Some of my Father's Family History

My grandparents moved, early on, from upper Manhattan to Fordham Hill, Bronx. My grandfather ran a butcher shop. I remember eating marvelous steak tartar on Sundays, and going for long walks in the park with my Grandpa.

Theodore Hechler, Jr. was born in New York City, September 26, 1916, died August 14, 1983, he was living in Annapolis, MD at the time. He is buried at the Arlington National Cemetery.
Ted Hechler went to Annapolis Naval Academy and graduated in 1940. He became an ensign aboard the Phoenix and was with her on December 7, 1941, during the bombing of Pearl Harbor. His personal account makes it all come alive.

Ted Hechler met my mother, Noel James, when the Phoenix sailed to Perth, Western Australia, in 1942. After many difficulties, mostly because of wartime security, she managed to book a passage aboard the Kookaburra to the United States, where they married. My mother was the first war bride (according to Reuter news agency). Ted got his wings at the USN airbase at Pensacola, FL and became a pilot with the VPB-92 squadron. He mostly flew PBYs. That unit was discontinued in 1944. Aeronautics was his main interest. I remember his room at my grandparents' apartment when I was four. Model planes hung from the ceiling which I looked at with longing. Ted went to Boston (~1946) and received a degree in aeronautics. That degree was put to good use. He left active service in 1946, retired from the navy in June 1960, went to work for G.E until 1964; lastly, he worked on the Apollo space program for NASA until retiring in 1974. I am starting to piece together a history of his life. My mother and he separated in 1955 and she moved to England in 1956. It is unfortunate that I never got to spend much time with him; consequently, my knowledge of his past is very scant. I thank all those who have helped me gather more information. As I find out more, I will add some of it to this site.