CHAPTER 4:
JAVIER FRANCISCO GRANADOS
"JAVIE"
IN
THE AMERICAN DESERT SOUTHWEST
I was born in the American desert Southwest, in the west Texas town of El Paso, on the Rio Grande ( Big/ Wide River ). The name El Paso, in Spanish means "The Pass," and was given by the Spaniard Conquistadores, that traveled up from Mexico and beyond. The full name was "El Paso De Norte" ( The Pass of the North ). To them, the Rio Grande, was the Pass of the North. The "SIERRA MADRE OCCIDENTAL" Mountain Range, that stretches from MEXICO and ended at the Rio Grande. The start of the "ROCKY "Mountain Range in the United States started at EL Paso, Texas. Over time, the name was shorten to "El Paso."
I came into this world kicking and screaming, on the cold afternoon (at 2:00) of January 12, 1935 ( according to my dear Mother ). I was the 1st of three children born to Celdria and Frank D. Granados. The family grew in size, my sister Lydia followed on April 3, 1937 and my baby sister Rosalie waited until July 18, 1953 to join the Granados family.
Javie, at about 6 months, July 1935.
MAP # 4
TEXAS
(EL PASO)
1970 HAMMOND WORLD
ATLAS
Young mother Celdria ("Ciri") Granados, holding her first-born, 7 month old son, Javie. Photo taken August, 1935, El Paso, Texas.
Francisco ("Frank") Granados, holding son Javie, in front of the family auto. Photo was taken on Javie’s second birthday, January 12, 1937, at Celdria’s parents’ home, El Paso, Texas.
The Granados family, September 11, 1938. (L-R) Ciri; 3-year-old Javie; Frank; and 1-year-old Lydia, on an outing to visit friends in Las Cruces, New Mexico (about 50 miles north of El Paso).
Javie, age 5, first horseback ride. Los Angeles, California, December 20, 1940
Holiday in Los Angeles, California, Summer 1941. Francisco ("Frank") Granados, with son Javie (age 6) and daughter Lydia (age 4).
The Granados family, El Paso, Texas, c. 1942. L – R, Celdria, Javie, Lydia, Frank
Javie, age 8 and sister Lydia, age 6, all dressed up
to go to church for Easter Sunday mass, El Paso, Texas, 1942.
It was a time when most people dressed up to go to
church, to dinner, or even to the movies.
Lydia and Javie, First Communion, El Paso, Texas, c. 1942.
My mother was the driving force in our family, and
she wanted her kids to amount to something. She became a Den Mother, just so I
could become a Cub Scout. My sister Lydia (2 years younger) joined the Girl
Scouts, of course.
This photo (a studio Photograph my mother had taken)
was a ather’s Day gift for our dad, 1947.
My dear mother was always armed with her little Kodak Brownie 120 Box Camera. My younger sister Lydia, had this candid vintage photo our mother had taken of Lydia helping me fix a flat on our bicycle one cold winter day. Lydia is supplying the air (tire pump), as I inspect my tube patching job. A bucket filled with water to test for leaks can be seen. Our dog "Dusty" looks on, lower right of photo beside the bicycle. Lydia sent me the picture for my 64 th birthday 12 January 1999.
COPY OF DIPLOMA FROM ALTA VISTA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, 27 MAY 1949 { 106 }
On the steps of Alta Vista Elementary School, El Paso, Texas. Graduation Day May 27, 1949. Four of my closest classmates, Leo Keffer on my left; on my right, Ernesto and the Quasta sisters
Javie, Graduation Day, in front of Alta Vista School,May 27 1949. El Paso, Texas. This was at an era , when Graduation from Elementary School was a big event for both the student and parents. The students all dressed up in the best threads they could afford. My Parents thought it was importment enough that they bought me the suit just for my Graduation from Alta Vista Elementary School.
A photo of the first model airplane that I designed and built from scratch. The reason that I came to do that, was the fact that there were no large model kits of any kind of jet aircraft at the time, 1951. So I decided to design and built my own. I used the dining room table as a drafting table to draw the plans on. The model is on the roof of our garage at our house on Memphis St. in El Paso.
Another view of my first jet model, you can see the unique (for that time, 1951) shape of the airfoils. The aircraft was on the roof of our garage . I tried to make it appear like it was taking off from an Aircraft Carrier.
At home in my room in El Paso, Texas, Summer 1952. My mother took this candid photo, as I worked on my first hand controlled flying model of a P-51 Fighter Plane. My dog "Dusty" is on the bed watching me.
My P-51, finished and ready to fly. This photo was taken at the Model Airdrome just before its maiden flight.
Another view of my P-51 Mustang Fighter flying model airplane, just prior to itss first flight. It was also its last flight. Although it took off and flew well, I failed to keep the hand control wires taught, they went a bit slack and it made a hard landing, braking the propeller, damaging itss nose and right landing gear.
Four views of the 2nd model jet aircraft that I designed and built from scratch, 1953. It was painted in a US Navy Aircraft color scheme .
It was much more advanced in design, with retractable landing gear. All the flight controls, flaps, ailerons, etc. actually worked. they could be operated with the control stick in the cockpit
I strung a wire line between the garage and the house. I made a sling out of fishing line to hang the plane in mid air, to makeappear, as it was really flying. 1953
Copy of Selective Service envelope dated 13 January 1953. It was the letter I was not looking forward to receiving. Although I had been expecting some kind of notice from the local Draft Board. I did not find the letter, just the envelope. I do remember what it said, it was informing me that I was now eligible to be Drafted into the US Army, upon having reached my 18th birthday, January 12, 1953.
Austin High School Fencing Club. The News Paper photo is old and not very clear. I am standing in the front row, 2nd from right, Fall 1953. Austin, was the first high school in the school district in the city of El Paso to include fencing in its sport program. Thanks to retired Major (US Army) McMaster, who was actually the Mechanical Drawing (now , it is refered to as Mechanical Drafting ) Teacher at Austin. He was also a Fencing Master. Most of the fellows in the club, were in one of Major McMaster’s Mechanical Drawing Classes. Mechanical Drawing, was my favorite class and I had a straight "A" grade average. Archery and Fencing, were my favorite sports.
When I was signing up for my elective classes at Austin HS, I saw a Class in Mechanical Drawing. My eyes skipped over the Mechanical part and locked in on the Drawing part, because I liked to draw free hand. It was a big surprise to me on the first day in class. It turned out to be my favorite class and I excelled in it. Little did I know then, how well being proficient at Mechanical Drawing ( Drafting ) would serve me, in later
The Austin High School boys Fencing Club and a different girls Fencing Club, shared the school gym from time to time. Javie, center back, girl friend ( no romance ) Gayle Pickett, close to the camera is seen at extreme left with her left arm raised. El Paso, Texas, Fall 1953
This is the only photo found of me and Gayle Pickett in a fencing bout. The photo captured her as she thrust her foil blade at me, I parried (deflected) her foil blade. Austin school gym, Fall 1953. I became good enough, that I won all of my fencing equipment in Fencing Tourments.
Military (ROTC) Ball Austin High School 26 March 1954. Betty Jo Flager, was my date for the Ball. It was my first real date and my first real dance. It was also my last dance and date before I went into the US Navy. I was one hour late picking up Betty Jo, because I looked at the small clock from across the room and I misread it. Needless to say, I failed to make a very good impression to a very nice young lady on our first date. A very dumb and inexcusable blunder on my part. Although I did apologize to Betty Jo for my tardiness, she never forgot the incident the remaining two months to our graduation. I would not get another opportunity to try and redeem myself to Betty Jo, before graduating on 27 May 1954 and leaving for the US Naval Training Center ( 11 week Boot Camp) in San Diego, California on 3 June 1954.
In front of our home on Memphis Street in El Paso, Texas May 1954. The only photo of me on my Iron Horse. My mode of transportation, my first and only new bicycle. My pride and joy, a single speed, coaster brake, Columbia Bicycle. The little boy is my nephew Junior Castillo, my uncle Roger's and aunt Lupe’s son, age about 16 months.
Cover Austin High School Graduation Exercises
Javie Francisco Granados, Graduation from Steven F. Austin High School El Paso, Texas,27 May 1954
Cover to my Austin High School Graduation Attendance Invitation, 27 May 1954. I could not photograph or scan the invitation and card inside, without damaging the vintage cover
Cover, Diploma, Austin High School. El Paso, Texas 27 May 1954
Diploma, from Austin High School, El Paso, Texas 27 May 1954
Certificate, Pass of the North 27 May 1954
Javie and sister Lydia Graduation Day, Austin High School, El Paso Texas, 27 May 1954
Graduation Day 27 May 1954. L-R,father Frank, baby sister Rosalie, sister Lydia, Javie, and Grandmother (my mom's mother) Pilar. I don't recall what made me look so serious. My mother was the photographer, as usual.
A night out on the town, mother Celdria and father Frank, celebrating my mother's birthday August 10, 1953
Javie, playing with Dusty on the front yard, at 2630 Memphis Street, 3 June 1954. Wearing his favorite clothes, the same ones he always wore, when he rode his Columbia Bicycle seven miles to the Archery Range. Part of Mt. Franklin is visible in the background. He used to climb it often during the summer.
Javie, on his last day at home, 2630 Memphis Street El Paso, Texas, 3 June 1954, talking to his best friend, "Dusty." Telling her he was going into the Navy and to be good while he was away.
My father Frank in front of his dry cleaning business in El Paso, Texas, Spring 1954
My father Frank and baby sister, Rosalie in front of his 1947 Chevrolet, June 1954. His truck sports his new business name.
Even though I was born and raised in the Desert Southwest, I had always been attracted to the sea and ships. The Korean War was still raging when I reached draft age on my 18th birthday ( January 12, 1953 ) and I most certainly did not want to be drafted into the Army. I gave the subject a great deal of thought, and would lie awake at night, debating in my head the pros and cons of each branch of the military.
It wasn’t long after my birthday that I received a letter from the local Draft Board informing me that I was now eligible for conscription ( the Draft ). I told my parents that I did not want to wait to be drafted into the Army. I certainly did not want to be a "Ground Pounder " ( that’s military slang for Army or Ground-based units), so I took a bus into downtown El Paso to see what my options were.
The US Marine Corp, was pretty much like the Army ( In terms of me becoming a "Ground-based unit"), so that left the US Army Air Corps ( the predecessor to the US Air Force ) and the US Navy. The Army Air Corps Recruiting Office was the first one I stopped at, because I had always had a keen interest in airplanes and flying. It was also the closest to the Bus stop where I got off. I went in and no one came to talk to me, so after waiting for about ten minutes , I left and walked over to the US Navy Recruiting office a short distance away, because I knew the Navy also had several aviation options, with Naval Air Stations on land, and Aircraft Carriers at sea.
I actually preferred the Navy, because my father had been a sailor in the US Navy during WW II. The sailors at the Navy Recruiting office were more than happy to see me, and wasted no time in selling me on the merits of becoming a sailor. I thought to myself, it’s the Army’s loss and the Navy’s gain.I put my John Henry ( name ) on the dotted line and signed up for eight years in "Uncle Sam’s Canoe Club." Why eight years? I committed to four years Active and four years in the Naval Reserve ( versus a minimal two-year enlistment in the Army ), the Recruiters had done a good job selling me on the Navy. I joined to serve my Country and also -- I wouldn’t be writing this now if not for this second benefit -- I got to travel. In joining the Navy, I now had the opportunity to visit distant lands, and learn about other people and their cultures.
I was still in High School at this time and did not graduate until May 1954, so I took advantage of the Navy’s "Delayed Entry Program" ( DEP ). Individuals going onto Active Duty enlist first into the DEP; this is an actual enlistment into the inactive reserves, with an agreement to report for Active Duty (to ship out to Boot Camp) at a specific time in the future.
My "Ship Out Time" was during the first week of June, 1954, only six days after I Graduated from Austin High School in my hometown of El Paso. Some recruits may have been nervous at the timing, but I felt at ease, knowing that I was not going to be drafted into the Army. I could now concentrate on completing my senior year at Austin High School.
I can still clearly remember the clear, moonless, star-filled, warm night of June 3, 1954. My Mother, Father, Grandmother ( Mom’s mother ) Pilar, sister Lydia, baby sister Rosalie, and Yours Truly all piled into the family jalopy ( a white 1947 Chevrolet Panel truck, which my father used for his dry cleaning business), and we drove down to the bus depot downtown to see me off. My dear mother became very emotional and was crying as I gave her a big hug, said my good-byes, and climbed aboard the "Boot Camp Express" ( A red and white Trailways bus) along with other new recruits. I could see her still waving as the bus drove away, then we turned a corner and disappeared into the warm Texas night. Our destination:, the United States Naval Training Center ( USNTC ) San Diego, California.
Go back to to Chapter 3: CELDRIA GRANADOS AND FRANCISCO DIAZ GRANADOS
Continue to Chapter 5: THE BEGINNING OF LIFE AS A SAILOR IN THE US NAVY