John Derr

John Patrick Derr arrived with the worldwide depression of 1929, but it did not slow him down. Growing up on his family’s farm in northern Idaho, he milked cows, drove horses for farm work, picked potatoes, and cut down trees, but he knew farm life was not his future. After graduating from a small community high school in Sandpoint, Idaho, he earned an appointment to the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, graduating in 1952.

He served as a naval officer for twenty-six years aboard six combatant ships and at five shore stations, specializing in communications and electronics. His service continued through a ten-year position as Emergency Management Director for Charlotte County, Florida. Never one to sit idle, he earned a United States Coast Guard 100-Ton Master’s License for near-shore waters and American Sailing Association certifications, including celestial navigation. He later taught sailing, led week-long trips throughout South Florida and the Caribbean aboard large sailboats and powerboats, and completed boat deliveries.

Books by John Derr

Staring Down a Hundred Years

Retired Naval Commander John P. Derr’s observations are culled from both life on the high seas and many places on Earth, all beginning with a rural upbringing on a farm in northern Idaho.

His views on a variety of subjects include reading for self-improvement, the significance of the number five, and hurricane storm protection, among other interesting notes. He also provides worthwhile advice, including this tip for better living: If one is not prepared to be wrong, then never say anything.

Enjoy this collection of souvenirs, musings, and reflections from a ninety-six-year-old world traveler who has “been there and done that.”

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