I was born in Waynesboro, PA., in a beautiful valley of South Mountains, part of the Appalachians with my parents and three sisters until 1962 when my father’s job was transferred to Battle Creek, MI. I graduated from Lakeview High Scholl and attended Kellogg Community College for a couple years. I married in 1965 just four months prior to my receiving my Congratulations! Letter from the Selective Service.

I enlisted in the U.S> Army in March 1967 with basic training at Fort Knox, KY. My advanced training was at Aberdeen Proving Grounds, MD. Specializing in ordinance supply. After finishing AIT I was transferred to Ft. Lewis, WA. What a beautiful post. There our unit prepared for Vietnam.

We arrived in Qui Nhon, Vietnam in September 1966. Qui Nhon is a large costal city on the South China Sea about midway up the Vietnam coast. I was part of the advanced party, meaning myself and a SFC Neeson were to arrive before the unit to make arrangements for our assignment. But as it turned out, the unit arrived first.

Our cargo plane, with the unit’s equipment, had one mechanical problem after another. So, we island hopped to Hawaii, Guam, Wake, Phillip pines, then Vietnam. Interestingly, the Army had no idea who we were, why we were there, and what battalion we were assigned to!

The Company was assigned to work at the supply depot in Qui Nhon. Shortly thereafter, due to other soldiers rotating back to the States, our unit became the filler for those troops. I ended up in An Khe, a town in the Central Highlands, located on the base with the First Air Cavalry Air Mobility. The unit was a platoon sized unit supporting the Cav, 4h Infantry, Special Forces, and others. Two weeks prior to my return to the States I was injured in a crane accident.

During my tour, my wife had our first child, a boy. It was tough being thousands of miles away. But letters and pictures kept my spirits up.

My State-side duty was a Nike Hercules missile artillery brigade outside Chicago, IL. Yes, there were missiles along Lake Michigan as a defense mechanism. It was great duty and close to our home in Battle Creek. Our second son was born while stationed here.

Two years after my enlistment was over, I signed up for an Army Reserve Civil Defense Support unit in Battle Creek. A small unit to start with, only 12 troops. But due to a change in the allowances, we were upgraded to 32 troops. Rank positions improved and I let my enlistment end due to a job transfer to Europe where no positions for my rank were available.

I loved the military. I love the Army. I would do it again, although a little differently. There are huge opportunities to learn skills you thought were not available. And now, with the acknowledgements of all veterans, including Vietnam, I am proud to be part of it.