Page 46 - Senior Link Magazine Spring 2021- Online Magazine
P. 46
Dr. Preston Deshan, Jr. From the Marines
to Medicine
By Larry Williams
Veterans Liaison Co-Chair
Texas South Plains Honor Flight
graduated sea level that could carry 350
in 1949, but Marines. We would anchor
had already offshore and land amphibious
enlisted in tanks and landing ships on a
the Marine beach.”
Reserves
on May 23, “I spent 39 months onboard
1948 when [the Oak Hill]. We went to Haiti,
he turned 17. Cuba, Jamaica and Panama,
He said, “I then on to San Diego, Long
was gung-ho. Beach and Hawaii. We were
r. Preston Deshan, Jr.’s Patriotism part of operation ‘Blue Jay’ in
life has taken multiple was prevalent. Everyone Arctic waters in the late summer
Dtwists and turns. wanted to do their part.” of 1951. Between May and
He was born in Drumright, December 1952,
Oklahoma on May 23, 1931 to Marine basic we participated in
Preston and Colleen Deshan. training was ‘Operation Ivy’,
His dad owned a gas station, at Camp which was part
and his mother worked at Pendleton, of the atomic and
First Bank Credit, where she California. “I hydrogen bomb
retired as president. After the became a BAR tests. The hydrogen
outbreak of WWII in December (Browning bomb ‘Mike’,
1941, the family moved to Tulsa Automatic Rifle) consisting of 10
where Preston Sr. worked in a Expert. I had megatons of TNT,
B-24 Bomber factory. Preston 20/15 vision, so I was detonated on
Jr. attended Will Rogers High could hit a target Elugelab, Enewetak
School and participated in cross pretty well. I Atoll on October 31,
country and wrestling. He was assigned to 1952. We turned
the 2nd Platoon, away from the blast
B Co., 20th and put our arms
Infantry, 5th over our eyes. I
Regiment, 1st Marine Division. kept wondering how much
He attended Tulsa University hotter it was going to get. I
for 1 1/2 years, studying to be an couldn’t get my eyes open for a
engineer. On January 8, 1951, he few seconds. When I did, I saw
and eight other college buddies a fireball pushed up in an 80,000’
joined the Navy. They were sent stem like a Christmas tree.
to the Naval Training Center in There was nothing but a large
San Diego. “After basic, I was hole left of that island.”
assigned as a deck hand onboard
the USS Oak Hill (LSD-7) – a Returning to the states, Preston
Landing Ship Dock. We had a was “sent to a Navy Hospital
40’ X 300’ teakwood deck below in Portsmouth, Virginia to have
46 Lubbock Senior Link
46
Lubbock Senior Link
