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Floyd Price: A Navy Man's Journey
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Meet Floyd Price, a 98-year-old Navy veteran whose remarkable life spans nearly a century of American history. Born in 1927 during the Roaring Twenties, Floyd's journey takes us through the hardships of a disrupted childhood, his service during World War II, and his postwar success as both businessman and family man.
Floyd's early years weren't easy—his parents divorced when he was seven, leading him to live with his grandparents. Without educational stability (he attended twelve different schools and never graduated), young Floyd found his path through determination and hard work. When World War II called, he answered, joining the Navy in April 1944 despite weighing only 118 pounds, below the service's minimum requirement. "We'll fatten him up," the examining doctor said, revealing the urgent need for personnel as the war intensified.
Aboard the USS Riverside, Floyd served as a radar plotter during the Okinawa campaign, experiencing combat conditions that tested even the bravest souls. His vivid descriptions of daily life—from general quarters at four in the morning to sitting in impenetrable smoke screens while Japanese planes searched overhead—provide a deeply personal window into what our Greatest Generation endured. Floyd's candid storytelling includes moments of danger, discipline (including his five days on bread and water for telling an officer to "kiss my ass"), and the camaraderie that sustained servicemen through unimaginable challenges.
After his discharge in 1946, Floyd built a 45-year career in window cleaning, eventually founding Capital Window Cleaning Company and maintaining landmarks like the Michigan State Capitol. Perhaps more impressive than his professional accomplishments is his personal life: his marriage to Alfreda has flourished for nearly 75 years, producing two daughters, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren—a living legacy that spans multiple generations.
Floyd's philosophy remains simple but profound: "Do the best you can, don't look back, look forward." His remarkable resilience, humor, and perspective offer wisdom that only comes from nearly a century of lived experience. Listen now to connect with an authentic piece of American history through the voice of someone who lived it.
Chapters
1. Meeting Floyd Price, Navy Veteran (00:00:00)
2. Childhood and Family Challenges (00:04:20)
3. Joining the Navy During WWII (00:08:10)
4. Service on the USS Riverside (00:17:00)
5. Okinawa and Post-War Duties (00:30:00)
6. Post-Navy Career and Family Life (00:42:28)
7. Softball, Racing, and 75 Years of Marriage (00:50:08)
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