Anchored: How The Pacific War changed two ordinary, extraordinary boys into men.

By Patricia Treiber Shaw

We have a short time on this earth. What will you do with it? Your choices affect others who are watching...family, friends, co-workers, even children not yet born will be influenced by what you do while you're here.

Anchored chronicles the lives of Russell Treiber and Dominic Legato, two boys from New Jersey who spent over two ye

• Language: English
• Publisher: Trilogy Christian Publishing
• Release date: Oct 14, 2020
• ISBN: 9781647736316

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ANCHORED

How The Pacific War changed two

ordinary, extraordinary boys into men

PATRICIA TREIBER SHAW

Trilogy Christian Publishers

TUSTIN, CA

Trilogy Christian Publishers

A Wholly Owned Subsidiary of Trinity Broadcasting Network

2442 Michelle Drive

Tustin, CA 92780

Copyright © 2020 by Patricia Treiber Shaw

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise noted, taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Scripture quotations marked (KJV) taken from The Holy Bible, King James Version. Cambridge Edition: 1769.

All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book or portions thereof in any form whatsoever.

For information, address Trilogy Christian Publishing Rights Department, 2442 Michelle Drive, Tustin, Ca 92780.

Trilogy Christian Publishing/ TBN and colophon are trademarks of Trinity Broadcasting Network.

For information about special discounts for bulk purchases, please contact Trilogy Christian Publishing.

Manufactured in the United States of America

Trilogy Disclaimer: The views and content expressed in this book are those of the author and may not necessarily reflect the views and doctrine of Trilogy Christian Publishing or the Trinity Broadcasting Network.

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available.

ISBN 978-1-64773-630-9

ISBN 978-1-64773-631-6 (ebook)

"Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul,

both sure and steadfast..."

- Hebrews 6:19 (KJV)

Contents

Dedication vii

Acknowledgements viii

Preface xi

Introduction xvi

Part 1. Russell Treiber 1

Part 2. War 10

Part 3. Guam 20

Part 4. Fireworks! 36

Part 5. Devastation 46

Part 6. Heartless 55

Part 7. Goodbye 72

Postscript 77

Part 8. Dominic J. Legato 81

Part 9. Sailor 84

Part 10. Navy Special 94

Part 11. Smitten 113

Part 12. Sea Change 123

Part 13. Encore 127

Part 14. My Hero 131

Postscript 134

Bibliography 136

Dedication

For Russell Treiber and Dominic Legato,

who gave years of their lives to save America,

and to millions of Allied troops

who gave all of their lives to save the world.

Acknowledgements

About ten years ago, I lamented the fact that I had not asked my father more about his service in the United States Marine Corps during World War II. I knew it had a profound impact on him, I knew he had been on an aircraft carrier, USS Ranger CV-4, but I knew little else. When I mentioned this to another Marine in our family, Rob Pomphrey, his response was, Ask for his Service Record Book. What’s that? I asked. He explained that the government keeps meticulous records of every person in the military; all I had to do was ask. I became obsessed to the point where, in addition to filling out the online form, I personally called to explain that I wanted to know everything I could about exactly where he was and when because I was writing a book. I’m writing a book? I asked myself afterwards. I had no idea.

When a big brown envelope arrived, I was shocked. Twenty-three years of his military service were in there, including a picture no one had ever seen on the day of his enlistment and remarks made by his superior officers that he was conscientious and loyal and willing to work and give his time beyond the normal requirements. One also mentioned that he was well liked and has a good sense of humor. Armed with more information than I thought I would receive, I made a scrapbook for my nephew, Justin. I thought he should know how his grandfather had served his country.

I want to thank my mother, Nellie Treiber, and Donna’s mother, Teresa Legato, for their openness and love when I started interviewing them on every occasion. Without their memories and personal comments, this book would not have the heart that it does and neither would our lives.

To Donna Legato Furlong, a friend who has been through almost everything with me, thank you for sharing precious memories through your tears this past year. I know it wasn’t easy to look at all those family pictures, especially with a deadline! Carmen and Rob had to do the same and I appreciate their stories and pictures as well.

Jamie Furlong, your post in honor of your grandfather gave me all the encouragement I needed when I realized how far Dominic Legato’s life had reached into yours. Thank you!

My sisters, Barb and Joanie, know what it was like to live in a house with a Marine as our father! To be on time was always 15 minutes early…and that’s just the beginning. All I can say is that it is fortunate that we were girls and he kept us laughing. Thanks for your love and support.

My cousins, near and far, know how strong the bonds were between our parents. Through their pain they built strong families and showed us what that looked like. I love you all and treasure the memories.

I could not have put all the pieces of this book together without the assistance and expertise of friends at my local FedEx Office and the Trilogy Publishing team. Thank you for your patience!

Finally, to both my Heavenly Father and earthly father, who continue to give me strength, wisdom, courage and love while saving me in more ways than one. To Him be the glory!

Preface

You’re just like your father! I’ve heard this statement countless times, said sometimes in frustration, sometimes in humor, but always with recognition of his memorable presence in our lives. Genetics aside, what is it about someone who makes a lingering impression on our hearts and in our minds so that, years after they’ve left this earth, we still see their shadow?

My dear friend, Donna Legato Furlong, and I often talked about our families, and, in particular, our fathers, on our long roundtrip commute from coastal New Jersey to Manhattan every day. Both served in World War II, mine in the Marine Corps and hers in the Navy. That’s as much as we knew about that part of their lives. Both were disciplinarians, hard-working, loyal, devoted to their wives and families and sometimes infuriatingly structured. They ran a tight ship. Clean as you go was a motto we had both grown up with. At the same time, they were smart, funny and from totally different backgrounds, though both had been born and raised in New Jersey. Only someone from New Jersey could understand that.

We did not know our fathers were extraordinary until we were out in the world of men who were not. We heard others’ stories of absent fathers, not necessarily physically, but unavailable because their time and attention had been elsewhere. At a time when women were entering the work force in large numbers, we found our fathers’ behavior chauvinistic at times. In hindsight, they were strong husbands and fathers, sometimes demanding but always protective of their families.

In our wordly world of New York City, we met men every day who were better educated, better dressed and better off, but never better.

When Russell and Dominic met, they didn’t stop talking for hours. Donna and I were in the kitchen with our mothers, not paying close attention to their conversation because it was about the war. How I wished we had listened! It wasn’t until I started research for this book that I realized how closely their experiences matched, how much they shared in common while on their respective ships, and how it shaped the rest of their lives. If sins of the fathers penetrate down to the third and fourth generations, can the opposite be true?

According to Bruce H. Lipton, Ph. D, author of The Biology of Belief, 133 it is. In it he states:

Young children carefully observe their environment and download the worldly wisdom offered by parents directly into their subconscious memory. As a result, their parents’ behavior and beliefs become their own. He reiterates by saying, "Anyone who doubts the sophistication of this downloading should think about the first time your child blurted out a curse word picked up