POWERGRAMS

5 began friendship that's lasted 70 years said. "Later on, my ship was in Guam, and I flew on a seaplane to Tokyo. I will never forget the destruction I saw as I flew over Nagasaki and Hiroshima." Alford's military service continued through the Connolly's decommissioning. Taylor and Alford were honorably discharged at different times at the Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base in New Orleans, then returned home to Alabama. Alford returned to Auburn University in September 1946, graduating in 1949 with a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering. At 23, Taylor started at Auburn University on the GI Bill as a co-op student before graduating in 1953 with a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering. Both men got jobs at Alabama Power – unaware the other worked for the company – with Taylor in Eastern Division and Alford at the General Office Building. When they eventually met up, each was thrilled to know the other survived WWII. "We were so excited to see each other," Alford said. Both men excelled in their careers in the Power Delivery Department, and quickly rose through the ranks. At retirement in 1988, Taylor was Birmingham Division Engineering Operations manager and Alford was Design Services manager. Nearly 30 years after retirement, their tight bond remains. Taylor and Alford occasionally have lunch in Crestline Village in Birmingham, where they enjoy discussing their families, the old days at Alabama Power and memories of their military service. "If we don't talk on the phone, we email each other every few days to keep up," Alford said. "It's very rare, I think, to have a friendship that lasts a lifetime. After so many years, it's amazing that we still have things to talk about." By Donna Cope The World War II comrades reminisce over photos of the USS Catskill and the USS Joseph E. Connolly, circa 1945. Photo by Nik Layman

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