Neal Lewis, is a kind, funny, passionate man that served in the Navy for this country. He gave four years of his life to the Navy at just 22 years old. Starting in 1952, Neal decided to volunteer and go fight in the Korean War as an electrician. Neal explained that even though he had to leave and move away, he loved the thought of joining the Navy. “I thought it would be fun, and it most certainly was.”

Neal was also asked what the hardest thing for him to leave behind. He responded, “Probably my horse, It’s name was ribbon, and I used it as my transportation because I didn’t own a bicycle then. I just had a horse.” Knowing that going into the Navy meant saying goodbye for awhile to one of his most favorite things had to be difficult. Neal expressed that it was hard to leave things behind, but he did meet new people and have plenty of life-changing experiences. He enjoyed traveling and maintained that he never would have seen some of the amazing places he saw while in the Navy if he wasn’t in the military. It was very pricey back in 1952 to travel.

In the 21st century, air travel is relatively cheap, but in the 1950s, you could expect to pay 40% or more for the same ticket you buy today states fastcompany.com. A ticket on TWA in 1955 from Chicago to Phoenix, for example, cost $138 round-trip. Adjusted for inflation, that’s $1,168.

Mr. Lewis stated that the hardest part about being in the Navy was some of the electrician work he had to do. He also said that the hardest thing without a doubt would have been when he had to climb a light pole and change the light bulb on a moving ship. To do this task would take plenty of skill and determination, and he for sure showed that he was more than capable. Neal felt that his time in the Navy helped him grow up, and that he was just a punk kid going into it but came back grown.