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David's wife, Sharon, sent an email saying that David had died unexpectedly April 28, 2003. David was born August 9, 1944. He joined the Navy right after graduating from Sunset. He served for a total of 30 years; 4 active and 26 in the reserves. He married Sharon Martin in November, 1988. He worked for the City of Portland for 32 years in various departments and lastly as an engineering technician for the Water Bureau. He had retired in December, 2002. He is survived by his wife; step-daughter, Mary Nelson; mother, Polly Alenbach; father, Elden; brothers, Dick and Dennis; and sisters, Donna Christenson and Chris Ahrens.
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Robert "Dennis" Wiley
Dave was a good Sailor. I ran in to him in the Philippines in 1964. He was stationed at the communications at San Miguel. I was aboard the USS Perch homeported at Subic Bay. I called him up one day and we decided to get together at San Miguel. I hoped on a Navy bus and it was a long ride. Dave met me at the main gate of the comsta and off we went to visit some his haunts. One place was out in the middle of a swamp. There was a rickety walkway that took us about 75 yards into the swamp. We survived that trip and there it was. Just a shack with a plank bar and some rickety rataan furniture. No electricity - just a Coleman type lantern. One thing they did have was ice cold San Miguel beer. I still think SMB is the best in the world. So we sat there and had a few toddies and Dave told me about all of the snakes that lived in the swamp. I had only been in the PI about a month at that time. All I could think about was that 75 yard walk back across that rickety bamboo walkway with about 6 or 7 beers, maybe more, under my belt. The place did have a toilet though and after several beers, I had cause to use it. There was just a candle in the toilet area and it wasn't very bright. So, as I was doing what comes naturally after several beers, I looked down to the floor and saw something curled up behind the toilet. SNAKE!!!! I let out a yell and everyone came running. Then there was a lot of laughter at my expense. What was curled up behind the toilet was a hose that they used to wash down the bamboo floor. Live and learn. I was very sober after that experience and had no difficulty negotiating the rickety bamboo walkway back to the shore. I miss Dave. He was a good sailor and a good man.