officialthisamericanlife:
The Steinfels kids on the U.S.S. Elizabeth City during a “deployment” to a church parking lot near their house, 1981.
officialthisamericanlife:
Jane, the commanding officer, holds a muster with some of her younger siblings: Marion, far left, Joe and Elizabeth, 1981.
officialthisamericanlife:
The ship was rigged with ropes to pull up play cargo.
officialthisamericanlife:
After a surprise “attack” by a black, submarine, right corner. The Steinfels dad claimed it was from the Soviet Union.
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Their dad, second from the left, often stood on his knees for pictures to try and blend in better with his crew of kids.
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Marion, left, and Kathleen serving breakfast on the ship’s chow line.
officialthisamericanlife:
Marion making an entry in the U.S.S. Elizabeth City’s logbook.
officialthisamericanlife:
The Steinfels kids used signal flags – each representing a letter in the alphabet – to send out short messages from their ship.