Born in 1923 & raised in Manteca/Lathrop, son of the late Frank R. & Etelvina Mendes, husband of the late Lucille Hayes Mendes, father of six.

Served in the U.S. Navy from 1942 to 1945. After basic training & radioman school, he was stationed in Norfolk, VA, for six months and helped build the USS Shangri-la upon which he would serve his duty in the American Theatre Asiatic Pacific. He was honorable discharged as Radioman 1st Class in 1945.