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An up close and personal interview with U.S. Army Veteran and Togetherweserved.com Member:
SGT Gary Hall U.S. Army (1977-1985)
WHAT INFLUENCED YOUR DECISION TO JOIN THE MILITARY?
I basically flunked out of Auburn University after the first semester only passed one class due to too much time hanging out and playing pool at the student center. My Dad, a full-time officer in the AL ARNG, suggested that I either "get serious" about college, or try something else, like enlisting in the AL Guard. I decided to enlist in the Guard. If I didn't like the military, I would only have to do two weeks in the summer and one weekend a month. If I did like the military, I could always go Active Army.
I did BCT at Ft. Dix, NJ, and AIT as a CH-54 Helicopter Repairer at Ft. Eustis, VA. Then it was back home to Birmingham, AL, where I eventually got a job stocking a grocery store. After about a year of boring, tedious work, I decided to enlist in the Active Army, just to get away from the hometown and to "see the world". The Army, by this time, no longer had any CH-54 Skycranes in active service, so I told the recruiter that I would take just about any job that guaranteed an assignment in Germany. I wound up going straight to Ft. Huachuca, AZ, for AIT for my new MOS Ground Surveillance Radar Operator (17K).
WHAT WAS YOUR SERVICE CAREER PATH?
 AL ARNG, 252 Maintenance CO, MOS 67X20 (CH-54 Helicopter Repairman), '76 - '77
U.S. Army, USAIC&S, Ft. Huachuca, AZ, for MOS 17K20 (Ground Surveillance Radar Operator), 1977.
CSC 1/68 Armor, 8th Infantry Division, Baumholder/Wildflecken, Germany, MOS 17K20, '77 - '80
B Co, 104th CEWI BN, 4th ID, Ft. Catson, CO, MOS 17K20, '81
Defense Information School, Ft. Benjamin Harrison, IN, for MOS 46R20 (Army Broadcast Journalist), 1981.
HHC 4th ID, 4th ID PAO, Ft. Carson, CO, MOS 46R20, '81 - '82
AFN Bremerhaven, American Forces Network - Europe, MOS 46R20, '82 - '85
Medical Discharge for diabetes, 1985.
Enlisted in U.S. Army Reserve, 314th PAD, 121st ARCOM, Birmingham, AL, '85 - '90.
WHICH, OF THE DUTY STATIONS OR LOCATIONS YOU WERE ASSIGNED OR DEPLOYED TO, DO YOU HAVE THE FONDEST MEMORIES OF AND WHY?
 The best duty ever was as an Army Broadcaster assigned to AFN Bremerhaven. I started out doing a weeknight half-hour TV newscast as Anchor/TV News Chief. After a satellite connection to HQ AFN - E was installed in 83, and we started showing AFN Network newscasts, I moved over to do the morning radio drive-time show Mon-Fri. I was actually paid to play music and talk to people! No guard duty, no CQ, and since broadcasters worked various shifts through the week, we were all on separate rations. Nord Deutschland was a wonderful area to be stationed, and I made many friends that I am in touch with to this day. I also played guitar and sang in a fairly popular local band composed of Americans and Germans during off duty hours, "Seldom Sober".
FROM YOUR ENTIRE SERVICE CAREER WHAT PARTICULAR MEMORY STANDS OUT?
 Early one snowy morning in the winter of 1978 while walking guard around the outside of the 1/68 Armor Transportation Motor Pool at Baumholder, I was chased about 60 yards up a hill by a wild boar. I had 10 live rounds in my M-16, but my NCOs had told me not to shoot a wild boar with an M-16, 'cause the bullets would just bounce off their thick skulls and piss them off. So I ran, and I probably set a land speed record for getting from the bottom of the hill to the top and through the main gate at the main Motor Pool.
OF THE MEDALS, AWARDS AND QUALIFICATION BADGES OR DEVICES YOU RECEIVED, WHAT IS THE MOST MEANINGFUL TO YOU AND WHY?
 The most meaningful award was Distinguished Honor Graduate from my Basic Broadcasting Course at the Defense Information School. DINFOS was the hardest military school I ever encountered we started with 16 people in my class; only six of us graduated. The training I received as a broadcaster at DINFOS opened my eyes to what has become my life's work. Before DINFOS, I had never even considered a career in media production. Now, I am lucky to say that I haven't worked a day since 1981. I enjoy what I do for a living.
WHICH INDIVIDUAL PERSON FROM YOUR SERVICE STANDS OUT AS THE ONE WHO HAD THE BIGGEST IMPACT ON YOU AND WHY?
My first Active Army First Sergeant, 1st SGT Rahn, was a Vietnam veteran. Although only a bit over 5'9", he always stood very tall and seemed larger than life, and he demonstrated what being a Non-Commissioned Officer was all about. He was the most professional NCO I ever encountered, and I learned so much about what serving in the Army was all about from him.
CAN YOU RECOUNT A PARTICULAR INCIDENT FROM YOUR SERVICE THAT WAS FUNNY AT THE TIME AND STILL MAKES YOU LAUGH?
During a stream crossing FTX over an AVLB on a very foggy, dark night in Germany, one of the Scout Platoon newbies ground-guided me and my jeep and trailer into an irrigation ditch. It was dark and so foggy that there was basically no visibility at all. Using  blackout lights on my jeep, the only thing I could see was the ground-guide's flashlight. He was supposed to use his red-lens flashlight to show me which direction to turn the wheel of my jeep, but he got flustered and, instead of turning off the light (which would have meant for me to "stop"), he started making insanely vigorous, quick darting movements all around and up and down, and suddenly the jeep slid into a 10-foot ditch, turned over and came to rest on the driver's side. I climbed up and out the passenger's door, and started chasing the newbie private, cussing him out as I ran. Then, I heard laughter, and found myself next to the Company Commander and 1st SGT, who were almost rolling on the ground with laughter. I started laughing, also this was my last FTX in the unit before PCSing to the states, and although my, 'til then, perfect driving record was toast, I had to laugh, 'cause I had almost scared the poor Recon newbie to death. An M-577 pulled my jeep and trailer out of the ditch, and I eventually made it over the AVLB.
WHAT PROFESSION DID YOU FOLLOW AFTER THE SERVICE AND WHAT ARE YOU DOING NOW? IF CURRENTLY SERVING, WHAT IS YOUR CURRENT JOB?
 I stayed in broadcasting, and eventually was selected for a Civil Service Audiovisual Production Specialist job working for the U.S. Navy. In the last 16 years, I've worked for five different federal agencies doing media production. Currently, I'm a DOD Civilian Executive Producer for the Radio and Television Production Office of the Defense Media Activity. I produce the Command Information "spots" (PSAs) that are shown instead of stateside commercials on all channels of the American Forces Network to an audience of 1.5 million service members and family members in 171 nations around the globe.
WHAT MILITARY ASSOCIATIONS ARE YOU A MEMBER OF, IF ANY? WHAT SPECIFIC BENEFITS DO YOU DERIVE FROM YOUR MEMBERSHIPS?
 I'm a life member of Disabled American Veterans. I receive VA disability for various complications from diabetes, including a below-the-knee amputation of my left leg. I'm also a member of the American Legion.
HOW HAS MILITARY SERVICE INFLUENCED THE WAY YOU HAVE APPROACHED YOUR LIFE AND CAREER?
I really grew up in the Army. Serving in the Army made me a better person, a better team-player, a better leader, and a better citizen. The Army taught me how to be successful in anything I really want to do.
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU HAVE FOR THOSE THAT ARE STILL SERVING?
You get out of serving in the military exactly as much as you put into it.
IN WHAT WAYS HAS TOGETHERWESERVED.COM HELPED YOU MAINTAIN A BOND WITH YOUR SERVICE AND THOSE YOU SERVED WITH?
Less than 1% of Americans serve in the military. I have found that there is a bond between veterans, and between veterans and those still serving, that most people will never experience or understand. TogetherWeServed.com helps us strengthen those bonds.
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blackout lights on my jeep, the only thing I could see was the ground-guide's flashlight. He was supposed to use his red-lens flashlight to show me which direction to turn the wheel of my jeep, but he got flustered and, instead of turning off the light (which would have meant for me to "stop"), he started making insanely vigorous, quick darting movements all around and up and down, and suddenly the jeep slid into a 10-foot ditch, turned over and came to rest on the driver's side. I climbed up and out the passenger's door, and started chasing the newbie private, cussing him out as I ran. Then, I heard laughter, and found myself next to the Company Commander and 1st SGT, who were almost rolling on the ground with laughter. I started laughing, also this was my last FTX in the unit before PCSing to the states, and although my, 'til then, perfect driving record was toast, I had to laugh, 'cause I had almost scared the poor Recon newbie to death. An M-577 pulled my jeep and trailer out of the ditch, and I eventually made it over the AVLB. 
