Gene Glaze grew up following the crops with his family. It was not an easy life and as a teenager he joined the Navy where he met and became friends with DeVere Crawford. This began a friendship that would last a lifetime.  

Crawford didn’t have an easy life either. He joined the Navy out of desperation following the death of both of his parents. He was a Seventh-day Adventist and followed a vegetarian lifestyle which was difficult to practice in the military.

Glaze made poor choices over the years. One sent him to prison for 18 years.