Richard was born in Manning, Iowa, on January 1934. His parents, LeRoy and Rita (Dinges) Zerwas, were thankful for the help of Dr. Smith as this was their first child. At the age of eight during World War II, Dick's Dad, LeRoy, enlisted in the US Navy 60th Naval Construction Battalion (CB) best known as the Seabees. LeRoy was shortly shipped overseas where he spent nearly three years in the South Pacific.
In 1952 Dick graduated from Manning High School. After two years of college at Iowa State College, Dick enlisted in the Navy as a Naval Aviation Cadet. He became one of the Naval Aviation Cadets of Class of 5/55 stationed at NAS Pensacola, Florida. The first 6 weeks consisted of academic studies and daily military indoctrination from a team of Marine Drill Sergeants. Following his pre-flight training NAVCAD Zerwas reported to NAF Whiting Field, Milton, Florida, for basic flight training. In December 1955 flying the SNJ tail wheel aircraft, Dick successfully and safely completed six solo carrier qualification landings on the carrier USS Saipan. Following Basic Training he departed for Advance Training base located in Beeville, Texas. Here he was introduced to jet aircraft flying. The first aircraft for this program was the TV-2 followed by the F9F-2 "Cougar." Upon completion of advance training in June 1956 he was commissioned an Ensign in the US Navy, and received his Wings of Gold.
His first set of orders as a newly commissioned Ensign in the US Navy was to NAF Saufley Field, Florida as a flight instructor. During the 18 months assignment Dick instructed student trainees in the T-34B and T-28 aircrafts.
During January 1958 with orders to VF-(AW) 4 Squadron the Zerwas family of four headed to NAS Atlantic City, New Jersey, where he was introduced to the F2H-3/4 "Banshee" Navy jet aircraft. Within a few months the squadron relocated to NAS Quonset Point, Rhode Island. During September 1958 while en route for carrier qualifications on the USS Intrepid (CVA-11), from 20,000 feet the carrier appeared smaller than a postage stamp. Dick qualified with six arrested landings, one touch and go and one "bolter" landing. During this qualification he also experienced 7 hydraulic "cat" shots off the bow of the carrier. Another flying highlight during this squadron tour was a cross country flight in the F2H-4 from Quonset Point, Rhode Island, to Miramar NAS, California, and back.
September 1959 saw another move for the Zerwas family down the Eastern coast line to the NAS Oceana Utility Squadron Four (VU-4) Virginia Beach, Virginia. Here Dick flew the JD-1, a twin engine propeller aircraft and the FJ-3/M, a single engine jet aircraft. March of 1961 Dick was transferred to squadron VF-41 flying the F3H-3/4 called the "Demon" aircraft. During the first part of 1961 part of the squadron was assigned to NAS Boca Field Key West, Florida. As this move was an extended temporary duty move, Donna and their three boys, Mark, Steven, and Keith were able to join Dick. Later on in the year the squadron was assigned to the carrier USS Independence (CVA-62) and in August set sail for the Mediterranean area returning in mid-December 1961.
February 1962, Dick and Donna and their three sons packed into their Ford Falcon car and drove to Monterey, California, as Dick had orders to attend the US Naval Postgraduate School. In two years Dick completed his college earning a BA degree in Political Science. The next assignment brought the Zerwas family back to the East coast to Newport, Rhode Island. After two years of instructing at the Officer Candidate School, the Navy sent the Zerwas family of six back to the West coast to San Diego, California. Dick spent two plus years on the USS Oriskany (CVA-34) making two West Pac tours to the Gulf of Tonkin during the South Vietnam War. His next duty station was NAS Miramar located in San Diego, California. Assigned to squadron VU-7 Dick flew the A4D Skyhawk and F4J Phantom aircrafts.
Dick departed his active duty Navy career for civilian life in 1969 and located his family in Michigan. Here he became active in the Naval Reserve flying the C-54 and C-118 aircraft. He retired from the Navy in 1976 as a Navy Captain. During his 22 year Navy career his total flight time in 16 different aircraft models and types was 4100 hours and over 100 career landings.
Dick and Donna have been blessed with five children, Mark, Steven, Keith, Margaret (Angel) and Katherine. They settled in Michigan following Dick's career in the Navy.
We want to feature family Veteran histories which can include relatives who did not live in the Manning area but their parents or grandparents did.
Richard's son, Mark, is an example where his dad and grandfather lived in the Manning area who are Veterans so we are including him with his dad's military story.
