Delayed enlistment initially my senior year in high school, I had joined the West Virginia Air National Guard, the 130th Airlift Wing in Charleston, WV. I already had everything planned, graduate from high school, off for four days, then off to Basic, home to WV for on-the-job training (OJT), finish this on a Friday and start nursing school on the following Monday. It's all set and the logistics of things are set.

So, I'm thinking, (I found out later wasn't something I was allowed to do), I will well represent my State of WV, my base the 130th Airlift Wing and present myself to Basic as such.

I had always wore my hair close, so that I found out later wasn't such a good idea either. But, what was the real attention getter, not knowing that you don't want to draw attention to yourself was that I presented to Basic at Lackland AFB, San Antonio TX wearing a tie, dressed up, carrying a brief case. BIG FAT NO NO!

I did survive and later on would attend Military Indoctrination for Medical Service Officers (MIMSO)and become a USAF Flight Nurse. By the time all was said and done, I went from being an Air Cargo Specialist as an E-1 to a Flight Nurse, retiring as an O-5 after 25 years of service.