Page 45 - Senior Link Magazine Fall 2021- Online Magazine

naVY
WWii

released but denied any calls out, even to his wife, He admits he has had an interesting life, but
until the job was done. according to Gene, living out of a suitcase is no way
to live. However, as a result of those years they did
Unfortunately, he also became a target. His motel travel together, his daughter became fluent in 14
rooms and cars were changed every week, and Gene languages and today works as an interpreter.
had two machine gun guards with him day and
night. Gene was able to spend treasured time with his
sweetheart during her last years. As he said, “It
There were four bombing attempts on his life – once was a blessing the way she treated me, the way she
after changing cars, once after changing rooms, once loved me and the way I loved her.”
after leaving the swimming pool, and once after
leaving a restaurant where 50 people were killed. So, if you run into Gene on the golf course, ask him
to tell you about one of his adventures or just ask
He was being targeted because of the cotton gin. him about his family. You’ll be glad you did.
If he got it up and running, the men would have
to work, and they didn’t want to work. As Gene
explained, “The government owned everything and
paid them if they worked or didn’t work. [With]
the bank, they never gave me any problems.”

When his job was completed, Gene left for We proudly support our veterans.
Damascus in an old un-air-conditioned school Thank you for your sacrifice and service to our country!
bus in 120-degree heat during Ramadan. With a
full gallon jug of water, which kept him alive, he
grabbed his small suitcase and, from Damascus,
caught the only flight out, which was to Moscow.
In Frankfurt, he contacted his wife, letting her
know he was alive, before making the trek back
to Lubbock. He remembers that day tearfully.
One of his more interesting jobs was in Iraq. “I
always tried to study what the presidents of the
countries liked. Then I would try to get in with
them as soon as I could,” said Gene. For Saddam
Hussein, the key was Old Prier Whiskey; that’s
what opened the door. From that first meeting,
Saddam treated him as a good friend, like
royalty. That, of course, was when Hussein was
on good terms with the U.S.

In the 18 months he was there, he built two
cotton gins, an Orlon factory, a gun factory
and put the vaults in Saddam’s palaces. When
Saddam fell from U.S. favor, Gene was called
back to Iraq to unlock one of the vaults for the
Marines. tomstreeplace.com
5104 34th Street | 806.799.3677

Lubbock Senior Link 45