U.S. Navy Korean War Homer Glen, IL Flight date: April, 2019
By Cindy Krawulski, Honor Flight Chicago Veteran Interviews Volunteer
For DJ Seneker, music is the universal language that everyone understands. Born in Joliet, Illinois, he was a twin. Although his twin sister died at age 2, DJ says she gave him her girl voice to allow him to hit those high notes while singing those country tunes. DJ remembers his love of music started at age 7, when he sang a song with his grandmother while riding on the fender of his grandfather’s car on the way to go fishing. By age 12, he was strumming a pretend guitar in the form of a broomstick while listening to “WLS National Barn Dance” and by age 14, he had saved enough to get his own guitar. DJ taught himself to play, learning only by listening and memory; he does not read musical notes.
DJ attended Joliet Township High School; he was drafted before he was able to graduate. His mama did not want him to go into the service, as she needed him to start working to earn money and help with the bills. DJ served from 1953-1957 as an Aviation Boatswain’s mate, petty officer third class. DJ was sent to boot camp at Naval Station Great Lakes around June of 1953. He shares a memory of boot camp that helps anyone visualize what we have come to know that boot camp is all about. DJ recounts, Chief Petty Officer Pritchard was conducting a rifle exercise with his group. The officer would get real close to a recruit’s face and say, “you did not shave today! (Even when they clearly had). Drop and give me 50 push ups!” Other memories of boot camp include the singing of ”Jimmy Crack Corn” on ABC Chicago while he was in the city.
From Great Lakes, DJ went to Norman, Oklahoma, to begin training in aviation. He was selected to be part of the Airman Apprentice Team that would rescue pilots from a downed plane, or go into a burning building to get out anyone that was trapped. Following his training, DJ was sent to Quonset Point Naval Air Station in Rhode Island where he was assigned to the USS Wright (CVL 49) which was sailing to Panama. DJ wanted a chance to sing at the “Rat Skillet” lounge in Virginia before shipping off but they told him to come back next week in his civvies. He told them, “I can’t, I’m about to ship out!” missing his chance.
The USS Wright reached its destination, completed its mission and sailed to San Diego. DJ and his crew were assigned to a much bigger ship, the USS Essex (CV 9), which was an aircraft carrier built for WWII and launched in July of 1942. The Essex was reclassified as an attack aircraft carrier CVA-9 in October of 1952. DJ recalls he was on this ship for about six months in 1953. In December 1953, before the USS Essex set off for her final tour in support of the Korean War as part of a peace patrol, DJ again was looking for an opportunity to sing. This time it was an audition for the “Ted Mack and The Original Amateur Hour” at the San Diego Zoo. He remembers singing “Cattle Call” and he passed the audition; DJ was asked to perform on the show. Once again he had to say “I can’t, I’m about to ship out!” missing his opportunity once again. DJ missed a third chance at a recording contract in Los Angeles, when he was offered a contract but couldn’t take it because (you guessed it) he was shipping out!
DJ recalls one time when the Essex set out for the China Sea engaging in training exercises. DJ’s duty as petty officer third class was to inspect, fill and maintain the oil storage tankers for the anti-aircraft planes. He recalls that it was imperative that the tanks were inspected and thoroughly cleaned to remove any particles that might ignite and explode, resulting in an in-flight air disaster. The tanks were filled via a “monkey fist” type of hose that shot out from designated ports on the flight deck and DJ and the crew would quickly guide the hose to the tanks and fill them. The hose would then retract back into its designated port.
Dangers and casualties of life on the Essex did not escape DJ and the oil tanker crew. He recalls seeing a deadly accident involving an aircraft coming in for a hard landing, tipping onto its side and dislodging a propeller that killed a crewman on the deck. DJ said he’d had breakfast with this crewman that morning and has never forgotten it. Another time, during a work party where the crew hands-off 30 gallon drums of food and supplies down a ladder to one another, a crewman lost control of the drum after losing his grip on it. The drum rolled down killing the next man below.
Ports of call during the six months of DJ’s tour included Guam, The Philippines, Hong Kong, and Japan. DJ brought his guitar with him on the Essex and entertained his fellow crewman with country and gospel songs. He has written about 20 country and 30 gospel tunes of his own. What did DJ do with his free time? You guessed it—he sang! DJ says that even though people did not understand the words and language, they understood the music. You might say that DJ was really doing his part to promote peace and goodwill throughout the world.
Wherever DJ was in the world, he remembers noticing the differences in the landscape of the country he was in. Trees, flowers, animals, houses and people were all unique, and beautiful in their own way, even if they were not what he was used to. DJ says that his favorite country and people was that of Japan. He says the people were happy, kind, smiling and always willing to help you. He remembers taking a train into a town to see a movie, which was an American movie, but with Japanese subtitles. On his train ride back, he got off at the wrong stop. He was not sure what to do so he walked along the tracks, hoping to get to the next stop. Along the way, he saw a shack with a fire going and several Japanese men standing around. DJ cautiously approached them and asked if anyone spoke English, not sure if he would ever find his way back to the ship. One of the men did speak English and helped DJ flag a freighter train to get to his stop and return to the ship.
After his tour of duty, DJ worked different jobs such as with the railroad. He also got married and had three children. He continued to sing and get gigs wherever he could. He divorced, and then met the love of his life who shared his love and passion for music over the next 30 years. Together they hit the honky tonk bars and played anywhere they could. DJ and Pat played at the Lake N Park Inn just before Ernest Tubb went on stage. DJ met Ernest and recalls him telling DJ that he enjoyed their performance.
DJ and Pat started a vinyl repair business and had several customers such as Panera Bread restaurants. They would repair any ripped and torn chairs or booths. The process is seamless; you would never know that there was anything ripped to begin with, all the while singing while they worked.
Currently, DJ says he would like to share his love of country and gospel music at retirement homes, local community centers, and VFWs, to name a few. This interviewer had the honor to be serenaded with a couple of country tunes. Keep singing DJ!