Not long ago Stev Pitchford and I were wondering what ever happened to some of our old shipmates from our tour at the Taiwan Defense Command in Taipei, Taiwan. Stev left in Sept 1960 and I reported aboard Sept. 1961, but 4 of the guys that Stev knew were still there when I arrived. We both knew a really friendly guy named Dan Boyington. We talked about him and Stev found a photo of him and sent it to me.
Recently Dan came up again in our talks and Stev searched the records on http://www.navyphoto.org/ and discovered that Dan had passed away and also discovered that although we called him Dan his full name was William Daniel Boyington.
I had a lot of good times with Dan (on the left) and with his wife Barbara. I visited their house in the area we called American Village.
the above photo is of Dan (on the left) and Stev and then 2 single photos of Dan in the photo lab at the Taiwan Defense Command taken probably in 1960.
Dan retired as a Chief, heres hoping that one of his shipmates from the past will see this and comment, maybe even his wife will stumble across the blog.
9 comments:
Please contact me at kscope@terranova.net We have been looking for Dan for several years.. Went to U of Ala same time as he did. He was from Lanette,Ala We knew him in 1953, 54,55,56 57. I found him 2 days ago and read he was deceased. and was shocked. he was so young. sweetest person anyone could meet. please write me and we can arrange a call.I need to know all about him when you knew him etc I knew he went in the service. did he have any kids? I did not know for sure if he had gotten married. Tell me everything please. if you can get more photos please send and give me anyones name you can remember that knew him Mercedes Potter
Dee I have very little information for you. Dan was married to a gal named Barbara and she was a redhead with lots of freckles. The didn't have any children that I know of. He retired as a Chief Petty Officer.
We were both second class Photo Mates.
I'll email you more info on another person who knew him.
Good Luck in your search. He was a great guy.
Sarj,
Thank you for writing back. The 84 year old woman I called about Dan called and said she found a Jason Boyington in Lanette Ala. Apparently he was born in Langdale Ala (about 15 miles away) and moved to Lanette. I am going to keep digging .I'll keep you informed if I find anything new. If you go to http//:www.navyphoto.net/memorial/boyington-mem.html you will see alphabetical names of deceased go to B and you will see Dans name -click on it and you will see a bronze statue of him in memory. You may also look under deceased and see if you know anyone else there Its a hugh list
Sarj,
Thank you so much for writing back. I just found out there is a Jason D.Boyington living in Lanette, where Dan was from I hope he is a relative. Got no answer but will call again. If I find out anything I will write you. Ask anyone you know to write me that knows ANYTHING about Dan PLEASE. I don't know if I told you to go to http://www.navyphoto.net/memorial/boyington-mem.html There is a list of deceased and I think alive Navy men they have a bronze statue of Dan .Beautiful. You might just find a lot of guys you knew back then,and be able to contact them.
Thank You so much Dee
First, I cried when I saw the pictures. Thank you so much for letting me see him again.
William Daniel ‘Dan’ Boyington was my stepfather and he was the greatest man I've ever known. Dad and my mother knew each other before he joined the Navy. I don’t know much about his marriage with Barbara but I believe they divorced in 1974-1975. He retired in September '75 and he and my mother were married November 26, 1976. Dad took a job in Stillwater, Oklahoma with Oklahoma State University's Photo Service in May 1978. He ran the color lab among other duties. He was the best in the business.
In 1980, our family doctor encouraged him to see a cardiologist but he chose not to do so. Dad told Mom that he wasn’t long for this world anyway; dying young was something he expected. On October 28, 1982, he collapsed at home of a massive heart attack and was pronounced dead about 30 minutes later. Evidence showed he’d had several minor heart attacks before the last one. He was 46 years old.
Dad and Barbara had three sons, including Barbara’s son from her first marriage. Dad adopted me, my sister and brother. At one time, five of the six kids lived under one roof during his marriage to my mother. He was so good to me and his presence in my life had a profound impact. I grew up without a father until I was 12. Dad was the only father I ever knew and I couldn’t have asked for a better example. He was kind, loving, and caring; he was funny (dead-pan funny), a bit of a smartass, and he was playful; he treated my siblings and I as his own and we knew he loved us.
I miss him every day and I would love to hear stories from those who knew him in the Navy. I know he served on the carriers America and Ranger; he spent time in Taiwan, where his oldest son was born, and Rota, Spain, among other places. Dad was proud of his service and he truly missed the Navy after retiring.
There’s a lot I don’t know about him as he was only in my life for seven years, but those were seven of the most important years of my life.
First, I want to express my thanks for the pictures. It was hard to see him again - I cried - but I'm thankful.
William Daniel ‘Dan’ Boyington was my stepfather and he was the greatest man I've ever known. Dad and my mother knew each other before he joined the Navy. I don’t know much about his marriage with Barbara but I believe they divorced in 1974-1975. He retired in September '75 and he and my mother were married November 26, 1976. Dad took a job in Stillwater, Oklahoma with Oklahoma State University's Photo Service in May 1978. He ran the color lab among other duties. He was the best in the business.
In 1980, our family doctor encouraged him to see a cardiologist but he chose not to do so. Dad told Mom that he wasn’t long for this world anyway; dying young was something he expected. On October 28, 1982, he collapsed at home of a massive heart attack and was pronounced dead about 30 minutes later. Evidence showed he’d had several minor heart attacks before the last one. He was 46 years old.
Dad and Barbara had three sons, including Barbara’s son from her first marriage. Dad adopted me, my sister and brother. At one time, five of the six kids lived under one roof during his marriage to my mother. He was so good to me and his presence in my life had a profound impact. I grew up without a father until I was 12. Dad was the only father I ever knew and I couldn’t have asked for a better example. He was kind, loving, and caring; he was funny (dead-pan funny), a bit of a smartass, and he was playful; he treated my siblings and I as his own and we knew he loved us.
I miss him every day and I would love to hear stories from those who knew him in the Navy. I know he served on the carriers America and Ranger; he spent time in Taiwan, where his oldest son was born, and Rota, Spain, among other places. Dad was proud of his service and he truly missed the Navy after retiring.
There’s a lot I don’t know about him as he was only in my life for seven years, but those were seven of the most important years of my life.
I thought I would post this for Stev
Jay,
Thanks for filling us in about your dad. The feelings for him that you describe confirm the impression I had of him for the short time I knew him at TDC. Sarj and I were both surprised and saddened when we learned that he had died at such a young age. We were hoping that somehow he would bump into Don's TDC blog and we could all reminisce about our old days in Taiwan.
Since that wasn't to be, I am glad that Dee got hold of you and you were kind enough to let us know what happened. Maybe us letting you know that we thought highly of your dad can add something to your fond memories of him.
Stev
Hi..My name is Barbara Boyington Veal. I live in Stillwater, OK where two of my sons are located (The third lives in Oklahoma City.) Dan was a good man and I love him to this day. He loved all his kids, his own two and the four he adopted. His son, Randy who was born in Teipei, is very much like him, in stature and personality. Truthfully the only people I remember from Teipei are Dave and Barbara Hobbs and some of the Chinese people and Air Force friends. I have some pictures I could probably post if I can figure out how.(this is my first attempt at blogging.)Sincerely, Barbara
Hi Barb. I'm sorry that you don't remember me but maybe I had only met you once or twice. I came to your apartment in American Village once and there was also a guy from the Red Cross there that was a friend of yours. I was at the Lab from
61 thru 63 and I think that you guys left in early "62? Hobbs was still there and so was Pfaff. Anyway I remember you and Dan very well. You were good people and fun people too.
Maybe look through some of the photos of me and maybe you'll start to remember.
I was so happy to hear from you and I hope you are well and enjoying life. I was a good time in Taipei and I have great memories of you, Dan and everyone there. Stay in touch. you can email me if you want. If you would like to contribute photos and stories I will gladly publish them on the blog.
sarj@sarjbloom.com
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