After his active duty during WWII, my father was in the Navy Reserve. We children never saw him in uniform except on those rare occasions when he and my mother would dress for the annual Navy Ball. Then my father was transfigured from “Dad” into someone completely new and awe inspiring. It was an evening of great preparations and excitement. Dad did not discuss his war-time experiences with us when we were children. When we were children we only knew our Dad to be our haven of safety – steadfast and gentle.