After serving 26 years in the United States Army and traveling all around the world, so to speak, and visiting 16 different foreign countries both work-related and for R&R, as well as traveling to and thru 40 or more of the States in the United States to include Hawaii and Alaska, I decided it was time to hang up my guns and retire.
My last job assignment in the Army was at Fort Ord, CA (February 1990 until May 1991) as Senior Career Counselor (00R50) for Headquarters, 1st Aviation Brigade.
During the last year of my long Army career and after submitting for retirement, I worked part-time at a local Radio Shack in Marina, CA outside of Fort Ord. At the end of May 1991, after my retirement ceremony, buying a new truck, and loading up my worldy goods, I left Fort Ord around 4 a.m. on a Friday morning loaded with bottles of water and snacks in an Ice Chest, a Thermos of Coffee on the front seat, a pack of No-Doze Tables, the Pacific Ocean and California in my rear-view mirrow. I headed East towards Hampton Roads and the warm beaches on the Alantic Ocean side of Virginia. (Here's the crazy part) With only a few days rest along the way while visiting family members in Indiana and Ohio, I made the coast to coast journey in less than a week (Never again!).
After retiring from the Army in May of 1991 and moving back to Virginia, I again worked part-time at a Radio Shack located in the Hampton Mall in Hampton Roads, VA. After about nineteen months in Virginia and getting a good Tan, I got homesick for Tennessee, so in February 1993, I moved from Virginia to Gatlinburg, TN, (Closer to home) and lived and worked for about six months for a Chalet Company, making Reservations. Around June 1993, I moved from Gatlinburg to Cookeville, TN, and worked part-time at a Walmart store, then enrolled in, and graduated from, an Architectural Drafting School in Livingston TN and then moved to Dale Hollow Lake in Pickett County TN where for about ten years I ran my own Professional Photography business and also worked part-time at a local Funeral Home.
In 2004, my wife and I moved back to Scott County Tennessee where I was born and raised, and for two or three years I worked part-time for FOUR OAKS FUNERAL HOME before finally retiring for good.
Best Friends I worked with some of the best people, both Military and Civilians. Probably the best and most important assignment of my career.
Best Moment Being assigned to USAISC-TRADOC, on a 2 year special assignment.
Worst Moment When I had to leave USAISC-TRADOC.
Chain of Command My Boss, Col. Ted Hummell, and all the other Military and Civilian Staff at USAISC-TRADOC.
Other Memories My Boss, Col. Ted Hummell, USAIC Commander, TRADOC Headquaters, Fort Monroe VA, sometime between 1985-1987, congratulating me on my promotion to Master Sergeant.
