19 when i found out the dredge was going to leave for port arthur, irene and i decided we wanted to get married before i left. one day, we made all the arrangements. i picked her up at her house, (we went to a church), the priest married us, i took her back home and we announced we were married. we spent our wedding night at Big House, a hotel on weeks island. i was shocked that on my wed- ding night, i couldn’t perform. next day, i went to port arthur and left irene with her family until i could find a place for us to stay. i went to work, found a room, and a week later went to get irene. on the way back, we spent the night in jennings, la. i couldn’t perform that time either. as soon as we got to portarthur,ihadtoleaveheragaintogowork in the marsh for three days. when i got back to her in port arthur i was determined that i would perform this time, and i did. 19 i played pool with e. j. and francis to get to know her better.