Grandpa (known as Les or Wrangell Smitty) was born in Astoria, Oregon in 1910.  He was my maternal grandfather.  I am his namesake.  Wes and his wife Helen moved to Wrangell in 1958 to help build the new mill.  Grandpa was in the Merchant Marines and sailed "around the horn."  He logged for years in Oregon and they moved to Wrangell before he was 50.  When the Alaska Marine Highway started up, went to work for them building ships in Seattle.  He was on the "A Crew" of the M/V Taku based in Wrangell (home port). I was on the maiden voyage of the Taku when I was a week old (1963) with my mom and grandma.  He loved his job on the ferry and didn't retire until 1976.  I remember going on many ferry rides with Grandpa.  He always bragged about Wrangell and rode the ferries well into his 80's.  He steered the ship, painted the decks, and performed all kinds of maintenance.  He would take me into the crew quarters and taught me how to play crib.  

Submitted by Granddaughter, Leslie Cummings