From Diane Prelac Tobias
My father, John James Prelac (he went by Johnny) was on the USS Helena in 1952-1953.
He was at Bootcamp in the Fall of 1951 at the Great Lakes Naval Station.
My father was in the Naval Hospital in Yokosuka, Japan in June - July of 1952.
He was also on the ship when Eisenhower sailed with them.
He was also in Bremmerton, Washington when the ship later docked there.
My father was discharged in 1953 and died 10 years later of kidney disease
which had begun while he was in the Navy.
My Dad died when I was 6 years old, my brother John, was 4.
Now that my mother is 80 years old, I felt like I needed to write the stories down.
She kept detailed scrap books of everything.
I would love to hear from anyone who knew him, as I am writing down the stories
while my mother is still alive. I have pictures of him with Chris Buscher,
Rodney Nelson and others. I wish I would have thought about this years ago.
The internet is a great thing! Thank you.
