USMC

I served in the Marines from December 1960 until September 1981.

My first enlistment was for three years. After Boot Camp as Parris Island, South Carolina, I served for two years in Company K, 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division.

Initially a Rifleman, I served as Automatic Rifleman and then worked as a clerk in the Company Office. While clerking, I volunteered to go on field exercises and even served as Squad Leader. I reenlisted, was transferred to Marine Barracks, Yorktown, Virginia where I served for a year before being ordered to serve in the Reserve Administration Department at Headquarters, U. S. Marine Corps in Arlington, Virginia.

I completed Officer Candidate School, Quantico, Virginia in 1965 and Naval Aviator Flight Training in 1967.

After a tour in Viet Nam flying the UH-34 on medevac and resupply missions I returned to Pensacola, Florida and served as both a Flight Instructor and Ground School Instructor.

After Amphibious Warfare School at Quantico, Virginia in 1970, I transitioned to the CH-53 at Tustin, California before being transferred to Okinawa. I was assigned to HMH-462 and served as Aide de Camp to the Commanding General, III Marine Amphibious Force.

I next served at Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii for several years, first as Motor Transport Officer of the Marine Air Base Squadron and later as Administration Officer of HMH-463.

A subsequent tour found me as the Officer Procurement Officer of 12th Marine Corps District in Kansas.

My last tour was back at Tustin, California, as the Operations Officer of HMH-462 .