MACHINERY - POETRY - ALLITERATION
A family with a tast for the unusual combination of machinery, poetry and
alliteration is represented on Adak by Leroy and Leland Blowers, both assigned
to Public Works Transportation, both bus drivers. The two men enlisted to
gether for four year hitches in October I960, and have been together in the
Navy since that time - and both arrived on Adak on 31 January 1962,
Leroy, 23, is an E0N3, while Leland, 21, is a CM, striking for EON at the
next advancement. A third brother, Lonny, 17,' is considering joining the Navy
and his brothers - and following the same rating.
Equipment operating comes naturally to the 33-owers brothers. Their father,
Leonard Blowers, of Olympia, is a heavy equipment operator employed by Thurston
County, Washington, ibid it must have been Leonard Blowers1 liking for allit
eration that led to his marrying their mother, Louise - and calling their sons
Leroy, Leland, and Lonny.
Recently, Leonard Blowers was talking to Donald E. McEwen, AKC, Recruiter
in Charge of the recruiting branch station at Olympia. Mr* Blowers frequently
writes poetry, and on this occasion he showed Chief McEwen a piece ho.had
written while thinking of his sons at Adak. Chief McEwen sent it on to us,
for the poem says something most parents would say, if they knew how to say
it as well.
With the sons1 permission, we reprint the stanzas below.
JUST DREAMING
Now the warm spring sun is shining
And my thoughts begin to stray
To the little isle of Adak
Several thousand miles away
There I see a little cabin,
Nestled by a silvery stream
With the blue bay at it1s front door
Where one could sit and dream
As I look out the back window
I see the mountain peaks
And through the sloping valley
Winds a little silvery creek
Now I see two boys in the cabin
Changing things about
They are getting things together
Getting ready to fish for trout
Or they might be just planning
To hike up to the lake
Where the wily trout wait slyly
Always ready to strike their bait
Or maybe just build a raft,
And lay out in the sun
And dream about the good old days
And things in past they’ve done.
How I would like to be there with them
On this warm sun shining day
On the little Isle of Adak
Several thousand miles away.