Family links to the military services are strong in the Ingram family.
His sister Goldstone had 35 years' service with the military and her late husband was in the army before going into traffic control, while Goldstone left the army to serve in the air force police.
Ingram's older sister's husband, Wally, was one of the few soldiers who served in three campaigns, World War II, and the Malaysian and Vietnam wars. His grandson Mark joined HMNZ Te Kaha.
"There were 38 in our group on the 75th Royal New Zealand Navy anniversary Old Salts tour, which included wives and a 92-year-old Merchant Navy veteran who had two ships torpedoed under him," Ingram said.
"We saw for ourselves the horrors of what it must have been like on December 7, 1941, when the Japanese bombed the naval base on Ford Island.
"Ships blew and blew and blew, but now I reckon the United States is well prepared with between 150 and 200 ships mothballed at Pearl Harbour to go into action at any time."
One of the most poignant visits was to the USS Arizona in Pearl Harbour.
"There was no talking and it was a very sombre visit," Ingram said.
"The sunken ship is five or six feet under the water and there are at least 2000 names of those still on the ship on the memorial.
"When old survivors die, they are cremated and divers take their remains down to the ship where they are placed for eternity.
"It's absolutely a real tear-jerker. There's a hell of a lot of ship underwater.
"We also visited the USS Missouri, which was decommissioned in 1982 after the Vietnam War.
"It has its surrender deck where General MacArthur and the other generals signed the surrender with Japan in Tokyo Bay and when we came alongside I had goosebumps.
"Security was tight, we were fingerprinted, photographed and tapped down before we were allowed on board."
On the Wednesday, Anzac Day, it was a big day for the old salts who were on board their bus at 4am to attend the dawn service, held in the bunkers at Diamond Head.
"Rear Admiral John Martin, Chief of the Royal New Zealand Navy, gave the address and the dawn service was followed by a very solemn Anzac service at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific Punchbowl, where there were hundreds of admirals, generals and ambassadors, with the US Marine Corps in charge," Ingram said.
"It was a special service. In fact the entire visit was something I'll never forget. Even when we were out shopping, locals would come up and shake our hands and say thank you for your service."
After the Anzac service, Ingram's group were treated to lunch and cocktails on the USS Missouri.
"It was a great day, a very special Anzac Day," he said.
The next day, during a boat tour around the harbour, the group visited the submarine USS Bowfin, which sank 15 Japanese merchant ships during World War II. They also visited the Pacific Aviation Museum.
"Security was tight everywhere and at some places we weren't allowed to use our cameras."
Ingram left Dannevirke High School in 1956 and joined the navy, serving on different ships until he flew to Singapore in 1964 during the confrontation to join HMNZ Taranaki.
"I served five years on board, which wasn't the norm, and had a specialist engineering role.
"I had to keep things going, steam and diesel and that cruel thing, asbestos."
On December 5, 1970, he married Anne and served at Ardmore as a senior warden until the late 1970s.
"In 1980 I was sent to Singapore for two years to run the detention barracks.
"I loved being at sea, but when I returned to Dannevirke I was Lieutenant Commander for naval relations, which I found quite exciting.
"I'm proud to say I recruited a lot of people from here into the navy."
Ingram said he was glad he'd made the trip to Hawaii, despite his restricted mobility making it difficult to get on and off buses.
"But even if I had only one leg I would have gone anyway.
"Everyone helped me, which was great."
