In re the Dissolution of the Marriage of Downey

Husband appeals from a marriage-dissolution decree, arguing that the court should have made a division of the marital property which gives more consideration to his contributions thereto.

The parties were married in Korea in 1966, they have two children, ages 7 and 6, and wife has a 16-year-old sister, Pole Ko, living with her and the children. Husband owned the family home in Portland before the marriage. He is a ship’s carpenter, and has usually sought to ship out seven months of a year, and be ashore for five months. This regimen will produce about $14,000 per year income. During a period…