As a recent high school graduate in the fall of 1957, I knew that the United States government expected every health-qualified male to give at least two years of active military duty to his country. I was also keenly aware that my academic motivation had not yet found its giddy-up. Should I present my less-than-mediocre study credentials to an Iowa university or provide myself with an opportunity to further mature?

My father, four of his brothers, two of my cousins and my mother’s sister had all actively served in the military during World War II. Between them, the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines and even the WACs had all been represented. My father, a Marine, presented me with yet another argument: “Volunteer your time before the next war begins!”

I decided to sign up to gain a couple of years of life’s discipline before tackling my early-life aversion to book-study. Hearing that the Army had a two-year option, I went down to my small Iowa town’s recruiting office for more information. When I asked when I might be drafted, I was told that since I was only 19, it might be two or three more years before the draft took me. Since I had already made up my mind to give the Army two years before starting college, I said, “Suppose I volunteer for the draft today?”

The recruiter expressed surprise, but quickly recovered and said, “Well, young man, we’ll sign you up right now for the reserves and immediately move you into the draft. Your GI number will not be RA, but FR (Federal Reserve).” A couple of days later, I boarded a bus for Fort Carson, Colo., and the start of my two-year active duty stint.

That experience provided me with the maturity to successfully earn a bachelor of arts degree in geology from Florida State University. And that combination of disciplines led to a career in advertising and authoring 17 Christian books. Later in life, I became a member of The American Legion, like my father before me. I have ever since enjoyed the opportunity to again serve God and country.