Albuquerque morning journal., 1920-02-05
RETIRED AFTER ].
80 YEARS SPENT i.
IN j. 6. NAVY.


George w. Acey, who spent thir-
ty-three Years In the United States
navy, with the exception of eight
years when he was engaged in con-
strueuon work on the Panama ca
nal was in the city yesterday Wis
iting G. w Foster. in charge of the
local navy recruiting office on his
way 10 Havana, Cuba. Mr.. Acey re-
ceived h1s discharge February l,
and will he able to lead a life of
ease hereafter, as the government
which he served so long and faith
fully has provided for him now
that he has reached the retirement
age by retaining him on the pay
roll at $4,000 annually as long as
he lives. His is not an exceptional
case, either, as Uncle Sam has al
ways taken care of his navy and
army men in their old age, al
though the retirement pay was in-
creased under a law passed by con-
gress recently.
Acey, who is 81 years old, says
he hopes to live at least twenty
years longer and enjoy the bene-
fits of his well-earned vacation.
Judging from appearances he will,
too. There is scarcely a gray hair
in his head and the indications are
that he Is physically perfect. When
the suggestion was made that he
never seemed to have worried
much, he replied: II never wor-
ried at all. always let the other
fellow do the worrying If there was
any to be done. But there's moth
ing TO worry about in the navy If
man behaves and leads clean
life"
Acey was aboard the battleship
Maine when it was blown up in Ha
vana harbor on the night of March
Is, 1893. lie was assigned to serv-
ice in the engine room at the time,
but on the night in question had
obtained shore leave and was on
deck cooling Off preparatory to
changing his clothes to go to a ball.
When the explosion occurred he
was thrown into the water, sustain
ing broken hip, a fractured right
wrist and had the left side Of his
face and neck badly lacerated. lie
was rescued from the water by the !
passenger liner CITY OF Washington |
and brought to the New York navy |
yard ana placed in a hospital, He |
was told these things afterWard, as |
the explosion rendered him uncon-
sciOus and he remained in that con- |
dition for six weeks. 1t was five |
before he could walk and
a bout fourteen months. elapsed at |
ter the explosion before the doctors |
would permit him to return to
work
Acey also was present when the
Maine was raised in Havana harbor
and attended her funeral" when
her hun was sunk far out in the
Atlantic ocean.
During the war with Germany
Acey was chief engineer on the
in transport service be
claims the credit of be-
ng the first vessel to sink a Ger
man U-boat
u don't think any young man
,an do better than enlist in the
navy" said Acey. "1n the first
olace in order to get in one must
1e physically perfect and have a
lear record. After he enists he
must lead a clean life. The chances
or advancement are excellent. /
vent in as landsman and was re-
ired as a warrant machinist was
lot only able to save money, but in
ny declining years the government
will take care OF me and | need not
oncern myself about the future. {
have visited every port of impor- !
ance in the world--some of them
everal times. Travel in itself is a
'reat educator and this, coupled
slth the instruction which the t
oung men in the navy receive,
hould appeal to all rer- -booded
4" -