elsie item issue 65 - USS Landing Craft Infantry National Association

“Proposal in the Potato Locker”After all these years, Bill Keeler and Betty Price get together!The highlight of the Southern California LCI reunion in San Diego was the tour of the USS MidwayCVE 41 and the rekindling of old flames by a couple of pre-war sweethearts.The LCI group toured the ship for a few hours then retired to the Fantail Café aboard ship forlunch. One of the members, Commander Bill Keeler had served on three LCI's before becoming aNavy pilot flying off flattops. At our happy hour and dinner the night before, Bill had introduced usto his pre-war sweetheart Betty Price of Salina, KA.Bill and Betty had dated before he left for WW II and told her he would see her after the war, butshe didn't know he would make a career of the Navy. Both went their separate ways, married, hadchildren and both have lost their spouses. Then Bill and Betty came back into each others lives,and it was easy to see the rekindled affection.During lunch in the Fantail Café, Bill had shared with us that originally the fantail area of a carrierjust below the flight deck where we were now seated was know as the “Potato Locker” because ithoused tons of potatoes and it was one place a carrier pilot did not want to land.But today, the former Navy pilot was in full flight and popped the question to his college sweetheart,Betty Price who agreed to the belated proposal. And if you could see the look in the eyes of Bill andBetty you would see the Potato Locker in a whole new light; you might say we were all eyes.We wish the happy couple all the happiness in the world.16