Our Wedding Story

Territory of Hawaii

February 9 to July 21, 1957

On Saturday afternoon, February  9, 1957, I walked over to the Post Exchange (PX), Fort DeRussy on Waikiki Beach in the Territory of Hawaii.  Ambling back to the Men's Department I discovered the most beautiful woman I had ever seen.  I stood there pretending to look at some clothes.  Suddenly she was beside me and asked if she could help.  I was so taken aback with those blue eyes I was speechless.  But not for long.  I hustled back over to the Officers Club,  phoned the PX and asked to speak to my dream girl.  My introduction was quick and I immediately asked for a date that night.  She turned me down!  Already had a date but agreed to go out with me the next night.  

Fearful she might be dating me because of my Jaguar, I borrowed my roommate's beat up Ford to quench any "gold digging" notions.  According to Dotty, we saw the movie "Bus Stop" starring Marilyn Monroe.  Marilyn might have been the hottest star at the time but I was only conscious of the beautiful blond sitting next to me.  Dotty says she knew I had the Jag but dated me in spite of it!

We dated every night except for a brief period when I went back to the states on leave.  Back on duty with my jet fighter squadron at the Marine Corps Air Station, Kaneohe Bay, I scrounged flights as often as I could.  Having called ahead to alert her,  I would rock my wings as I made radar approaches or touch and go landings at Hickam Air Force Base where her parents lived.  What a way to bond!  It must have worked because our love flourished.

Here we are on the lanai of Dotty's house.  We had a happy and fun filled courtship.

On Sunday, March 31, I proposed.  She laughed!  Why can't I be taken seriously when I mean to be?  I had a hard time convincing her I meant it but she finally came around.  One of the happiest moments of my life!  The next day I secured permission from her parents, Army Colonel and Mrs. Walter J. Rozamus.  I sweated that he might have something against Marines and not want his daughter to marry one.   But, they could see how much we loved one another, and gave us their blessings ----in spite of my being a Marine!".

This was Dotty's engagement picture.  Isn't she beautiful!

Our marriage was to be only two months away so we immediately began to look for a place to live.  And we partied!  We also discussed plans for children and our attitudes about everything from finances to the inevitable separations.  Being an Army brat, Dotty was keenly aware of what it was for a mother to be alone with children and no father.  She had experienced that numerous times as the eldest of six children.  However, no sacrifice was strong enough to dampen our enthusiasm for marriage.

Saturday, June 1, 1957 was set as the wedding date.  The ceremony began on time and Dotty started down the aisle with her father.  At that moment, a band playing for a ball game next to the Hickam Air Force Base chapel performed "When the Saints Come Marching In."  There was muffled laughter from our guests and instantly our tensions were eased.  From then on all went according to plan.

Fellow Marines formed an arch for our departure from the chapel.

Our reception was held at the Officer's Club at Hickam.   My best man, Al Brewster on my right, and I are still in contact and we are in frequent touch with Dotty's Maid of Honor, her Aunt Alberta Smith of Manchester, NH.  

Father (Major USAF) George M. Hickey guided me through preparations for marrying a Catholic then, having satisfied him of my good intentions, united us in marriage.

The new Mrs. Guy Larry Brown!  What a happy man I was!

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Dotty and I danced a bit to the music of our live Hawaiian Combo; music never sounded quite so good and neither of us have danced as gracefully since.

Reluctantly we tore ourselves away from the party to catch our flight to Kauai to begin our Honeymoon.  Best Man Al took care of getting us to the airport on time.  Please CLICK on the Honeymoon picture below to follow our journey on that great adventure.

The Honeymoon over we returned to "our" house at 45-111Ka-Hanahou Circle at Kaneohe Bay.  Dotty went right to work setting a house in order that she had never lived in.  I was happy to have her there to do things right.

On July 1st we celebrated our first Anniversary!  Since that time, in one way or another, on the first day of every month, we have wished one another "Happy Anniversary."  On this particular one we had a small slice from the top of our wedding cake.

We left Hawaii on July 21, 1957 aboard the S.S. Leilani headed for Los Angeles, California and then north to my next duty station.  The cruise is documented at Pacific Cruise 57 under "Travels."  Check it out to see what cruising was like back then.

And here we are on a Christmas, 2002 cruise, still happily married and enjoying life to the fullest.  Our blessings of three children and nine grandchildren have served to keep us involved in ways we never imagined.