http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=42603 This Old Salt was my next door neighbor when I retired in Long Beach RIP (Boats).I also had met his Daughter and two of his Nephews he was a good man he always had a good sea story.

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Alphonse Eckel served two tours in the Navy, serving on active duty six years from 1940 to 1946 when he joined the Navy Reserves, and then again on active duty from 1951 to 1953 during the Korean War.

"He was a warrior during the war," said Dennis Eckel, another of Alphonse's nephews. "He was never there. He was always out to sea. He spent 20 to 23 months out without really having set foot on land."

During his time in service, Alphonse took part in some of the Navy's most historical engagements, having fought in the Battle of the Coral Sea, Battle of Midway, Battle of Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands, and the Mariana Islands.