Here is a black and white picture of my dad's first car when he returned home from the Korean War.

My dad grew up in a small mining town in New Mexico, called Hurley.  While attending Hurley High school, he became athletic and disciplined.  He ran every day, and played basketball, baseball, and enjoyed boxing.  As a matter of fact, he was the Golden Gloves Award Winner for two years running.  After he graduated school, he enlisted and joined the army. 

He attended basic training and then was ready for his assignment.

He was shipped out to Korea to protect our country.  

Not the same as being home, but it did prepare him for the next part of his life

On patrol with the 3rd infantry

Always ready, even when a moment of calm allows for a laugh

My dad next to his tank.  He was a tank driver during his tour. 

Here is what happens when your a train, and my dad has a tank with a big gun on it.

Tank 1, Train 0

My dad with his friend Gene Garcia, ready to come home.  They enlisted together, and came home after they served.

While in the military, my dad would sent most of his pay home to his parents to help them out.  When he returned, he found a copper brown Pontiac for sale in a local town.   Not having the money to buy it, he told his parents about the car he found and wanted.  It was then that he discovered that his parents had saved the money he had sent home, and was his to spend on the car if he wanted.  It didn't take long for him to get that car home, after paying cash for it.  Time to get a job now.

So a fast car, and a past of guns and danger and adrenalin rush.  Lets see, what job covers that??

Oh yea, a Policeman.  Officer, Cop, Five 0, that would work just fine.

He became a Policeman, then Chief of Police for the town of Hurley.

In 1960, the small town was not big enough for my dad, so off to California we came.

After looking around at Police agencies, he liked the city of Anaheim and its Police Department.

His Plymouth Police car in front of our house in Anaheim

Click on the Pontiac below to see what Christmas 2010 held in store for my dad.