Jesse D. Boehret, Jr.

When I reported for duty aboard the newly commissioned USS Iwo Jima (LPH-2), I was assigned as 2nd Division Officer with LCDR Jesse T.D. Boehret as my boss, the officer in charge of the Deck Cepartment, who is called the First Lieutenant on Navy ships. Jesse and his wife, Diane, took me and my wife, Peggy, under their wings, as they have for many other junior officers and their families. While Jesse and I were in Bremerton, WA undergoing ship trials aboard the "Iwo", Diane drove my wife to the Balboa Navy Hospital on Saint Patrick's Day, 1962, where our first child, Deborah, was born, on 18 March. We kept in touch Jesse and Diane over 50 years. Jesse was an outstanding Ship Engineer and had great Navy and civilian careers in that field. Jesse also had varied interest and hobbies; not the least of which was his passion of keeping track of all of the World War II Liberty ships; their histories and where-abouts. When my daughter, Debbie, was promoted to Captain in the Navy Reserve, Jesse was as proud as I was. We have lost a good man who lived a full and interesting life and miss him deeply.

We were neighbors of Jesse and Diane and enjoyed our "driveway" chats. We miss him already.

I met Jesse and Diane one Sunday morning at the Village Inn, a local restaurant. After a couple of weeks of chit-chat, we began to sit together over breakfast. Over time we became close friends. After Diane's death, Jesse and I continued that friendship. I always marveled at his grasp of engineering, American and world history, politics, and sports. He would've made a great college professor. We exchanged many books. Jesse ended his days a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, an avid reader of the Bible, and he prayed daily for all of his friends and family. I miss him already and fully expect to see him again in the world to come.

I first met Jess and Diane in Bremerton WA. in 1961 when I reported aboard the USS Iwo Jima as brand new ensign. They treated me as a son and we were friends for the rest of their lives. I last saw Jess in May when my wife Peg and I traveled to the east coast to visit grandchildren. Our daugnter and her family were also friends with Jess and Diane due to being stationed in Virginia Beach. I realy do feel as if I just lost my father.