Charles Emerson Mcguire

Charles Emerson "Chuck" McGuire was born in Blackfoot, Idaho on 29 August 1924 to Charles L. and Rosemond "Rose" Engdahl McGuire. From the age of two years Chuck lived with and was raised by his Dad's parents Edward "Ed" and Etta Pearson McGuire. His Grandparents provided him with a safe and loving home. From the age of twelve years he spent most of his summers on the Charlie and Ella Pearson Davidson ranch in Antelope Valley, Grouse Idaho where he learned to do the usual ranch labor building fences and working with horses and cattle. On the ranch his tutor was the late hardworking Earl Craig. My Aunt Ella was a very special person in my teen age years. I was not aware until I applied for my own Federal Service retirement that she had applied for a Social Security number and had paid into it for me from 1937 until 1941, my last summer on the ranch.
Upon graduation from the Moore high school in 1942 1 entered the Machinists Training program at the University of Idaho Southern Branch. I did this on the recommendation of a cousin the late Pratt Pearson. On 12 May 1943 I married my high school sweetheart Dorris Bate in Pocatello. I worked at the Machinists trade until 1944 when I was drafted into the Army Corps of Engineers at Ft. Douglas Utah. After a year of basic training at Camp White, Oregon and maneuvers with the 95th Infantry division in West Virginia I was sent to Europe in 1944, landing first in England for two more months of Combat Engineer training. My Battalion the 187th Combat Engineers entered northern France just in time to be involved with the infamous "Battle of the Bulge" offensive, one of the coldest snowiest winters on record in Western Europe. The front line troops caught in Hitlers Bulge offensive were not prepared or outfitted for prolonged below zero weather. We suffered numerous casualties from frost bite and frozen feet. My unit met the Russians on or about 1 May 1944. For us the War was over. Army units were rotated home based on a point system i.e. service time, number of dependents and combat injuries or wounds.
Readjustment to civilian life was difficult and not understood by family members. Within four months Dorris divorced me. She later remarried and had one daughter Roxy Anne Lords. I had no job to return to as my old job as Machinist at the Pocatello Air Base had been eliminated. I found work with the Skelton Cattle Company at Leadore, Idaho. I stayed with Skelton for a year doing ranch work. At 23 years of age I visited my mother for the first time in California. After working various jobs with Anaconda Copper Company and the Milwaukee Railroad I applied for and enrolled in the four-year Apprentice Program at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Bremerton, WA.
In March of 1955 Dorris and I decided to remarry. We were married in Idaho Falls and I moved my new family back to Port Orchard, WA. Shortly after, I filed for legal adoption of Roxy Ann. I had bought five timbered acres on Banner Road in South Kitsap County where I still live. The property had a small house which I immediately started to remodel and enlarge, building on bedrooms, den and a large living room. I retired from the Shipyard in 1982 as acting head of the Shipyard Training Division. My shipyard career covered 33 years. Early in my apprenticeship I received my degree from Olympic College in Bremerton. Civil Service employment with the Government was a satisfying and rewarding career for me and my family. Our three grandchildren, Sean, Larissa and Jeremy and four great grandchildren were a special joy to us. On 20 February 2003, I lost my life companion Dorris. My life changed drastically forever. To date, 4 April 2011, I have enjoyed 31 plus years of retirement and hope to enjoy many more.
Sincerely Chuck McGuire