Short Stories of a Lifetime

By Ron DeMarino

My many thanks especially for those who are no longer with us;
My beautiful wife Martha,
my boss and friend Ross (Rosie) Gilhousen (KC Royals, my friend and scout Floyd Chandler, my cousins, Ean Hunter (Sal Lombino), Blackboard Jungle, Billy Augastoni (Boston Braves double AA), Joseph Barbera, Hanna & Barbera, Daryl Garitson NBA and Tito Rodriguez (Band Leader)
John McDonough NFL referee

also to:
My son Robert, my life long friends Norman Ackerman and Mike Zuckerman. Debbie Goldsmith, Dick Calvert (ex Dodger Scout), Art Stewart Director of scouting (KC Royals), The Latin ballplayers from the California Angels, Campy Campanaris, Dickie Thon, Juan Beniquez, Louis Sanchez and Angel Moreno, Especially to Gilberto Santa, Rosa a beautiful person and a superstar!

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Feb 23, 2022
• ISBN: 9781664251670

Ron DeMarino

Ron was born in NYC attended LIU, served in Korea as a MP. He was a major league baseball scout. He is living in the San Diego area, widowed with one son and one grandson.

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Copyright © 2022 Ron DeMarino.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

This book is a work of non-fiction. Unless otherwise noted, the author and the publisher make no explicit guarantees as to the accuracy of the information contained in this book and in some cases, names of people and places have been altered to protect their privacy.

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ISBN: 978-1-6642-5168-7 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-6642-5167-0 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2021924414

WestBow Press rev. date: 2/23/2022

CONTENTS

Back To The Bronx

A Golden Opportunity

On A Summer Day

A Christmas Day

Trip To Puerto Rico

Road To A Career

Road To Officiating Football

On To Basketball

809 Arnow Ave

BACK TO THE BRONX

I was attending New York University (Downtown Campus), belonging to Air Force R.O.T.C. (Reserve Officers Training Corp) the program teachers college graduates to train to become future officers in the military.

Halfway through my second semester I was attending a training class when a Captain in the Air Force was giving a lecture, at the same time he was really giving me a hard time. This was going on ever since I started the class. It was getting to me, but today I lost my composure having a confrontation with the Captain.

The Captain pressed charges with the court giving me an option, serve time or enlist in the service … I took the latter.

The following week I am reporting for induction … going to be stationed at Ft. Dix, New Jersey for my eight weeks of Basic Training, after completion of the eight weeks I received leave. Going back home to the Bronx.

The leave ended my new orders were for me to report back to Ft. Dix starting another eight weeks of Advanced Infantry Training. Nearing the conclusion of my eight weeks, Rumor was spreading that the whole squadron was going to be shipped to Korea. There is an old adage in the service do not volunteer for anything

So I volunteered for Leadership school in order not to get shipped off to Korea. In the interim my squadron gets orders to be assigned around the New York State area (Ft.Wadsworth, Ft. Hamilton and Ft. Drum) WOW!!!.

I report … assigned to a new basic training company, again at Ft. Dix as a temporary cadre sergeant. The NCO was a staff sergeant in charge of the whole platoon with me being his assistant. The 16 weeks of basic training are complete, orders get issued, it turns out the entire squadron is being shipped to Korea. Had to volunteer!

We were sent to Ft. Lewis, Washington for debarkation to Korea aboard a USS General ship. Landing in Inchon, Korea in June of ’54 (the war had ended in July of ’53).

We were loaded unto 2 1/2 ton trucks, shipped to general quarters. We had to report to C/A (Classification & Assignments) the whole squadron was assigned to the 3rd Army Infantry Division. It was my turn to approach the sergeant who was handing out the new orders … Seeing that I had gone to Leadership School, he asked me what I would I like to do … I had no idea! So he said I am going to assign you to a company called Civil Affairs which was attached to the 3rd Division MP’s. They