Carol Dean Pressnall was born August 17, 1927, at home in Wichita, KS. In 1940, he was living with the family on a 160 acre farm, owned by his Grandfather, near Winfield. Pressnall was only 12 years old when his father passed. After his father's death in March of 1940, the family auctioned off what they had and moved into Winfield, KS. Pressnall started High School that same year. The war began his sophomore year, being to young he stayed in school, graduating in 1942. A teacher suggested he go to the Chilicother Business College, Pressnall graduated from the course in 6 months. He began work with a railroad knowing at 18 he would be drafted. Pressnall decided to join the service, June 28, 1945. His mother signed the papers but he was not called to active duty until August 3, 1945. Pressnall picked the Navy because his father had been in the Navy, his best friend at business college had joined the Navy and was always told that in the Navy you did not have to sleep in the mud. It did not occur to him until later, he could not swim. A troop train in Kansas city City took him to San Diego for boot camp. One drill included climbing a 50 ft. tower, tie your trouser legs together and hold them over your head as a life preserver and jump into a pool. Even though he could not swim, Pressnall managed to pass the "Abandon ship drill" and was officially in the Navy. During boot camp, Pressnall does not remember being told the Japanese dropped the bomb but sitting on bleachers to be informed about their surrender. Pressnall continued his service in San Diego, assigned to the Welfare Department office. In early 1946, orders were received that all Navy Reserves in his section were to be discharged in 3 groups. It was Pressnall's job to make discharge papers and he thought he should not go with group 1 so he put in to go home with group 2. Unfortunately, he only had served 360 days (not a full year) which made him eligible for the future draft. Pressnall did get drafted into the Army and served in Korean for a time. Pressnall used the GI Bill to get a BA in business. See more of his story in the attached documents.