Today's Featured Biography

 
Grant Hammond

I was born in Battle Creek on 28 July 1944. I lived in Marshall, until my folks decided to move to Oregon, and then San Jose, CA for a year. After that we traveled back to Michigan, where we built the house I lived in, on P Dr. South, until we all graduated from High School.

I guess you could say my favorite teacher had to be Barbara (Butterfield) Neller. I spent most of my time as an assistant band director.

From that year to this, I was in the Navy and an Electronic Technician for eight years. I went to the Naval Electronics School at the Great Lakes Naval Training Command in North Chicago, Illinois. After that I spent 3½ years on the USS Constellation (CVA 64). While on the Constellation, we spent time in the Tonkin Gulf, off Vietnam, making me a veteran of a foreign war. After the Connie, I was assigned for two years to the US Naval Submarine Base. Then, after my tour in Groton CT, I was assigned to the USS Tripoli (LPH 10) for one year, before ending my active Naval Career. After being in the Active Navy I joined the Naval ReserveReserve for 18 years. I am now retired from the military since 1989

I worked at General Dynamics, Electric Boat Corporation as an Electronic Technician. I am now, retired. While on lay off from Electric Boat, I drove a tractor-trailer for two years, and I repaired laundry machines for Sears for a year. I retired, fully in 2013.

My travels include all but two of the States of the Union (Alaska, & North Dakota). I have been to several foreign countries. I made it to Japan, Okinawa, Hong Kong (when it was a British Crown Colony), and the Philippine Islands.

My education has been in the line of electronics, having been through several Navy Electronics schools. I also attended Thames Valley Community College in Norwich, CT.

I met my first wife, Mary Agnes Mirabal, in Chicago in 1963. We were married in 1965. We had a daughter, Leslie. Mary was killed in a car crash in 1967.

I was transferred to Groton, CT. While stationed at the Electronics Shop at the US Naval Submarine Base in New London, CT, I met and married my wife, Charissa, who is the mother of my two sons, Christopher (46) and Bryan (30), and she raised my daughter, Leslie, as her own. I have one grandson. Joshua(Josh)(28), born to Leslie. We live in Oakdale, CT.
Leslie is an aspiring writer, and public speaker
Our son,Chris, is a piping Planner at Electric Boat, Groton, (Submarine Factory?)
Bryan, graduated from the Maine Maritime Academy, in May of 2012. He is married to Tia D'Alessandro,(Sept.2012) and they have 3 sons, Owen Joseph D'Alessandro Hammond(AUG 2013, Luca Ross D'Alessandro Hammond(May 2016), and Miles Crosby D'Alessandro Hammond(October 2020)

My interests include sailing and working with kids. I spent a short time in the Civil Air Patrol with my wife, coached little league baseball, was an assistant Scout leader, and did a lot of camping with The Scouts, and with my family. More recently we have done some sailing, and we own our own O'Day 19' sailboat. My family and I also have been involved with the Mystic Seaport Museum in Mystic, CT for many years. We volunteer at the “Boathouse“ (which is a small boat livery with a compliment of traditional wooden row boats and various small sailboats). My sons and I have been scene players and support (Elves) in the annual “Lantern Light Tours” at the Seaport. This is a Christmas play in six scenes (all in different museum exhibits). It’s a walking tour of the Seaport.
Since retirement, in 2013, my wife and I are more active at the Boathouse, and are starting to do some Space "A" flights in Air Force C17's.
My daughter,Leslie is an aspiring author, and public speaker. She has two books published.She recently spent one month as a visiting lecturer at a university, in China.
Chris is a piping planner at Electric Boat Shipyard. Bryan is Chief Mate on a Sea going Tug boat and barge out of Houston, Tx, in the Gulf of Mexico and down as far as Corpus Christy. They transport petroleum products to the East Coast, from Miami, and points North.

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