Marchbanks, Earl

CS1 EARL W. MARCHBANKS 17 April 1963

I Earl W. Marchbanks was born 13 March 1934, at Columbus, Georgia. My hair is gray and my eyes are brown. In my early years we moved to St. Louis, Missouri. After graduating from Roosevelt High School, I returned to Columbus and enlisted in the U. S. Navy in November 1952. I went to boot camp at San Diego, California.

My first duty station was USS KULA GULF (CVE 108), then USS ROBERT L WILSON (DD 847), and then USS SIERRA (AD 18). On 17 April 1963, I came aboard USS FRANK E. EVANS (DD 754) where I was assigned to “S” Division as a Commissaryman. My experiences would take a very long time to tell with all the memories I have of FRANK E. EVANS. A favorite does immediately come to mind.

Doc Wilson (corpsman) and I talked a lot on the mess deck. Some of the guys kept taking pies. One night Doc said we will find out who was doing it. So ‘ole Doc laced the pies with red coloring. Needless to say, next morning Doc was very busy with the fellows who thought they were urinating blood.

While on board FRANK E. EVANS we won the award “Best Feeding Ship In The U. S. Navy,” the only ship of this size to ever reach this accomplishment. We also won “Navy Cake Bake 1964″ for originality.

My years in FRANK E. EVANS gave me good memories. I cooked lots of meals, baked lots, and most of all had very good friends.

Along the way I met Marie. We were married in 1956 and just celebrated our 50 wedding anniversary with our 3 daughters, 1 son and 14 grandchildren. I retired from the U.S. Navy a CSC.

Earl and Marie currently reside at 5171 Seminole Road, Richland, GA 31905. You can reach them at home:229-887-9893; business: 706- 682-1021 Ext 24; or cell: 706-577-9790.