My father was not able to join his neighbors in the second great war due to his asthma condition. However, he built bridges and bombs as he was a welder for a company in Youngstown, Ohio.

His brother, my Uncle Bob, served in Korea, and my brother Ken served in the Navy during the Vietnam conflict. I joined the U.S. Air Force because I wanted to keep a tradition alive and serve my country. I was the first of my family who served in the USAF.