girls and it went off without a hitch. After the last float passed by, I remained behind the steering wheel. Orlo, home on furlough, went to the center of the street and stopped the traffic. Dressed in his uniform, he appeared to have the authority to control the movement of the cars. Anthony crossed the street to the girls to tell them to make a U-Turn in front of the line of cars. As they did, I pulled out behind them. Orlo and Anthony quickly got back in my car and we followed the girls' vehicle. As we followed them, Anthony kept bragging about how he was able to get a date with one of the girls. Orlo and I got tired of hearing about his good fortune and kicked him to the curb. I had to keep asking Orlo the name of the girl that was driving the other car. I'm not always good with remembering names so I'd forget as soon as he would tell me her name. The girls stopped in front of some apartments. I pulled up behind their car and Orlo and I got out to introduce ourselves. After a brief conversation we invited them to go with us for a ride. That is how I got to know Shirleen Perry. I asked her for a date and we begin to see each other quite regularly.

Dale and Shirleen's picture taken the day we met

     
   

Dale's Walk By Faith

Standard Station Logo

       After graduation, I stayed in Vernal and continued to work at Standard Stations and hanging out with the guys. At that time the draft-eligible age was 18 1/2 through 25. When I was eighteen, I received a letter from the Draft Board informing me that I hadn't registered with them and that I was going to be drafted into the Army. Signing up with the draft board was never advertised and I didn't want the Army since combat was done on the ground. I went to the National Guard Armory in Vernal and explained my problem to the full-time Sergeant. He said no problem, he would put the enlistment date one day ahead of my being eighteen and a half. So I was in the National Guard as it turned out for the next two years. One summer, the unit worked above Park City building the road over Guardsman's Pass. I drove a dump truck. 
     Around August I transferred to a Standard Station in Salt Lake and I shared an apartment with Verlin Vincent near the University of Utah. Later I moved to a large apartment owned by Stevens Henager Business College. Robert Stringham and four business students and I shared the building. Robert and I did the cooking and shopping. The foursome did the dishes and cleaning. 

Dale

     On 13th of October 1958, I received an honorable discharge from the Utah National Guard. Being 20 years old, I was still in the draft-eligible age and wanted to avoid being drafted into the Army. So, the next day, 14th October 1958, I enlisted in the Air Force for four years. My first duty station was Lackland Air Force Base in Texas (7544 (CMBT SPT GP USAFE). This was my basic training. We had two TIs (tactical instructors) each day. One of the TIs had served in his Guard unit and it seemed that he believed I knew how to march, so he put me in charge of the fourth squad. One of the guys, from the fourth squad, came to me and asked if I would be his bank with his money. I told him I would and if he was drinking I wouldn't give him his money. Sometimes you can meet some different people.
     True to form, when the military says a person can have a field of duty, they don't always get what was promised. I left Lackland going to Orlando to be an Air Policeman. I thought I was going to work in air traffic controls.
     Texas was cold! The wind in December went through my winter clothing. I spent a couple of weeks in Vernal - then on a train to Orlando, Florida, (high humidity and no ocean breeze).

Dale receiving an award for "Airman of the Month" from Major Pobletts

     I reported in to Major Pobletts at Orlando Air Force Base and gave him the copy of my orders. He said, "I see you are LDS." Yes sir!, I replied. He continued, "My wife is LDS and I know about your religion. And I expect you to follow it's teachings." Two or three months later, he called me to his office and said, " I understand you would like to get into air traffic control." "Of course." I said. He said he was in charge of the Air Force terminal at the combined civilian and Air Force airport. Then he explained that there was an open position if I wanted it. The work included taking flight plans from pilots and submitting them to the National Traffic Control. He was looking out for me!
     One Friday, six of us decided we would go to the east side of Florida to the beach and the Atlantic Ocean. One of the fellows was a pilot from Czechoslovakia. He had decided he would fly a Czechoslovakian plane to a United States airbase and seek asylum. Then he asked how to become a U.S. citizen. He was told to join the U.S. Air Force. We gave him the nickname of Seahawk because Czechoslovakian is hard to pronounce. We gave everyone a nickname because we were stationed for a short amount of time and it was easier to remember them. My nickname was Utah. Seahawk was a character. He would drink Alka-Seltzer like soda pop. He also was learning English and would always mix up the cliches. We were always trying to help him get them right.

Left to right - Bear, Bear's girlfriend and Dale
Sun tanning on a Florida beach

     Some of the guys decided to put down a blanket and play cards. One guy who worked in the Squadron office (who was very light skinned), decided to get a sun tan. We all told him to put on some sun lotion, but he refused. He of course turned a beautiful pink. Monday morning he had to put on his class A (starched) uniform and work with the 1st Sergeant in the Squadron office. We felt sorry for the poor GI (government issue, meaning he was government property)! He could have been court marshaled if he couldn't work.
     Seahawk and I decided to go swimming in the ocean. As we walked to the water, careful not to step on any dead sting rays on the beach, not one of us thought about sharks. When we were out about two hundred yards, I told him I was going back to the beach. He said he would go out some more and then come back. A fishing boat picked him up and brought him back later.
     I belonged to a support squadron which included: air police, air traffic control, and cooks. I opened a business of taking someone's KP duty ("kitchen police" or "kitchen patrol") Of course, I required pre-payment. I would go to the airman's mess hall in the early morning (5:00 a.m), sign up for potato man (the sign up paper was first come first choice) and then find a dark place until breakfast time. The night cook was a good friend to most of the guys in the squadron. Mother would send me a care package of chocolate chip cookies and I would take some to the guys in the mess hall at night - put the cookies on a tray, sprinkle some water on them and put them in a warm oven. Then take them out, get milk, and chill out.
     One day while running my electric potato peeler, a frog came in my cool building, I decided to do a science experiment with the frog. I took a large glass with ice and water back to my work space. Into the glass he went (some help needed). When he quit moving, I put him to lay in the sun light.  When he started to move, I put him back into the glass. This went on until I was bored, (maybe he is waiting to discuss life with me). Oh, I finally let him hop away.
     Another friend of mine was Bear. We gave him the name of Bear because he was big like a standing bear, he walked like a bear and he had a low voice like a bear. We spent a lot of time at different lakes around Orlando. Bear had a girlfriend that would make lunch for us and bring it to where we were. I think she hoped Bear would marry her. She was a divorcee and was looking for a new husband.

F-102

     When we were at the beach, whomever worked the night shift, we would wake him up every thirty minutes so he could turn over and avoid getting sunburn. You might think we were a lazy bunch, but we were swimming a lot and we didn't spend very much money. Florida has a lot of lakes and a lot of sand. Ask anyone who has tried to raise a garden in Florida.

Dale at work

     Moss will grow anywhere in Florida. We had to keep at least one pair of shoes shined, under our beds. I had one special toothbrush to clean the crease where the sole of the shoe meets the top. The moss would start to grow on the shoe and I would have to brush it away before each inspection.
     At Christmas time, our squadron had a get-together in the day room. Some of us came late. The room was full, holding about forty people. As I came into the room, Major Pobletts, in a loud voice, spoke my name. Of course I answered, "Yes sir!" He was standing by a large table with paper cups and two large serving bowls. As he spoke to me, he pointed to the bowl on his left, "You may have some of this drink!" He motioned to the bowl on his right and said, "But don't take any of this drink." The man was always taking care of me. I hope he finally became a member of the church.
     Soon after Christmas, orders came to the squadron that two transfers needed to be filled. One was for Japan and one for France. Bear and I were going to move. Bear had been in the military longer than I had, so he was given a choice to make. He went to Japan. He didn't know it but he had to have several more series of shots.
     I had two weeks of leave and then off to McGuire Air Force Base in New Jersey. We had an older four motor plane and had to stop in Iceland to refuel. We were told to stay seated. We saw many lonely people in the terminal. It seemed that they looked longingly at our plane thinking "I wish I was on that plane." There is nothing to do in Iceland.

Dale

     We landed in Frankfurt, Germany. There was a car and driver waiting for us and we were soon in France looking for Toul-Rosieres Air Base. The buildings all had a capital T and then a number (ex. T 102). The T stands for temporary. Not long after I left France for home the French government closed the base to the United States. It bothered me how the French people treated American military people. They seem to have forgotten that the U.S military had moved the German military out of their country. I enjoyed my opportunities to visit the U.S. military cemeteries.

US Military Cemetery

Everything lined up with green grass. The cemeteries were really taken care of.

French Cemetery

     We didn't do KP in France. The French men and women were hired to come to the Base and do a lot of different jobs.
     My first Sunday at Toul, I looked for the priesthood meeting that was held in the elementary school, and I didn't know it but the priesthood brethren were looking for me. When we got together we were a group of three.

 Left - Newel Van Dyke
Right - Dale Reynolds

     The Branch President, Dale Reynolds, in a few months called Newel Van Dyke and myself to be his assistants. On one occasion, Dale told the congregation that when one of his assistants talked it was so fast that no one knew what was going on and the other talked so little that no one knew what was going on. I was the one who talked too fast. I also was called to teaching a youth Sunday School class.
     The last year and half I was in the service, I was called and set apart as a missionary. It would be equivalent to a stake missionary. My companion was Bob Abshire. Bob was an interesting fellow. He was a military policeman and fell asleep while on duty. He sure got in a lot of trouble for that. The military really worked him over. All I will say is they didn't kill him.
     Our branch members consisted of military personnel and their families. As a branch, we paid for a French missionary to translate the Book of Mormon into the French language.
     Before enlisting, I sold my car and put the money in the bank. I had already decided to buy a car in France. Mother sent me my money and I bought a MG Midget. It was small. Driving at 50 MPH and looking to the side, I thought we must have been going seventy.

Dale and his MG Midget (the Bug)

     I put about twenty-five thousand miles on it. We had to buy our gas with coupon books. Fuel was about twenty-five cents a gallon for the military personnel.
     There was next to nothing to do at Toul, so on our days off, several of the Mormon guys and I would visit battle fields, cemeteries, and other points of interest. My uncle, Norman Johnson, was a fighter pilot in World War II. He was shot down by Domfront, France, which I visited. Also, Utah Beach was interesting. Nothing remains but one bunker overlooking the ocean. We would also go to the Canadian air base that was close by in Verdun. They had a swimming pool that we liked to swim in. There was also a hockey rink. Their guys needed to stay in shape and played hockey a lot. We spent time watching them play.

Bunker along side of the road

     People had lived in France for hundreds of years. Through all the many years, they prepared for war by constructing places of safety. The most impressive one for me were the bunkers along the Maginot Line facing the other countries. They were spaced so the guns would over lap each other. The purpose was to stop any tankers from advancing. Of course someone forgot that an army could easily get behind the bunkers and blow them up. Most of the bunkers are gone, but some were left as reminders. South of the base was a large hill that the French had tunneled in. It was said it was extensive. We were unable to tour it due to it being closed. There was another place close by that the French had built underground. There were three or four levels down in the ground. Some of the guys enjoyed going in with string and flashlights to explore. They would always have a guy waiting outside for their return.

Cross section of the Maginot Line
I explored only far enough that I would
be able quickly get out.

     In the fall of 1962, the church had a serviceman's conference near Munich, Germany. Around Munich are the German Alps. Hitler had a resort that had been built on a ridge. We didn't go up but we stayed in Berchtesgaden. The brethren that were sent to speak at the conference were amazing. I bought a book about church government and asked for autographs. They included: N. Eldon Tanner, Theodore M. Burton, Marion D. Hanks, Henry D. Moyle, and Hugh B. Brown (November, 1962).
     In a few days we planned to visit Spain. We had gas coupons to use in France, but no coupons to use in Spain. We filled Kay's car and crossed into Spain. We watched a crew making a round rock road and when the gas gauge was at one half full we returned the same way we had come into Spain. We didn't take any pictures, I guess I'm not a very good tourist. Another day on the beach and we headed back to Toul-Rosieres. I had my 16mm camera and I took pictures of the pretty ladies along the way.

Kay Durfee outside the tent Newel made.

     The following Spring, Kay Durfee and I decided to take several days of leave together. We went to another conference up in Frankfurt, Germany. We were looking for military battlegrounds. We made our way through northern Germany and then into Belgium, then back to France, and South to the French Riviera. Newel worked in a parachute shop and he had made us a good size tent. So we camped out on a vacant part of the Riviera beach. Before we made it to the Riviera (on a warm summer day), we stopped close to an inlet of the Mediterranean Sea and I went for a swim. The sea had very clear water just like the streams I'd seen in Florida. As I approached the far side, I looked down in the water and saw moving shrimp, crabs, barnacles, etc. I stopped and the thought hit me - what was watching me in the water? There could have been sharks in the Mediterranean because it connects to the Atlantic Ocean! I couldn't wait to get back to were I started this swim, so I put a lot of effort into the job of getting back. Of course I thought of my swim with Seahawk off the coast of Florida! Someday I will find out how much protection I had received during that ocean swim. 

Linda Reynolds (Dale Reynolds' daughter) and "Le Beat" (me) by the hardware
at Versailles Palace.

     When the time of my tour of duty was coming to the end, the U.S. had some trouble with the Russian side of the wall.  Along came some orders that my enlistment was going to be extended for six months. Soon after, a National Guard Unit from the South was called up and they were stationed with us at Toul Air Base.   
     The National Guard Unit guys really caught on fast how to buy high price cameras, cars, etc. Some took out big loans from their bank in the States and bought high priced sports cars and drove them while in France, had them shipped free by boat to the States and still would have made a lot of money. 
     My remaining six months tour of duty was changed to three months, so I had to take my Midget to port in Germany. I had finally reached "short time" person status. This was the envied status since it meant I could tell anyone how much time I had left in France (14 days, a wake up, 6 hours and 2 minutes). One of the fellows who was going home around the same time (he was married with two children), had his orders changed to three days later than mine. I made the mistake of rubbing him too many times.
     My return back to the States was in a better airplane and we came back going straight across the Atlantic.
     After my arrival at McGuire AFB in New Jersey and during the process of discharge, some guys (myself included) were told we were extended three days. During these three days we would need to clean some offices in the evenings. It just so happened that my friend that was extended three days at Toul happened to pick up his car in front of the office we had cleaned. His hello and laugh was more jolly than mine.
     After I picked up the Midget from the cargo boat, I headed to Detroit to buy a Chev. I traded the Midget in and finally had a friendly sized car.

1962 Chev Impala

Dale's High School Years

        

Central Elementary School in Vernal

     I started high school as a seventh grader. Vernal did not have a middle or junior high in those days. So I went from Central Elementary into Uintah High School.

The old Uintah High School (north building)

    
     The school had a strange feature. It consisted of more than one building. There was a building on the south and one on the north. They were both really old. They looked shabby on the inside and outside. The halls were quite eerie because of the poor lighting. The auditorium likewise with dim lights and a slanting floor like a movie theater. One needed to watch their footing carefully as they entered the room. The building on the south had a ledge about 4 1/2 feet off the ground that ran around the outside of the building.  Above the ledge there were holes in the soft adobe brick which many boys over the years had whittled into the brick to make it possible to walk around the building. The holes were used as finger holds. They could nearly walk around the whole building before they would have to jump down. It became a challenge to do so, and also it took up some of the recess time. One had to stay alert to remain on the ledge.
     The building on the south is where the office was. It also contained the auditorium, gym, dressing rooms, showers, and some classrooms. The north building had classrooms.
     The lunchroom was in another building nearby. It was similar to a military mess hall. The lunches were excellent. In those days everything was prepared from scratch on site by accomplished cooks using well planned menus. 
     In my research, I learned that A. Alwyn Call was Assistant Principal and served as the Principal of the Junior High age students that was in the north building while the high school was mainly in the south building. I do remember going from building to building for some of my classes.
     The old buildings have been demolished many years ago. They were located where the old swimming pool building is and east across the parking lot from the middle school. The present School Board Offices are to the south. Central Elementary is located at 250 South Vernal Avenue and is still in use today. It is now known as Central Cove Pre-school and is still part of the Uintah School District.        
     Older students can easily intimidate a seventh grader. We had plenty of opportunity to be around older students. I learned quickly that I would need to defend myself; as some of the older boys would put a younger one in a large trash can or locker. I made sure I didn't get caught. It was a whole new experience for me, because sixth graders were the king pins in elementary. 
     I recall a time when some of the boys would put yeast in a bottle of apple cider then lock it up in a locker, and forget what locker they had put the bottle in. Over a matter of time one could expect it to blow and that is just what would happen! The custodians hated it when it happened. They complained long and loud when it would happen. Of course, NO ONE KNEW who did it. 
     I cannot remember how I got to school each day. I can recall one time walking through the fields toward home. If I walked, it would have been quite a distance, especially during winter months. Mother taught at Naples Elementary in Naples, and carpooled with others. She was unable to take me to school. Ray would have been in tenth grade when I was in seventh. One can only guess, but I really have blanked a lot of things out of my mind during those years.
     I don't ever remember seeing Ray at school. He would have had classes that I did not need at the time, and had his own circle of friends, and what older brother wants a younger brother tagging him around everywhere. We had separate interest also.
     I quit my paper route about the time I went into seventh grade. I didn't like their work policy. If a customer didn't pay for their newspaper then it came out of our own pocket. And they would take us as far as Ballard, Utah to get new subscribers for the Deseret News. That got old! 
     Ray joined F.F.A (Future Farmers of America), which was a class in high school. Its members wore a jacket with their name stitched in yellow lettering on the front. The jacket was blue with the F.F.A. patch on the back. Ray got a new jacket and wore it while he was at the high school. When I joined F.F.A. then I inherited his jacket. I cut the stitching off to remove his name, but the blue had faded some and his name still showed. I wore the jacket anyway. I tried not to stress Mother with anything extra, that could be accomplished in a minor way or sacrifice something that would be of worth for a short time.

Ray Van Leuven

     As I recall, Ray starting working at the Vernal Theater before he graduated from high school. He couldn't wait to leave Vernal. After graduation he begin working toward that goal. So about as soon as he had the opportunity he took it! Uncle Duayne, as I recall, was helping him to make that happen. It seems that he did leave for his mission from our ward in Vernal.

Vernal Theater

     I remember walking (we'd run though) with a friend to LDS Seminary. He wore biker boots. They were a fad! I liked racing him because his boots always lost. The building was across the road. The Seminary building is used today as the LDS Distribution Center next to the Uintah School District office building. I graduated from seminary my senior year. 
     I had normal crushes on girls but nothing serious. It cost money I didn't have and I didn't have a car. Except the summer before my junior year I got a job as a pearl diver (dishwasher) at Hotel Vernal. I bought my first car, a '47 Ford. Then I got laid off. I parked my car in the drive way and would go out and start it up once in awhile. I couldn't afford to drive. I paid two hundred dollars for it. It was a faded blue, and looked like it had never been washed, but it did run. 

1947 Ford two door coupe like my first car. That is not me behind the wheel.

     When I was about seventeen, Mother let me take her car to mutual. As I took a left turn at 5th West and 1st South a guy coming from the east ran the stop sign. He hit the car on the driver's side. I was not hurt, but it smashed in the door. I hated to borrow Mother's car after that. I was always careful not to bring added stress to Mother. I'm sure this was stress to her, as it was the only car she had.     
     In those days the snowplows would not often get the side roads cleared of snow, so the roads would get packed down. They would get really icy. We would take advantage of the slow moving vehicles on our way to mutual. We'd get a hold of their bumper and let them pull us to where we wanted to drop off. Also I remember tying a rope on a bumper and being pulled behind a car just for fun. Dangerous but fun!
     We'd wet our hair down to style it. During the winter when we'd go outside our hair would freeze. 

     Sometime later I don't remember when or how but I traded off my '47 for a black 1952 Ford, which I couldn't afford to drive very often either. 

1952 Ford

     My senior year the new high school was finished and along with it a new seminary building just across the street. The new school and seminary building were much closer to my home. I didn't have eight blocks to walk to school any more, only about five blocks. The new Uintah High School was like walking from darkness into light. 

Uintah High School, 1956

     My life begin to change also. Standard Stations were hiring. I applied and was sent to Provo for a week of schooling. Kenneth Hacking (a cousin) invited me to stay with his family during those training days. My job at the Chevron Station put me on a swing shift. Which meant I went to school and straight to work until about 10:00 p.m. Standard Stations were always good to me. My job allowed me to upgrade my mode of transportation to a two tone green and white 1955 Ford. My walking days were in the past. I was starting to live!
     A guy's car was a beautiful feather in a young MAN's cap. The '55 Ford was not keeping up with the GM cars. So I bought a plum and white '56 Chev, it was stick shift with a 283. The better souped up the better! It was a bit of a challenge to see who could have the hottest in looks, speed, and the most mellow sound in the Basin. The chrome pipes I had put along the side of my car really looked sharp. The car never got beat until I raced Pat Sutten's car (58 Pontiac Auto, tri-power). Each time I shifted, the Pontiac would move a head a couple of feet. We were on Vernal Avenue going north. In the rear view mirror, I could see a bright red light coming....??. Another story.

1955 Ford
Two doors were hip! Four doors not! Four doors were thought to be family sedans.

     

1956 Chev 

    Uintah High was the first in 'the basin' to add wrestling to the curriculum. I was interested, so I got into wrestling. Time now was the problem. When the the wrestling coach wanted me to stay after, my reply was I've got to go to work. There was NO time for girls!
    I got the nickname Louie when I was working at the Vernal Hotel. One of the other guys working there could not pronounce Van Leuven correctly, so once when he tried to say my last name and was having difficulty I said, "Can you say Louie?" His reply, "Yeah!" He started calling me Louie. It took, so I became Louie to many friends. Some still call me Louie. 

Physical Education- 'Louie', left front

Dale 'Louie' Van Leuven, senior year 1956

     Kent was growing and advancing along in the education program. The year I started seventh grade he would have been about seven years of age. He had been a stress to Mother as his health was not always good. He got colds and the flu easily. His eating habits were poor, until Uncle Duayne told Mother to take him over to Evelyn's with all her children during mealtimes and he'd learn to eat. She decided to try it and it worked, because when he saw others diving in to get their share he started doing the same. He could plainly see that one had to do something about surviving when there was a crowd.
     Aunt Evelyn and Uncle Owen Hacking lived west of us and had children near mine and Ray's ages. Mother and Evelyn were always real close. She was a lot of help and comfort to Mother. Of course, cousins were great to have close.