NAS Quonset Point, Rhode Island
and NAS Key West
and NAS Key West
David Epstein USNR, WWII
Parachute Rigger 2nd Class
David Epstein was born in Brooklyn, New York. He was 22 when he joined the Navy. During World War II, David's main job was to pack and repair parachutes, supply life rafts and mae wests for his torpedo squadron VT-153, which flew Avenger torpedo bombers. David went to Parachute School at NAS Lakehurst in New Jersey, where he went through a vigorous physical training. The rate of Parachute Rigger was absolutely vital to the safety of the wartime Navy's tens of thousands of pilots and aircrewmen. In addition to the work of inspecting, mending, packing and airing their silken charges, Parachute Riggers also made and repaired a variety of other fabric goods for Naval use. They inspected, maintained, and repaired survival equipment, flight protective clothing, pack and equip life-rafts, and also troubleshooted, tested, maintained, supervised, and repaired oxygen systems, and regulators among other things. Parachute Materials School was first established by two Navy Chiefs in 1924, at Lakehurst, New Jersey. Parachute Rigger or "PR" became an enlisted job rating in 1942. NAS Lakehurst is now remembered as the site of the Hindenburg disaster that took place on May 6, 1937.
One of the Parachute Rigger's job qualification was to jump from a plane, using a parachute packed by the user. At graduation, David had to make the jump from a blimp at 2,000 feet. An experience he never forgot. After graduation, David went onto VT-153 Squadron which was formed in NAS Quonset Point, Rhode Island. It was at this training base that he met one of the pilots who eventually became a President of the United States: George H.W. Bush (with whom he corresponded several times). When David was stationed at NAS Key West, he would fly along in the Avengers into NAS Fort Lauderdale, where LTJG Bush lived and trained. Other times he would drive. David remembers: "sometimes, I got the chance to drive a Jeep Willys all alone. It would be carefully packed with parachutes to be used by trainees at NAS Fort Lauderdale. In those days, it was a narrow and treacherous road between the islands, all the way to Miami, but somehow I had to make the best of it: one foot on the pedal, the other out the window, and not one soul on the road. There was an urgency to serve, the best you could."
At 23, David married 19 year old Gloria, his wife of 70 years. David was discharged from the Navy on November 11, 1945. His experience as a Parachute Rigger, helped David and Gloria move onto the next stage of their lives: They went to work in New York City, making and designing women's apparel. Then in 1972, David and Gloria decided to make a home in South Florida, where they lived for the rest of their lives.
David Epstein donated to the NASFL Museum a WWII Navy parachute, photographs, letters, documents, his latest veteran's awards, correspondence, and recognition's, and also his Aviators Flight Log Book, which contains George H. W. Bush' signature. David frequently volunteered at the NAS Fort Lauderdale Museum, and also at the Disabled American Veterans Chapter #133.
Update: JANUARY 12, 2016:
David Epstein, 95, passed away on Saturday, January 9th 2016.
David was a wonderful NASFL Museum volunteer for many years, and he was also in the Board of Directors. David enjoyed meeting with people, especially the young, as it was important for him to share his stories with others. He felt a responsibility to keep the memories and lessons from the past alive. He was very supportive of veterans issues, and he was always a very active patriotic participant, wherever he could. David would drive to the NASFL Museum once or twice a week to help with tours, events, or paperwork; and when he couldn't drive any longer, his son Robert would drop him by. David was always a welcome, and helpful presence. He would lift people's spirits with his quick wit. He always had a joke for the moment, and sometimes it would take us a second or two to catch up to the clever meaning-- but he never failed to make us laugh. And he would laugh heartily with us.
Broward County Commissioner Chip LaMarca, gave David a Proclamation, designating September 27, 2013 as "American Icon David Epstein Appreciation Day" in Broward County, Florida. David Epstein loved his "soulmate and friend Gloria" to whom he was married for 70 years. He was deeply saddened by her passing on November 29, 2014; however he felt it was important to keep on going, and participating in his community, for as long as he could. They will be missed.
One of the Parachute Rigger's job qualification was to jump from a plane, using a parachute packed by the user. At graduation, David had to make the jump from a blimp at 2,000 feet. An experience he never forgot. After graduation, David went onto VT-153 Squadron which was formed in NAS Quonset Point, Rhode Island. It was at this training base that he met one of the pilots who eventually became a President of the United States: George H.W. Bush (with whom he corresponded several times). When David was stationed at NAS Key West, he would fly along in the Avengers into NAS Fort Lauderdale, where LTJG Bush lived and trained. Other times he would drive. David remembers: "sometimes, I got the chance to drive a Jeep Willys all alone. It would be carefully packed with parachutes to be used by trainees at NAS Fort Lauderdale. In those days, it was a narrow and treacherous road between the islands, all the way to Miami, but somehow I had to make the best of it: one foot on the pedal, the other out the window, and not one soul on the road. There was an urgency to serve, the best you could."
At 23, David married 19 year old Gloria, his wife of 70 years. David was discharged from the Navy on November 11, 1945. His experience as a Parachute Rigger, helped David and Gloria move onto the next stage of their lives: They went to work in New York City, making and designing women's apparel. Then in 1972, David and Gloria decided to make a home in South Florida, where they lived for the rest of their lives.
David Epstein donated to the NASFL Museum a WWII Navy parachute, photographs, letters, documents, his latest veteran's awards, correspondence, and recognition's, and also his Aviators Flight Log Book, which contains George H. W. Bush' signature. David frequently volunteered at the NAS Fort Lauderdale Museum, and also at the Disabled American Veterans Chapter #133.
Update: JANUARY 12, 2016:
David Epstein, 95, passed away on Saturday, January 9th 2016.
David was a wonderful NASFL Museum volunteer for many years, and he was also in the Board of Directors. David enjoyed meeting with people, especially the young, as it was important for him to share his stories with others. He felt a responsibility to keep the memories and lessons from the past alive. He was very supportive of veterans issues, and he was always a very active patriotic participant, wherever he could. David would drive to the NASFL Museum once or twice a week to help with tours, events, or paperwork; and when he couldn't drive any longer, his son Robert would drop him by. David was always a welcome, and helpful presence. He would lift people's spirits with his quick wit. He always had a joke for the moment, and sometimes it would take us a second or two to catch up to the clever meaning-- but he never failed to make us laugh. And he would laugh heartily with us.
Broward County Commissioner Chip LaMarca, gave David a Proclamation, designating September 27, 2013 as "American Icon David Epstein Appreciation Day" in Broward County, Florida. David Epstein loved his "soulmate and friend Gloria" to whom he was married for 70 years. He was deeply saddened by her passing on November 29, 2014; however he felt it was important to keep on going, and participating in his community, for as long as he could. They will be missed.
Gloria & David Epstein, February 2012.
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