This was read at dad’s memorial service held May 8, 2006.

Eugene Ezra Carter Pitman was born August 26, 1923 in Turon, Kansas. He was the son of Roe Emmett Pitman and Edith (Lewis) Pitman. Dad was a small child when his family moved to Wyoming.

Dad worked on a ranch until he was 17 years old. He broke horses, branded cows, and even milked cows before he went to school every day. He took a lot of trips up to Laramie Peak on his horse. He was 23 years old before he ever drove a car.

Dad joined the Navy in July of 1941. The first ship he was assigned to was the USS Lexington, as a seaman apprentice. On May 8th 1942 the USS Lexington was in the Battle of the Coral Sea. At 11:20 AM a torpedo to port struck the Lexington. Seconds later, a second torpedo hit. At the same time, she took 2 bomb hits from enemy dive-bombers. There were 7 men in Dad’s gun tub, he was a gunner’s mate. When his tub was blown up he inhaled a ball of fire and was thrown down a hatch. Hitting his right knee against every rung of the ladder on his way down and landing on the body of a friend. Dad’s throat and lungs were severely burned and his knee was badly damaged, but somehow he climbed out found another gun and kept firing on the enemy. Though initial damage control efforts appeared to be successful, gasoline explosions in the early afternoon of May 8th racked the Lexington. When the fires raged out of control, Lexington was abandoned at 5:07 PM by her crew and scuttled, the first U.S. aircraft carrier to be lost in World War II.

After going over board and being in the water for what seemed like hours Dad and the some of the remaining survivors were rescued by the USS Anderson. When they were loaded, Dad said he remembered the ship listing to one side. Orders were given to move the men to balance the ship. Supplies were in such short demand and the men on the Anderson were instructed to tear their towels in half to share with the men on the Lexington. A short time later they were transferred to the USS Portland and then to the USS Barnett. On July 9, 1942 dad was assigned to the USS Copahee.

We’re honored at having a long time shipmate of dad’s in our presence today. Maxie Martinez of Seattle, Washington, who has been a close friend to the family and like a brother to Dad. Maxie is also a Lexington survivor.

Dad also spent a couple years in Australia and loved it (said he’d like to go back someday). Dad enjoyed going to the Bush (the outback). He said he could get a good steak and potatoes for $1.00.

While in Australia he began a friendship with a soldier he called Digger. Who had been injured and was in a wheel chair. Dad would to take him for ice cream on a regular basis. Digger called dad the bloody bloomin’ yank. One day Dad went to visit Digger and was told that he had died. His caretaker gave Dad his Aussie hat and a belt buckle.

Dad was sent to the Philippines and was assigned to the 8th Army as a Sharp Shooter. (They said that Dad could shoot the eye out of a flying bird) Dad was heading over Zig Zag Pass (Philippines) 2 men were sent in first to clear the way for the rest of them. Dad was sent in next with a “War Correspondent named Shag Johnson”. Shots rang out; Dad heard the bullet hit Shag…. Dad broke his ankle during this incident… but he carried Shag several miles to the closest MASH Unit hoping to save Shag’s life… but was unsuccessful.

In February 1945 while on leave he met the love of his life “Alma Alice Arndt”. Through a friend of Dad’s that Mom also knew. After a few letters back and forth Dad decided he wanted to marry Mom. He sent his mother money to buy a train ticket. Mom went to Oakland, California and they were married May 3rd, 1946. Then she returned to Torrington and lived with Dad’s parents. Before Dad was discharged from the Navy Mom, Granny and Gramp converted the garage into a small apartment for the newlyweds.

Dad’s first job after his discharge was in a potato cellar making 50 cents an hour lifting 100-pound sacks and loading them on trucks. After having their first child - Jim, Dad decided he’d better learn a trade to support his growing family. Under the GI Bill Dad moved his family to Rawlins, Wyoming and went to work in a garage learning to be a mechanic. First daughter, Linda came along in 1949… Dad worked as a mechanic for Road Construction from 1950 to 1967. Second daughter Brenda came along in 1951.

In 1967 the family moved out West. Dad went to work at the Naval Submarine Base in Bangor, Washington until he retired from that position August 31, 1984.

Dad had a dream; he wanted to build a log house. He purchased his first Scottish Highlanders to clear the land and he went about to fulfill that dream. Within a year Mom and Dad were living in that house.

In 1986 Dad was diagnosed with Macular Degeneration. He had lost his eyesight in one eye. The doctors told him it would be a matter of time before he would lose the other, which happened 8 years later. It was decided to move to Fortine to get away from the overcrowding in Washington. He sure didn’t let the loss of his eyesight slow him down one bit. He bought an Amish built cabin but Dad assisted with the basement, front deck, barn, garage and fences. He was an amazing man, a fighter and a Survivor!

Dad always said a person is limited by his or her own mind. He said there was No such thing as being handicapped, you just have to learn another way of doing things. Dad always found that way. He never like using his “white cane”,he referred to it as a sympathy stick.

Dad was a wonderful teacher, he could always talk you though even the toughest jobs.

In recent years, Dad started to slow down a bit. He’d get up every morning to feed the animals (He said they eat first). He built a chicken coop for Brenda, checked all the fluids in the vehicles, (using Mom’s eyes), he charged the car batteries, cleaned the radiators, fixed fences, cleaned the barn, constantly cleaning the garage and rearranging his work bench after Jim, Brad or Justin had been in there.

Dad had a wonderful sense of humor… Mom recently bought a 2nd hand sewing machine…the motor was hanging loose; Dad fixed it for her and then asked if she wanted him to sew for her too.

He’d tell Mom…I’ll buy you dinner if you’ll drive. Or ask her which was the right or left when putting on a pair of socks.

He helped put shelves up in the closet and then instructed Mom to quit bringing home projects for a blind man to do….

Mom had an intercom set up so she could hear Dad downstairs… one night she was almost asleep when Dad started singing to her….. over the intercom.

When Jim was young, Dad told Jim to dig a big hole for a swimming pool, when in reality it was for the septic.

Dad bought Brenda a little mule named Thomas Eugene…. dad insisted that he be called Tommy as Dad didn’t want his name to be associated with an Ass.

Dad had a special love for animals and children. But even more important Dad loved his family…. each and every one of them…. Mom and Dad would have been married 60 years on May 3rd.

Dad is survived by his beloved wife, Alma Pitman

Son, Jim Pitman and wife Lauri

First-born daughter, Linda Thompson

His baby girl Brenda Huyck and her husband Bill

Dad had a devastating fall on February 2, 2006, which ultimately ended his life 16 days later. During his stay in the hospital, His family were blessed with the opportunity to be with him every day and most nights as well. We were with him as he faded in and out. We had the opportunity to witness his wonderful sense of humor and his sweet smile, which is truly missed!

Eugene Pitman (1923)