Joe's Early History

  • Men swimming in competition

    Joe Dillon’s early History: Start High School

    April 8, 2024

    Being a shy introvert, starting my freshman year at a high school with over 2,000 students overwhelmed me. Every hour, the bell would ring, and the…

  • Sunset over a mountain lake

    Joe Dillon’s Early History: Part 3A Glimpse into a Bigger World

    March 26, 2024

    Elite WorldAs the summer before my freshman year in high school progressed, I slowly got to know the other swim teachers.  As I have shared,…

  • Learning To Swim title image with quail

    Joe Dillon’s Early History Part 2: Learning to Swim

    March 4, 2024

    Learning to SwimWhen I was 9 years old, I learned how to swim at Clyde Devine Swim School on Old Country Road in San Carlos California –…

  • Golden Gate Bridge under construction

    The Start

    February 19, 2024

    I was born in San Francisco in 1944 during World War Two. Life was progressing, and my TV-and-junk-food habit saw its beginning.

  • Military jet in air

    Long Way Home: Part 3

    January 23, 2024

    A Warm WelcomeClark Air Force Base hospital was warm and welcoming. My steak was delicious. The Air Force nurses were attentive, thoughtful and…

  • Long Way Home, Part 2

    Long Way Home: Part 2

    January 2, 2024

    My day on the Hospital Ship Repose evolved into an exhausting routine: doctor’s exam, shower, stuff my wounds with thick gauze, receive a large penicillin shot, and fall asleep with my right leg elevated.