IN THE NAVY!!!!

no, this is not a song by the village people,

Can you imagine being in the Navy in the 40's, being out at sea and being a machinist?

The fact that EVERYTHING back then was mechanical, hand built, and machined to fit.  If something broke and you were at sea, you fixed it, no choice.  There is something to be said for having people skilled with their heads and their hands to deal with issues that pop up in situations where the only answer is to figure something out.

DD