Pioneer Home residents reflect on their past

PALMER — Alaska Veterans and Pioneer Home administrator Joshua Shaver cherishes the opportunity to recognize the 57 residents in the Palmer facility.

“We only get to honor them so much longer so it’s important that every year we do our best for them,” Shaver said.

Darrell Murray was born 1938 and served as a second class petti officer working in metalsmith aviation for the U.S. Navy. He continues to stand by his time served, eating ice cream next to a brother in arms, Roy Hooper, an U.S. Army veteran.

“It was well worth it. That was my college experience,” Murray said.

Murray thanked his lucky stars for the time he showed up in the Navy, catching the aftermath, not the casualties of World War II.

“Thank God I didn’t see any action, otherwise, I probably wouldn’t be here today,” Murray said.

Murray said that he was 17 years old when he joined the armed forces. To this day Murray said he credits his time there for his life’s successes, giving him the necessary tools to venture beyond mechanics, excelling in the sales arena. He shined his golden ring with the classic Ford Motor Company logo. He said that he achieved the karats by being the “master salesman” of his time.

Murray said that he had two, take-away critical components from his military services, vocational skills and discipline. He related these benefits to other branches in spite of the playful rivalry, often looking across the table to his Army companion, Hooper.

“You’re there with a bunch of people with a purpose. You have to be part of the team. Once you’re sworn in, you’re in,” Murray said.

Hooper, born in 1933, was drafted at the end of the Korean War. He said he was stationed at Fort Richardson, welding overheads in 13 minutes while other welders would take about half a day to do the same.

“I was one of that last that were drafted,” Hooper said.

Bill Brokaw and his wife, Pat, both have served in the military. Both have children from previous marriages. Now the couple is spending their twilight years at the Pioneer Home.

“I love him, he’s a great fellow,” Pat said.

Both Bill and Pat served on Fort Richardson. Bill served about two years in the Army leading clerical work, and Pat specialized in the supply and distribution corridors for about six years.

Bill is working on publishing a book chronicling his wife’s experiences, capturing her fleeting memories.

“Alzheimer’s is a worldwide disease. It changed our whole way of life,” Bill said.

Pat and Bill met through an Anchorage church. Since, then, they’ve been inseparable.

“It gets really fuzzy but that’s life,” Pat said.