[rfloz]

I bought my first Porsche a few months ago and as part of my education, I have been reading old threads on PelicaParts.com.

This evening amidst all the travail about chips and PPIs, I came across a reference to Howard Dranow. Wow. I first met Howard in 1964 when we were in basic training together at Ft. Ord. I hadn’t seen him since shortly after we got out of the Army so naturally I searched his name and found this thread. What an absolute bummer.

We shared a fondness for cars and a lack of fondness for the military life and we were both from Southern California, so we became friends. One Saturday morning while standing for inspection, I asked the guy next to me – “Where the hell is Draino”? (being the Army, everybody called him Draino).”

“Services” was the reply. “Services, what services?”

“Jewish services.”

Howard wandered back to the barracks just in time for lunch and I asked him how he pulled this off. “Well, I’m Jewish and we do services on Saturday.”

“Lucky you” I muttered.

“Why don’t you come next week?” “Um, I’m not Jewish.”

“So what?” And from then on Howard and I and a guy whose name I forget, but I do remember he was Chinese-American, went to Jewish services Saturday and sat around talking philosophy with the Rabbi and I never stood another inspection through basic and AIT.

After basic, we got a short leave before advanced infantry training and Howard returned with his 356 coupe and I drove back with my hot rod 1958 Corvette (very much against regulations). Every time we got a weekend pass, we would chase each other down Highway 1 back to L.A.

One day Howard said “There’s a Can-Am race at Laguna Seca tomorrow?” "What is Can-Am and where is Laguna Seca?” I asked.

Howard explained Can-Am and told me Laguna Seca was just over one of the hills we had been training on. So, despite having duty, we caught a ride in a Jeep to near the circuit and climbed the hill and I saw my first Can-Am Race.

Another time Howard talked me into going into San Francisco to hear some jazz. Who should we bump into but our 1st Sgt. while listening to Thelonious Monk ( we were not supposed to be off-base). We almost soiled our pants. But come Monday, Sgt. Turk didn’t say a word. I could only guess he approved of our taste in music.

Thanks Howard, sorry we lost touch.

My sincere, if belated, condolences to Howard’s family.