Raising a glass of Tennessee cheer for my fellow vets and their families. I can vividly remember leaving for Fort Dix, NJ the morning of June 27th, 1984. I took my first commercial flight as I began an epic summer adventure. 8 weeks of US Army Basic Training seemed like a hell of a way to spend the summer between my JR. and SR years of High School. Yet here I was in a strange land known as New Jersey. Even though I was the youngest in my company and had the longest hair, I knew how to make hospital corners on a rack and knew my basic facing movements. Those tidbits of knowledge landed me in charge of Alpha Company 2nd platoon. You can not imagine the number of push-ups I did for my last name. My Sgts were bound and determined to change my name and tried to give me good reason not to smile at every opportunity. I knew I was going back to Gilbert Schools for my Senior season of football so, I figured, Bring it!! I turned 18 on a 26 mile road March in the mid August heat spending a good portion of the day in full Mop gear and gas mask. At the end of the 26 miles, my Sgts made me do push ups. Lots of them. It may sound strange but, that was one of the happiest days of my life. After basic, it was back to finish school and then immediately after graduation, It was off to Ft. Rucker, AL where I received my Aviation Wings for Aircraft Maintenance with a specialty of UH-1 Huey. (My cover photo) Quite simply, one of the most cherished chapters in my life of adventures was my 8 yrs in the Military. Hell, at 18, I was flying many times a week, jumping and repelling from a Huey or firing a skid mount M-60. The Beach was close, the girls were cute, and the beer was always Ice Cold. I served in peace time. For this I am blessed. I have the upmost respect for those who got called to action. We all wrote a blank check to Uncle Sam for the lump sum of Everything. Many put that vow to the test. Many had theirs cashed. Bless each and everyone who served or will. Keep the families of soldiers in your prayers as well. Far too many have been left with the final memory of their loved one being that of them leaving home, family, and friends to preserve the freedoms of this Republic.
Posted on: Tue, 11 Nov 2014 23:53:11 +0000
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