With my Mother and Brother . . .

This picture was taken in January 1964 the day before I left for Marine Corp Boot Camp in San Diego, CA.

My adopted mother was considered "Black Irish," which is common in County Donegal and County Sligo. During the Spanish Armada, the English sunk several Spanish ships off the coast of Western Ireland and the surviving Spanish sailors were sheltered by the Irish natives. They eventually married Irish girls – thus the term to distinguish specific Irish from the Northern part of the Republic. 

My adopted brother would also be considered "Black Irish." This picture was taken shortly after I arrived in Eagle Rock, CA. My first home was in Eagle Rock, a suburb of Los Angeles, CA.