I worked in the aircraft parts manufacturing industry - I guess formally they call that the "aerospace industry" - hell we made airplane parts for everything that flew, literally. Joints gave out and I couldn't swing a hammer any more, so I drove the delivery truck for a while...they finally decided they were paying me too much and my health was getting to bad for their health care policy so I had to seek other employment...so I went to work for the state..for about 4 and a half years and I got sick of their dissing the vets I was hired to take care of; so instead of shooting the sobs who needed to assume room temp, I resigned, talked to my shrink, and here I am at home; being a Certified DAV Service Officer in all of my spare time now. Been doing this for a total of 6 years, including the 4 1/2 I worked for the state. This is a lot better than the state any way. It's more like being a First Sergeant again. I liked that a hell uv a lot more.
Body may be broken down and crippled up, but I can and still do get to hunt and fish as much as I want to; still drink copious quantities of coffee (and probably always will, unless they burn South America to the ground) smoke like and old Chevy with bad rings even though my doctor is on my case to quit cause the emphasima isn't getting any better - yea, no duhhh.
If any of you folks that I've been stationed with before read this, gimme a shout. I'm trying to find a few old photos to post on here to either jog some memories or for some of you to use for scare crows in the spring time in your gardens. It'll work either way for me....I still ain't any prettier than I was 20 years ago or so...a lot older, and a bunch uglier and greyer - what's left of it on top...the beard is damn near all grey now.
Diabetes forced me to loose a few pounds so I'm down to my "fighting" trim of 180 now for the first time since 1985, and trying to keep it there. This stuff don't play - it'll kill ya quick.
1984-1988, 71L10, US Army Command and Control Support Agency (USACCSA)
Best Friends Col Cleve Byrd - One of the best company commanders I've ever had. Made me his First Sergeant, and turned it all over to me to run. Hell of a lot of responsibility. Backed me on everything, no questions. LTC Joe Blackwell, Deputy Commander/XO/Comptroller for the unit...we really were a strange kind of company...Good ole boy from Texas who was a straight laced officer, knew how and when to let an NCO do their job and get the heck out of their way - you know ; not interfer...super fellow. Got a lot of respect for him.
Best Moment The shock when Colonel Byrd said, OK; your my new First Sergeant. Couldn't believe my ears. Hell, I was a Sergeant First Class...Top Shirt is an E8 job. I had to ask his deputy LTC Blackwell if the old man had lost his marbles.
Worst Moment Leaving the best outfit in DC, in December of '88. Outstanding bunch of NCOs, superb officers - everyone of them knew their jobs and gave a hoot. The civilians were totally dedicated to the mission and supportive of what we did. I still miss being there from time to time.
