After the invasion at Inchon and the push through Seoul, it seemed like the war in Korea would be ending soon, as evidenced by the destruction caused by squadrons from the U.S.S. Philippine Sea and other carriers.  Air superiority was expected to result in a “quick war.”  In November 1950 when Stanley Mislak joined VF-111 onboard, he hoped just for that as he deeply regretted to leave his wife and daughter at home.  The order for him to return to active duty from the reserves came at a challenging time. His wife, Adella, was still struggling to recover from the shock of their daughter's accident, which had resulted in a skull fracture. On top of that, she had suffered bout of scarlet fever in the month following.  Despite the years that had passed, her health led to great concern from her parents.  His orders were cut, however, and he reported to the recruiting station in Springfield, Massachusetts.

His naval career began when he enlisted in 1944, hoping to contribute his skills as an aviation mechanic or metalsmith.  Until then, he had been employed as a machinist at Greenfield Tap and Dye during the pre-war years, working a variety of tools in precision tooling.  It had become one of the world’s largest tap and dye firms after acquisitions in the early 1900s and it dominated the economic life of Greenfield.  After the outbreak of the European war, the government financed a state-of-the-art gage plant where temperature and humidity were kept within one percent variance. Gages were crucial products during World War II as they ensured that parts manufactured in different factories across the country would fit together flawlessly.  In addition to thread grinding, surface grinding, and chip grooving, Stanley focused on gage making – grinding ring gages for size, boring, turning, and threading operations on monarch engine lathe.  All to blueprint specifications with a closest tolerance to .0001 inch, ensured by dial indicator and micrometer.

Due to his interest and proficiency in machining, he was posted to NAAS Ellyson Field in Pensacola, Florida in May of 1944. The base flourished with activity as planes roared overhead and personnel scurried around the three red brick hangars.  He worked diligently in the engineering department before transferring to Quonset Point in February 1945 and eventually discharged that year to return to Greenfield Tap and Dye.

The “quick war” in Korea became myth and by Christmas, after 52 days at sea, Stanley and the other engine mechanics were still taxed daily with meticulous work on the squadron’s aircraft. The Sundowners were now in the jet age flying F9F Panthers against ground targets and enemy MiG jets. Flying support of the Chosin campaign had been crucial, but on board the Philippine Sea sometimes the most important task of the day was clearing the deck of snow. Mislak was thankful to spend most of his time below deck in the shop where the heat of running tools kept the machinists toasty while outside the thick hull of the ship, temperatures dropped well below freezing.

Even as the weather warmed, the Sea of Japan was not very welcoming with constant threat of submarines, MiGs, and shore batteries. The war slowed from its months of rapid advance and withdrawal and by the time the Philippine Sea was sailing for Japan and ultimately the United States, the ground war was evolving from foxholes to bunkers and trenches. Nearing forty and with his wife struggling at home, he applied for a hardship discharge.

After eight months at sea, the strain on his family back home became unbearable. His wife, struggling to maintain their household and care for their  daughter on a meager military allowance of $128 a month, fell into a state of anxiety and despair.   Her winter had been overwhelming as she took care of their daughter, the home, and grounds alone - tending to their coal furnace and shoveling snow with no money to hire and medical bills yet to pay.  Their appeal to the Navy for his discharge was well received and well deserved - in June 1951, he returned home to their quiet life in Greenfield.