In the first book, The Brooklyn Kid, Domenick Scarlato's story began in the slums of Brooklyn, where he became a strong, tough, kid. He hung out with the Navy Street Boys gang. He swam in the East River and at the YMCA. Domenick boxed, worked hard at many jobs, punched a high school principal who insulted Italians, and joined the U.S. Navy at the age of sixteen. He became a U.S Navy Frogman during WWII.In the second part of his story, Domenick worked as a Welder in the Brooklyn Navy Yard and he experienced the Navy Yard's closure by President Johnson's plan for a "Great Society". Domenick's desire to remain in government service led him to the Long Beach Naval Shipyard in California. It was there he observed the "Watts Riots", and after experiencing a small earthquake he returned with his family to New York. Upon returning to New York he was rehired as a temporary clerk in the Brooklyn Navy Yard and was involved in the base closure. His strong desire for teaching started him to go to New York University evening school. Domenick managed to reinstate his permanent position in the government by being hired as an Instructor of Vocational Subjects by the National Parks Service. He was assigned to one of the government's Job Corps Centers. Then he experienced the political, corrupt and racial elements of the "Great Society".
